International Paper (IP), Memphis, Tenn., USA, this past month demonstrated the company's continued commitment to India's local community development in Rajahmundry and Kadiam village in East Godavari districts as part of IP's corporate social responsibility program in the sectors of education, environment, and engagement.

Under Project Saathi, the company wrote checks towards annual school fees of 48 students this school year who have been selected as beneficiaries under the project.

Employees, who are among the donors, have made contributions through one-time payment as well as payroll deductions. These children, otherwise, were supporting their family to earn a living, according to a statement.

Project Saathi is being currently run in APPM Model High School and is in its second year of implementation. About 24 meritorious students received funding for their second year of college level education – intermediate or polytechnic as part of the IP India Foundation Scholarship. Over 70 school students will benefit from these two programs in Andhra Pradesh alone. Saathi is considering additional focus on education in other villages and districts as needed. The fact that these children of a mill village were being subjected to labor at a young age instead of learning in a quality school environment made this a current focus and priority of the program.

Rampraveen Swaminathan, president, International Paper India, and chairman and managing director of IP-APPM, a joint paper company with 75% IP ownership (formerly The Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills prior to the 2011 majority purchase and merger) personally handed checks for funding of their education to the hard working students.

IP-APPM has also inaugurated a bus shelter at Kadiam panchayat and a compound wall of MPP School in Bhaskararam Nagar in Kadiam. Based on the discussions with the panchayat (village level government) and other stakeholders, IP Foundation identified that the village is in need of this infrastructure as well.