Federal Bank Partners with National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH) for Setting Up Assistive Technology Center

Federal Bank has partnered with National Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH)–Thiruvananthapuram to set up an Assistive Technology Center at NISH. Shri Shyam Srinivasan, MD & CEO, Federal Bank and Dr. Samuel N. Mathew, Executive Director, NISH, formally signed the MOU in the presence of Shri Oommen Chandy, Chief Minister of Kerala, Dr. M K Muneer, Minister for Panchayats and Social Justice, Shri K M Chandrasekhar, Vice Chairman – Kerala State Planning Board, Shri G. Vijaya Raghavan, Member, State Planning Board and Hon. Director-NISH, Shri James V Y, Zonal Head – Thiruvananthapuram, Federal Bank and other dignitaries at a function held at CM’s legislature Office at Thiruvananthapuram on 1^st July 2015. A cheque for Rs. 2 crores as the initial funding was handed over by Shri. Shyam Srinivasan to Shri. Oommen Chandy at this function.

The Assistive Technology Center at NISH is being funded by Federal Bank as part of its initiatives under Corporate Social Responsibility, and this association will be on a long term basis. NISH, which is an autonomous body set up by the Government of Kerala, focuses on providing education and rehabilitation to individuals with disabilities, and training professionals working in the field of rehabilitation of persons with disabilities.

Assistive Technology plays a vital role in providing access to higher education for persons with disabilities; enhancing their functional capabilities in terms of acquiring knowledge and skills, eventually leading to better job opportunities and uplifting their social standing. The Assistive Technology Center at NISH will also be a resource center for similar institutions spread across the country. The AT center will conduct research and development in Assistive Technologies which are suited for the population in India. Also high tech, state of the art assistive technologies available around the world will be acquired by the AT center for use by the students of NISH. As NISH is transforming into the National University for Rehabilitation Sciences & Disability Studies (NURSDS) it is the AT center that will provide the necessary services in assessment of individuals who attend classes and provide the appropriate AT for use in the class room. This will ensure success for those Persons with Disabilities who are aspiring for higher education.

Federal Bank has been actively involved in extending assistance to the needy sections of the society as part of its CSR initiatives, and the setting up of the Assistive Technology Centre at NISH will be one of its largest such initiatives till date.

About Federal Bank:

Federal Bank is a leading Private Sector Bank with a branch network of 1,247 branches and 1,491 ATMs spread across the country. The Bank’s total business mix (deposits + advances) stands at Rs 1.22  Lakh  Crore as at March 31, 2015 and it has earned a net profit of Rs 1005.75 Crore.  Bank’s Capital to Risk weighted Ratio (CRAR) stood at 15.46% at the end of March 31, 2015.  Federal Bank has its Representative Office at Abu Dhabi that serves as a nerve centre for NRI customers in the UAE. Federal Bank is transforming itself, keeping its principles intact, into an organization that offers services beyond par. It has a well defined vision for the future as a guidepost to its progress.