Indane - Leela Gramin Vitrak

"Today was a special day for us that reinforced our faith in the incredible power of second chances. It was heartwarming to witness the seeds of our unique social transformation projects for the inmates of prisons and juvenile homes, bear fruits. Our ‘Parivartan – Prison to Pride’ and ‘Nayi Disha – Smile for Juvenile’ have been successfully leveraging the power of sports to heal, and help the inmates find a purpose. It was thus a great validation for us as teams from Yerawada Central Jail, Pune and Children Observation Home, Bhopal won gold medals for India at FIDE’s 3rd Intercontinental ‘Chess for Freedom’ online championship, held recently. Competing against 118 teams from 50 countries, the teams guided by IndianOil sports stars emerged champions. Last year, Yerawada team had for the first time won a bronze medal for the country in the chess for freedom event. The seeds for ‘Parivartan’ and ‘Nayi Disha’ initiatives were sown during my 2021 visit to Chanchalguda Prison in Hyderabad. At 'My Nation' Gas Station there, I had the opportunity to interact with a group of lively, efficient women customer attendants, who were former jail inmates, confidently taking charge of their lives and narratives. This was the ignition for the transformative journey of #Parivartan, launched in 2021. #NayiDisha soon followed, casting light upon young souls looking for a direction. Today, these gentle ripples have turned into waves of change, touching over 5,000 lives across 105 prisons and correctional facilities spanning 22 states and 6 Union Territories. The smiles, joy and the passion, is palpable across each of these facilities. Over the years, I have interacted with many of these inmates and their testimonials are the most genuine endorsements of our initiative. At today’s interaction, a young champ’s words resonated deeply. Sharing his learning, he said that "In chess, as in life, every move has consequences." This deep wisdom beyond his years underlines the essence and success of our effort. The impact we have been able to create inspires us to create a more #inclusive and #equitable world. These tales of redemption and optimism have been possible with the extraordinary efforts of IndianOil sports stars, coaches, coordinators as well as the supportive prison authorities. My heartfelt gratitude to each one of them. Taking this journey forward, we've joined hands with the jail authorities and have set up 'Hope' fuel stations, where former and current inmates find purpose, dignity, and a bridge to the world outside. And our recent pledge to support the extraordinary Indian para-athletes at the ongoing Para Asian Games and the Paris Paralympics 2024, reinforces our commitment to inclusivity. Ultimately, at the core, it's about the 'Power of One'. A single step, when taken with conviction, can alter destinies. Our quest is to light the way, extend a hand, and reaffirm the magic of second chances. Here's to a brighter, inclusive future for all!" - S M Vaidya, Chairman, IndianOil #Parivartan #NayiDisha #inclusive #equitable