Infosys to expand CSR activities in Americas, spend $5 mn a year

NEW DELHI: Country's second largest software services firm Infosys will expand its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in the Americas to focus on making quality computer science education widely available.

To be carried out by its philanthropic arm -- Infosys foundation, USA -- the activities would focus on making quality computer science education widely and easily accessible across communities in the Americas, Infosys said in a statement today.

The initial outlay for Infosys Foundation, USA, would be USD 5 million (over Rs 31.6 crore) per annum. Infosys has appointed Sudha Murty, Vandana Sikka and Sandeep Dadlani as the trustees of the arm.

"Infosys Foundation has always supported the cause of promoting quality education and empowering individuals. I am confident that we will leverage Infosys Foundation's experience in India of imparting technical education to enhance employability," Murty, who is also the Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, said.

In India, Infosys Foundation supports several programmes aimed at alleviating hunger, promoting education, improving health, assisting rural development, supporting arts and helping the destitute.

For the fiscal year 2015, Infosys Foundation plans to deploy about USD 40 million towards these initiatives in India.

Sikka, who is the Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, USA, said computing literacy is becoming increasingly important for an average person to be more productive and valuable to the economy.

"We want to ensure that lack of resources, prior skills and STEM proficiency are no longer barriers for individuals, in the Americas, seeking to advance their computing skills," she said.

The body will enable computer education in K-12, support research in computer science and empower adults with IT training to enhance their employability.