COVER PAGE Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

Contents

1. Microsoft India 3. Empowering Community 4. Empowering entrepreneurs 6. Our People through Education Our Business Our Approach Our Approach Citizenship at Microsoft India Microsoft Accelerator Recruitment, Onboarding & Integration Stakeholder Engagement Our Approach Scale Up & Hi-Po Programs for the Employees Topics for the report Project Shiksha GenNext Hub Benefits & Support Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts Program Start-up pack for Start-ups MIELA awards AIM Smart City Accelerator 7. Working Responsibly 2. Innovation for Societal Showcase School Program #CoInnovate Welfare Saksham BizSpark Our Approach Digital Innovation Lab Human Rights Microsoft Academia Accelerator Business Conduct Our Approach 5. Serving Communities TV White Spaces Imagine Cup Privacy and Data Security 99DOTS DreamSpark Responsible Sourcing from Indirect Suppliers Our Approach Putting India on the Cloud Microsoft Student Partners Environmental sustainability YouthSpark Predictive Analytics Microsoft Innovation Centers Tech4Good Microsoft Digital India Hackathon Employee Giving & Volunteerism Program Oorja 8. About the Report Empowering Non-profits Accessibility Scope Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Standards Disclaimer

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Microsoft India

1.1. Our Business 1.2. Citizenship at Microsoft India 1.3. Stakeholder Engagement 1 1.4. Topics for the Report

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1.1. Our Business

Microsoft India began its journey in 1990 as a subsidiary of Microsoft ® . In this cloud-first, Reinvent productivity These ambitions utilize a unique set of assets that span mobile-first world, our mission is to empower every person and every organization on the and business processes productivity services, cloud platform, our device platform planet to achieve more. We intend to achieve this by creating technology that changes the and our family of devices. way we think, learn, work and collaborate. We develop most of our products and services internally through three engineering groups. As India takes its place as a leader in the global knowledge mission. We will empower every person and every economy, we continue to be an active partner in the organization on the planet to achieve more. Our mission is Create more Build the personal intelligent country’s growth. We believe that innovation in technology grounded in both the worlds one in which we live and the computing cloud platform is critical to achieving sustainable economic growth and future we strive to create. Today, we live in a mobile-first, social development. At Microsoft India, we seek to enable cloud-first world, and the transformation we are driving India’s inclusive development by partnering with the across our businesses is designed to enable us and our Government, industry and academia. customers to thrive in this world.

Helping people and local communities reach their true Our strategy is to build best-in-class platforms and potential with technology has always been one of our core productivity services for a mobile-first, cloud-first world. values. We have been committed to help businesses grow Our platforms will harmonize the interests of end users, The Applications and The Cloud and Enterprise The Windows & Devices and empower public sector bodies to be more efficient. developers and IT better than any competing ecosystem Services Engineering Engineering Group Engineering Group Group We partner with the Indian Government to take IT to the or platform. grassroots with Microsoft e-governance solutions and Focuses on broad applications Focuses on development of our Focuses on our Windows platform We will realize our mission and strategy by investing in our global Citizenship charter. We reach out to India’s and services core technologies in cloud infrastructure, server, database, across devices of all types, hardware three interconnected and bold ambitions: underserved communities to build an inclusive society - productivity, communication, education, customer relationship management development of our devices including by enhancing education, skill development, and enabling search, and other information (CRM), enterprise resource planning Xbox consoles, Surface devices, technology access. categories. (ERP), management, development Lumia phones, non-Lumia phones, We have challenged ourselves to think about our core tools, and other business process Surface Hub, Microsoft Band, other applications and services for hardware products and accessories and Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 enterprises. associated online marketplaces. 4 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

1.1. Our Business

In India, our business is organized around six major business units that represent our entire Microsoft currently has offices in ten cities across India: marketing is headquartered in Gurugram while research product cycle from serving consumers to corporations, and gamers to Governments. Each Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, and technical support centers are based in Bangalore. business unit has the power of decision autonomy as well as the strength of collaborative Kolkata, Mumbai, the NCR (includes offices in New Delhi resources enabling the organization to render services in a fast and reliable manner. and Gurugram), and Pune. Our main campus in Hyderabad For more information, please click here. houses development, IT and global services. Sales and

Microsoft Research India Microsoft India Microsoft IT (MSIT) Microsoft Services Microsoft India Global Microsoft Sales & (MSR India) Development Global Delivery (MSGD) Technical Support Marketing Center (MSIDC) Center (IGTSC)

MSR is a theoretical research lab in the Microsoft’s largest development center MSIT is Microsoft’s engineering division MSGD is the delivery arm of Microsoft IGTSC provides technical resolution The sales and marketing organization country and focuses on developing collaborates with other development that works on building critical solutions that tests Microsoft’s emerging services to Microsoft’s English- is the customer facing organization market relevant technology and centers across the world to build great with Microsoft’s core products. technologies and adds them to speaking enterprise customers and in the country. It focuses on the services. software products. Microsoft’s tool kit. partners across geographies. It assists enterprise, small, and mid-market organizations that leverage Microsoft groups and consumer segments, via a technologies to optimize their IT strong network channel of over 10,000 investments and keep their businesses members and through its own team of productive round the clock. people located in ten cities.

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1.2. Citizenship at Microsoft India

Citizenship at Microsoft India is aimed at empowering India through concerted efforts across education and skill building, better governance through robust technology infrastructure and creating a digital economy. This is amplified through our network of partners including academia, Governments and not-for-profits. In addition to strategic interventions, our Citizenship activities include employee volunteerism, fund and software grants to organizations focused on education and employability for youth.

Our Citizenship team comprises primarily of personnel the requirements of Section 135 of the Companies Act, who drive community affairs, employee volunteerism 2013. Under the aegis of this section, the Board of Directors and communications. Strategic direction to the team is of the respective companies is responsible for adopting a provided by the India Leadership Team that comprises of CSR Policy for the respective company, allocate at least 2% the Chairman, the heads of business units in India and the of average net profits of the three immediately preceding heads of Finance, HR, Communications, and Corporate, financial years towards CSR activities, and systematically Economic and Legal Affairs (CELA) teams. The Global report the progress. Citizenship Team based out of our headquarters in Seattle, US works closely with us to ensure alignment of our end For more information, please click objectives.

We have four legal units in the country. Therefore, each legal entity has constituted a Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Committee at the Board level as per

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1.3. Stakeholder Engagement

As part of the Citizenship reporting initiative, we reflected upon our stakeholder identification, Each of our business units manages the above stakeholder In India, we engage with peers and professionals on CSR prioritization and engagement strategies. On internal consultations across business units, our key groups through regular engagement through various in industry and Government through CSR specific forums stakeholders in the context of Citizenship emerged to be the following groups: channels such as meetings, newsletters, Citizenship such as World Economic Forum, NASSCOM, Federation of activities, employee volunteering and others. Functions Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Confederation such as Citizenship, Legal and Corporate Affairs, Human of Indian Industry and others. For the purpose of a Resources, Sales, Marketing, and Procurement regularly framework for reporting on our Citizenship efforts, we have manage a number of stakeholder relationships across adopted various international and national standards and Board of business units. guidelines such as the Global Reporting Initiative’s (GRI) Directors Employees Sustainability Reporting Guidelines, Business Responsibility Reports Guidelines and National Voluntary Guidelines. Local Academia Governments

Customers Communities/ not-for-profit organizations

Suppliers Microsoft Industry Corporation Coalitions

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1.3. Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement Overview Stakeholder Engagement Overview

Stakeholder groups Examples of engagement Selected results Stakeholder groups Examples of engagement Selected results

In an effort to accelerate learnings of Microsoft India is aligned to We engage with our employees on Microsoft India’s business units global best practices and uptake of Government’s focus on education, an ongoing basis through multiple continue to share leading practices technology by the Government for the skill development, employability channels including performance and pilot programs across better delivery of services to the larger and empowering MSMEs (micro reviews, training and development, Citizenship and CSR. public, Microsoft India engages with the small and medium enterprises) anonymous polls and various other Government in the following ways: through digital empowerment. feedback mechanisms. Specifically, for • Knowledge sharing through meetings Citizenship reporting, we engaged with with Microsoft thought leaders Employees each of the business units on Citizenship • Partners in projects such as Surat Smart strategy, plans and activities. Local Governments City project • Provides proof of concept through pilot programs The topics of engagement include net neutrality, internet governance, internet Our business units work closely with Customer feedback form crucial of things, Open source, TV White Space, each other as well as their global inputs to decisions on product cyber security and voice over internet. counterparts and continually gain development and services. Microsoft insights from customers through India is working on accessibility and We have constituted a CSR Committee of Microsoft India has adopted a online feedback, support communities, universal design of all products and services. the Board for each of our business units CSR policy approved by the Board product satisfaction surveys, usability as per the requirements of Section 135 of of Directors. We are looking to Customers studies, research forums, business the Companies Act 2013. The Board of consolidate the CSR efforts of our account managers, and our customer Directors oversee the CSR implementation business units across India. service representatives. Board of Directors and the CSR Committee meets periodically to review Microsoft India’s CSR initiatives.

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1.3. Stakeholder Engagement

Stakeholder Engagement Overview Stakeholder Engagement Overview

Stakeholder groups Examples of engagement Selected results Stakeholder groups Examples of engagement Selected results

Microsoft India engages with the The ongoing dialogue between Our engagement with suppliers is We work closely with our suppliers students and faculty alike in academia academia and Microsoft India’s aligned to the global channels such to align with global practices such as in various capacities including student business units is aimed at a high as supplier registrations, surveys, the Electronics Industry Citizenship competitions, internships, engagement mindshare amongst the students, and capacity-building workshops and Coalition and others. with faculty on Microsoft products in awareness of Microsoft products. Suppliers trainings, supplier summits and Academia and technologies, research support, participation in industry coalitions. recruitments and others. Microsoft India actively participates in Microsoft India leads the efforts in industry coalitions such as NASSCOM, Citizenship disclosure, accessibility The various business units of Microsoft Our engagement with the Confederation of Indian Industry and initiatives and participates in leading India engage with communities communities and not-for-profit others to engage in a dialogue on practices sharing through industry where they operate directly and in organizations is detailed in the Industry Coalitions digital empowerment of India with coalitions. partnerships with local not-for-profits Serving Communities chapter. peers and policymakers. Communities/ to understand and serve the social not-for-profit needs. This last year, this engagement We regularly interact with Microsoft Microsoft India with its unique organizations has also taken shape of CSR projects Corporation team on Citizenship positioning will elaborate on its and programs for Microsoft India. strategy and approach to disclosure. Citizenship efforts through annual Microsoft Corporation India-specific Citizenship report.

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1.4. Topics for the Report

We have identified the topics for our report by a number of factors, such as approach to Citizenship at Microsoft globally, Microsoft India’s National Plan priorities, introduction of CSR Law in India Human Rights Responsible Sourcing Environmental Sustainability and active engagement with internal stakeholders as described below. These topics reflect the important aspects of Microsoft India’s Citizenship with due consideration to the assessments Our commitment to respecting We ask our suppliers to uphold the We seek to unlock innovative and decisions of stakeholders. It is important to recognize that these issues and their relative Fundamental Rights reflects our high standards of Citizenship to ways to reduce the environmental importance are dynamic and are likely to change with time, forming key inputs to our evolving company mission to help people which we hold ourselves. impact of our operations, products Citizenship strategy. and businesses throughout the world and services and to help others use realize their full potential. the power of technology to address Microsoft Citizenship Approach sustainability challenges. In meeting our responsibilities as a global corporate citizen, Microsoft seeks to develop principled, pragmatic business approaches to challenging issues. Integrity and Governance Our People

We are committed to growing We are proud our commitment our business in an ethical and to employees has led to Microsoft responsible way and in compliance being widely cited as one of the best with applicable laws and regulatory places to work in the world. It is our requirements. commitment to provide an equal opportunity workplace to every employee and we do not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, gender, age, national origin, religion, marital status, or sexual orientation.

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1.4. Topics for the Report

National Plan priorities CSR Law in India Active engagement with employees

The introduction of Section 135 of the Companies Act, We actively reach out to Citizenship leads of all the business We have a National Plan that aligns to the country’s core agenda of inclusive growth. Every year, Microsoft invests 2013 has created a statutory responsibility for companies units in Microsoft India and engage with key functions with resources in activities that are aimed at: qualifying a certain financial threshold in India to report an overlap with Citizenship unit for the purpose of this • Education and skill development of youth leading to better employability on its CSR activities. All the legal entities of Microsoft India reporting exercise. This comprehensive assessment of the • Better governance through improved IT infrastructure qualifying under this CSR Law have to contribute 2% of responses received define the topics for this report. their average net profits of the preceding three financial • Information security awareness and infrastructure years towards CSR activities. The philanthropic initiatives • Intellectual Property Right awareness and strong policies by different business units of Microsoft India are aligned • Creation of a digital economy or restructured to align to qualify as CSR spend as per the CSR Law, and form a key input to this Citizenship report.

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1.4. Topics for the Report

Our emphasis on empowering India and partnering in its inclusive growth is a key driver across the Citizenship initiatives. The topics identified for the Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2015-16 centered on the theme of ‘Empowering India’ are:

Innovation for Societal Serving Communities Our People Empowering Community Empowering Entrepreneurs Working Responsibly Welfare through Education We are committed to improve public We are committed to the development We provide a world class work envi- The keys to a better India are empow- We are committed to promoting en- At Microsoft, our values support service delivery through innovative of the communities we work with. We ronment for our people to work. Our ered students and educators who are trepreneurship and by giving boost to our corporate mission to empower tools. apply our expertise in technology, our dynamic work culture drives collabo- the foundation to the growth story of innovative processes and the culture people to do more and achieve talent and our financial resources for ration and inclusion among employ- India. We providetechnology and tools that fosters start-ups, we contribute more. By working together with other the betterment of the society. ees leading to exceptional personal to enrich the learning experience. to the inclusive growth of India. organizations, we can make an even and professional growth. greater difference in the on-going struggle to achieve a more sustainable and socially responsible world.

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2.1. Our Approach 2.2. TV White Spaces 2.3. 99DOTS 2.4. Putting India on the Cloud 2 2.5.

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2.1. Our Approach 2.2. TV White Spaces

Innovation can play a huge role in solving societal challenges and in India, disruptive In India, affordable access to internet remains a challenge. as a technology provider to harness this spectrum to technologies can be leveraged to improve the quality of public services and ensure inclusive The total number of internet subscribers was 324.95 million propagate broadband to the next mile. The innovation in growth. at the end of September 2015. ( ‘Indian Telecom Services TV White Space technology can be used by individuals Performance Indicator Report’ for the Quarter ending and organizations alike to provide services such as to September 2015, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India ). enhance connectivity to India’s rural areas or establish While Internet penetration is about 76% in urban India, it is layers of high quality connectivity in cities or potentially only 7% in rural India ( Internet and Mobile Association of double up as emergency broadband networks in disaster India ). This digital divide in the country is deepening the recovery situations. chasms of inequality in India. Pilot testing of TV White Space technology was carried Accessibility and affordability is the crux of India’s out in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh and was later connectivity challenge. The Government’s ambitious extended to the city of Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh in 2015. Digital India plan wants to change the current scenario by Microsoft plans to collaborate with the central and state bridging the digital divide and providing affordable access Governments to bring connectivity using this technology to internet services to every citizen in India. We have to 500,000 villages across the country.We believe that leveraged the innovation in technology through the use low-cost broadband connectivity coupled with the scale of of TV White Space technology to effectively connect the cloud computing intelligence that can be harnessed from digitally disadvantaged. This technology utilizes spectrum data, can help drive creativity, efficiency and productivity in the VHF and UHF television broadcast bands that are across Governments and businesses of all sizes. either unassigned or unused by existing broadcast or other licensees to take connectivity to currently underserved areas. While this is similar to a conventional Wi- Fi technology, it requires fewer access points as the television signals travel over longer distances. Microsoft India works

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2.2. TV White Spaces

White Spaces brings internet to rural schools

On 29th July 2015, students from Kasturba Gandhi Girls Kasturba Gandhi Girls Residency School. They then Residency School, a rural girls’ school in Srikakulam, India installed receiver devices at the three other schools located interacted with students from Gakawa Secondary School within a radius of 10 kilometres. Within a few hours of in Nanyuki, Kenya along with Mr. Satya Nadella, CEO of links being established between the schools, students had Microsoft. These two under-served and isolated rural Internet connectivity and were online. Microsoft’s Project townships in different continents were able to connect Shiksha then came on board to train the students and over Skype through the Internet with connectivity enabled teachers and helped familiarize them with the technology by the TV White Space pilot project initiated by Microsoft. - making tremendous advancements in a matter of weeks. A few weeks ago, the unassuming Srikakulam, left quiet And while, the simple interactive session was a first for the for decades, began to see an unusual flurry of activity. students, it was also a first for India. The students’ interests were piqued as all kinds of curious packages and people began to appear around them. Technicians materialised to set up a base station at the

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2.3. 99DOTS

The World Health Organization estimates that even in medication is inserted and sealed by the provider. When developed countries, less than half of chronic disease the patient dispenses medication from the blister pack, patients take medication as directed. This problem is the pills also break through perforated flaps on the blister especially dire in the case of tuberculosis (TB), where non- card. On the back side of each flap is a hidden number. adherence to medication contributed to an estimated Patients submit these numbers by sending a free missed 450,000 drug-resistant cases in 2013. To bolster adherence, call as evidence that they have dispensed medication. The countries such as India have long embraced Directly beginning of the phone number is printed on the outside Observed Therapy Short course (DOTS), where patients of the card, while the remaining digits (unpredictable to travel to clinics to take doses under the observation of patients) are hidden behind the pills. a care provider. However, DOTS has proven to be costly, difficult to implement and inconvenient for patients. These 99DOTS represents a promising approach for improving factors greatly limit its reach and effectiveness. the delivery of tuberculosis medication through technology. Microsoft India’s unique innovation provides In order to address the problem, MSR India has developed healthcare providers an option to move adherents to a revolutionary technology called 99DOTS - an innovative 99DOTS and focus attention on less adherent patients for model of delivering tuberculosis medications that utilizes greater impact. So far we have reached to 1273 patients basic mobile phones and augmented blister packaging and provided 60,813 doses across 27 sites in India. to provide real-time adherence monitoring without the burden of direct observation. For more information, please click here.

The approach to the 99DOTS model utilizes a custom envelope, or blister card, into which each pack of

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2.4. Putting India on the Cloud

Cloud Computing can transform the way technology is used. With advantages such as high computing power, cheap cost of services, high performance, scalability, accessibility, cloud computing has immense value creation for citizens, businesses as well as Governments. India as a country is migrating to the cloud with remarkable results. We are taking several significant steps in this regard as detailed below.

2.4.1. Special Cloud Accelerator Program

We launched Special Cloud Accelerator Program to help the cloud. The program will upskill partners to help 10,000 Indian enterprises and Government organizations take full SMBs across 250 cities to move to the cloud. advantage of the cloud solutions. The Cloud Accelerator Program serves as a catalyst to accelerate the adoption The Cloud Accelerator Program is designed to help India of Microsoft Azure and Office 365 amongst enterprises move to the cloud, and in turn, help ‘Make in India’ a and Government organizations. This helps organizations reality. This will open up new possibilities in e-governance, to not only plan local cloud roadmaps, but also increase financial inclusion, healthcare, and education to positively compliance with local regulations. More than 15 Microsoft impact the lives of a billion people. partners are part of the roll out of this program.

In addition, we have launched cloud training programs – Azure Vidyapeeth and Guru Varta, for partners that will enable Small and Medium Businesses (SMBs) transition to

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2.4. Putting India on the Cloud 2.4.2. Cloud Data Centres in India

In 2015, we set up three cloud data centres in India. This owned information technology (IT) infrastructure. They will brings our cloud services - Microsoft Azure, Dynamics and now be able to extend their existing IT infrastructure and Office 365 - to local data centres in India to accelerate private clouds to Microsoft local (public) cloud, thereby cloud innovation. We are the first of the top United States creating compelling hybrid cloud scenarios and reducing public cloud providers to offer services in India from local their cost of IT operations significantly. Quality of public data centres. The three new sites are in Pune, Chennai, service delivery is bound to improve as local cloud services and Mumbai, serving Central India, South India, and can accelerate e-governance and roll-out citizen services West India Azure cloud regions respectively. With the at unprecedented scale and speed, thereby accelerating availability of local cloud services, regulated industries the Governments’ Digital India and Smart Cities programs. such as BFSI, Government departments and state-owned With the assurance of local data residency, programs like enterprises can now leverage public cloud services digital lockers and digital identity will also move quickly and take advantage of local data residency. In addition, and enable better citizen services. businesses that deal with large amounts of data e.g. media companies, can benefit from advantages such as data replication in multiple regions within India for backup and recovery, reduced network distance, lower latency, and the option of a private connection to the cloud.

Our local cloud services are well-suited for Governments and businesses that already have significant investments in

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2.4. Putting India on the Cloud 2.4.3. Cloud Initiatives for Schools

The initiative aimed at empowering students and teachers with transformative learning skills, furthering our long- standing commitment to bridge the digital divide and support the Government’s Digital India vision. Leveraging the advantages of Microsoft Azure, teachers and students can access digital libraries and participate in live streaming of lectures with a complete infrastructure backup on cloud.

In May 2015, Sri Chaitanya Schools became first of the K-12 education networks to adopt the initiative for its 80 schools. Teachers and students of Sri Chaitanya Schools would now use 14,000 Windows-powered tablets to access rich, interactive and relevant content from the Microsoft cloud to make learning and teaching more engaging and productive.

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2.4. Putting India on the Cloud

Case Studies - Social benefits of services using Azure platform

Empowering farmers with smart Enabling better health with Bringing cleaner water via the agriculture predictive analysis cloud Virtual AGRI Service (VAS) from Pals Global is a cloud- Health Vectors is a patented solution that mashes With its growing population, water remains India’s based solution intended to help farmers maximize clinical and personal health data including clinical, most vital natural resources. And while India has production and profitability while minimizing costs. lifestyle, diet, exercise, family history, mental made progress in the supply of safe water to its Supporting farmers holistically - the solution helps health and stress to predict chronic diseases even people, making the water safe for consumption and them right from crop planning with insights, real-time before the symptoms appear. Its risk predictor and keeping the supply uninterrupted has always been intelligence and advice, to the harvest where it even mitigation tool uses evidence-based disease risk a challenge. facilitates interactions with buyers. algorithms to calculate disease risk and provides a simple plan to mitigate it. On a corporate level, iBot, an IoT solution provider, has built a generic This solution, co-developed by Food and Agri employers can discover the problems plaguing purpose IoT board that integrates into any consumer Business School, is deployed in the State of Andhra the health of their employees and come up with electronics or durable, making the product an Pradesh, servicing over 10,000 farmers. Today, over solutions that are customized to their workplace, intelligent IoT device. Their partners in this exercise, 40% of these farmers actively use this cloud service office branch or even the individual. Eureka Forbes, a pioneer in water purifiers in India is on Azure. Available in vernacular Indian languages piloting iBot in their products as a way to take their as well, the solution is being successfully taken to Built on Azure, the system is more dynamic and customer centricity to the next level. There is an other Indian states. It’s a powerful example of how location-agnostic, with the ability to reference data expected improvement of 100% in the first-time fix technology is closing the digital divide in Digital India. and connect healthcare experts and individuals rate as no service call will go undiagnosed. It is safe across geographies. to say, this cloud solution certainly carries a whole Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 lot of water with it. 20

Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

2.5. Predictive Analytics

Leveraging Predictive Model Technologyto Reduce Drop-out Rates in Schools Machine Learning Proof of Concept in Healthcare Services

Azure Machine Learning is a powerful cloud-based This analysis led to the discovery of over 60 visual patterns. Globally, there are 285 million people with visual impairments; In view of this successful collaboration, we continue to work predictive analytics service that makes it possible to Andhra Pradesh Government is now using this intelligence of which 54 million are in India alone. Eye care services can with LVPEI on development of the machine learning model quickly create and deploy predictive models as analytics to plan strategic interventions under the ‘Badi Pilustondi’ be made available to those most at risk through data analysis to predict success of LASIK surgeries and possibility/risk of solutions in the cloud. Microsoft India is working with the campaign. In addition to helping address the issue of and modelling on clinical data of patients. We recognized regression. Potentially, this would help patients who run the Government of Andhra Pradesh to build machine learning school drop-outs, the process has paved way for further this opportunity as we partnered with LV Prasad Eye Institute risk of surgery failures save the cost of surgery and explore models on data being collected on student enrolment digitization of school records. Machine learning surely has (LVPEI), which had treated over 18 million patients since 1987. alternative options. to predict dropouts. Using this intelligence, Government the potential to change the way India learns. In 2010, the eye care institute deployed an information system subsidies, programs and other interventions can be to maintain patient data across their 120 centres in India, directed to help students and schools that most need it providing potentially millions of clinical data points for analysis. and improve graduation rates. Through an innovative hybrid approach, we connected the eye care institute’s information system and Azure to bring non- personally identifiable information to the cloud. This initiative of real-time tracking of eye care services and advanced visualization technology provides insights to improve patient services across various centres.

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Empowering Community through Education 3.1. Our Approach 3.2. Project Shiksha 3.3. Microsoft Innovative Educator Experts Program 3.4. MIELA awards 3.5. Showcase School Program 3.6. Saksham 3.7. Digital Innovation Lab 3.8. Microsoft Academia Accelerator 3.9. Imagine Cup 3.10. DreamSpark 3.11. Microsoft Student Partners 3.12. Microsoft Innovation Centers 3.13. Microsoft Digital India Hackathon 3.14. Program Oorja Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 3 22 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

3.1. Our Approach

Education is the key to growth of a nation. The combination of quality content, partnerships, training, and access to technology is essential for transforming the current scenario of education in India. We, at Microsoft India, have always seen education as a priority and believe that technology offers anew educational possibilities, empowering both teachers and students.

Aligned with our vision to empower every student to role in empowering educators, inspiring students, and achieve more, we leverage technology to collaborate transforming schools. After K-12 Education, we engage with education communities in delivering solutions, with the students by selecting advocates of technology services and programs that enhance learning experience. products and services, and fostering talent by organising We engage and sustain our involvement with student annual hackathons and technology competitions, setting community right from K-12 education until their up innovation labs and infrastructural facilities for capacity graduation. Besides equipping students with employable building of educators and administrators, skilling students skills, we also provide the paraphernalia to foster creative at Polytechnics/ Industrial Training Institutes/ Engineering skills, tap technology tools to address societal problems Colleges. and also build sustainable businesses. At school level, the initiatives such as Shiksha, Microsoft Innovative Following sections detail out our initiatives in the field of Educator Experts Program, Showcase Schools play a vital education.

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3.2. Project Shiksha

Project Shiksha, launched in 2003, focuses on imparting technology and integration skills to Government teachers Case Study in India. Under this project, each teacher undergoes a Firoz Khan, who is a teacher at the Primary School comprehensive 6-day face-to-face training, imparted in a Chidawak, Gulaothi ( Bulandshahar, Uttar Pradesh ) went classroom setup. The curriculum designed for this project on to create a content rich and interactive website with is specific to the needs of teachers and enables them to a pool of learning resources where students can explore realize their potential for using Information Technology chemistry through animation, games, and quizzes after (IT) in academics and school administration. The project his training. has a pre-service delivery model as well as post-school model that helps increase the impact in each of the states His reason for undertaking the training was his desire where it is present. Since its launch, more than 6 lakh to find learning methods for his students that would be Government school teachers have been equipped with IT better than what he had been exposed to as a child. skills across the states such as Maharashtra, Uttarakhand, Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Karnataka, Gujarat, Mizoram, He recounts, “During my schooling years, the only Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu and Uttar resources available were the blackboard and a few Pradesh. books.” After becoming a teacher, he realised that his students straddle with the same difficulties that he did as a child-the problem of grasping basic concepts, mired with thoughts like, “whether the Earth was round like a ‘Chapati’ (flat) or round like a ‘ball’ ( spherical )

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3.3. Microsoft Innovative Educator 3.4. Microsoft Innovative Educators Experts Program Leadership Awards

We believe that in order to provide a platform for better learning and student outcomes. MIE Experts work Microsoft Innovative Educators Leadership Awards (MIELA) by highlighting, recognizing, and rewarding educators education, it is important that educators are motivated closely with us to lead innovation in education. They honour the best classroom innovators across the country who are using technology in amazing ways. and are provided a platform to encourage creation of advocate and share their thoughts on the effective use modules that can be shared as a best practice globally. The of technology in education with peers and policy makers. Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert programme They provide us insights on new products and tools for is an exclusive programme created to recognise global education, and they exchange best practices as they work teacher visionaries who are using technology to pave the together to promote innovation in teaching and learning. way for their peers in the effective use of technology for

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3.5. Showcase School Program

In order to provide personalised learning experience, we partner with schools through the Microsoft Showcase School Program. The learning experiences centre around personalised learning, amplified by 1:1 deployments that effectively use Microsoft solutions (e.g. Surface, Office 365 Education, Office Mix, OneNote, Skype) to enable anywhere, anytime education for all students. Showcase School leadership teams are part of a professional community that recognises and amplifies the use of technology to drive transformation and efficiencies throughout the schools.

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3.6. Saksham

India is at a moment where the young demographic dividend can be capitalized and harnessed to drive the next phase of growth for India. Faculty development plays a key role in driving the 21st century skills in the students. Hence any intervention targeted at faculty on pedagogy can have a profound impact on learning and teaching. Microsoft India has been working with institutes of higher education in the country and acknowledges that effective professional development is critical for teachers to be able to integrate technology into teaching and improve students’ learning experience.

We initiated Saksham program in 2011 to bridge the Through Saksham, we have reached out to 81 State/ digital divide and support faculty with 21st century skills. Central Universities in 24 states training over 3800 faculty The program equips them to front end digitization and members. It has been instrumental in changing the networking of their institution, build content repository, perception of educators from even non IT domain to work schedule online sessions and gain meaningful insights towards engaging teaching learning environment. into education tools, office productivity, cloud adoption, unified communication and accessibility features for inclusive education.

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3.7. Digital Innovation Lab

We support universities in improving productivity and building capacity of not only faculty but also of administrators and students by setting up a Digital Innovation Lab at University premises. Through this intervention, we aim to empower the faculty with knowledge tools which aid in deployment of technology in teaching and learning and facilitate innovation. The initiative is to provide insights about the changing learning needs of the 21st century learner and skills to modify teaching strategies to meet those needs, prepare educators so as to use state-of-the- art technological tools to enhance classroom instruction. We support inclusive education and help people with disabilities to use computers more efficiently. The members engage and access online communities to be a part of knowledge sharing culture. In the year 2015-16, 452 educators, 421 administrators and 444 students attended this program.

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3.8. Microsoft Academia Accelerator

Microsoft Academia Accelerator, started in 2014 in annual hackathon series, titled Code. Fun. Do provides from Microsoft or Microsoft appointed training partners. focus that takes students beyond pure technology or code India, is a program where our engineers from Microsoft an opportunity to students from other disciplines as well Top teams from the hackathons conducted at the college into other equally important determinants of success, India Development Center partner with top engineering to learn coding. Hackathons are preceded by fast-paced, campus level graduate to a 3-month long online Code.Fun. such as user experience, design and customer value colleges, their computer science faculty and students hands-on talks and demos that orient students to key Do Finalists Forum, where India’s best student developers propositions from across disciplines to support their curriculum concepts needed to build apps for modern platforms such get the opportunity to refine their winning ideas and development, mentor to foster the spirit of innovation and as smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles and the cloud. take them to the next level, ably supported by seasoned For more information, please click here. entrepreneurship and delivery of syllabus. The students participate in a 20-hour overnight coding Microsoft mentors. This program stresses the concepts of . competition under the proctorship/ guidance of experts teamwork and collaboration as well as multi-disciplinary Voluntarily driven by our engineers of Microsoft India Development Center, the program is aimed at bridging India produces some of the world’s finest the industry-academia divide in computer science. It adds engineering talent. Much of this talent a layer of cutting-edge industry know-how to the existing get started on their journeys at the top computer science curriculum of engineering colleges in engineering colleges. By adding a layer India. Through this, we enable students to gain exposure of cutting-edge industry know-how on to critically important technology trends and practices top of the existing Computer Science in areas like cloud, data sciences, software architecture, curriculum, the Academia Accelerator mobile computing, thereby preparing them with vital skills program aims to expose students to and experiences that will enrich their careers and fuel critically important technology trends innovation and impact in India. and practices earlier, during their formative years, thereby preparing them We have been successful in generating interest among the with vital skills and experiences that will target audience. For instance, faculty members are now enrich their careers and fuel innovation proactively reaching out for deeper collaboration, and and impact from India. new technology focus areas are emerging. Our popular

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3.9. Imagine Cup

Imagine Cup is an annual global competition sponsored showcase their ideas. and hosted by Microsoft to bring together young technologists worldwide to help resolve some of the world’s Microsoft Imagine Cup continues to not only witness toughest challenges. The Indian leg of Imagine Cup of this strong participation from India, but also boasts of several year was held in April, 2015. One grand winner of the success stories emerging from the competition. After Indian leg of Imagine Cup represented India at worldwide competing in the Imagine Cup, one of the participants finals in Seattle, USA, to compete among global teams for launched his project into a company, EDUKINECT, which a USD 50,000 prize. provides an educational service platform to help more than 20,000 students be future-ready. The business Now in its 13th year, this global technology competition has grown by 400% annually – supporting educational features three categories – World Citizenship, Innovation services in more than 150 engineering campuses across and Gaming. While the World Citizenship category is India. Last year, CodeBlue, an Indian team, bagged second focused on solving global problems in areas such as health, place in the Apps for Office Challenge at the Imagine Cup environment, and human rights, the Innovation category 2014 Worldwide Finals held in Seattle. Team CodeBlue was seeks ideas that appeal to consumer audiences, as well as awarded a cash prize worth USD 3,000 for their innovative inspire and delight a wider audience. The Games category app – Molecule Maker, which provides a library of molecule challenges teams to develop innovations that raise the visualizations in World, Excel and Powerpoint, enabling the bar in the global game revolution. The competition of representation of molecules visually. 2015 included three engaging contests under these three categories – the Pitch Video Challenge, the Project Blueprint Challenge, and the User Experience Challenge, in addition to the main competition, to empower students to explore various avenues and platforms to develop and

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3.10. DreamSpark 3.11. Microsoft Student Partners

DreamSpark supports technical education by providing Through DreamSpark, we offer a subscription for Microsoft Student Partners is a program to sponsor students host tech events and give demos on campus, work access to Microsoft software for learning, teaching and Academic Institutions to provide a cost-effective way to in colleges and universities to share their deep knowledge alongside Microsoft professionals, assisting them during research purposes. DreamSpark is all about giving students put Microsoft developer tools, platforms and servers in and passion for technology with fellow students. They hackathons and events, join exclusive Microsoft training professional-level developer and designer tools at no cost labs and classrooms, and on their students’ and faculty’s master the latest technical content provided by Microsoft events to learn the latest technologies, grow and nurture a so that students can chase their dreams and create the computers for learning and research purposes, thereby, Imagine and share what they learn, building leadership community of students and faculty on-campus and online next big breakthrough in technology - or just get a head reducing costs of laboratories and teaching budgets. and communication skills along with technical expertise. and also enhance their skills and career opportunities. start in their career. We help academicians teach the latest These student partners run workshops and hackathons, technologies and experiment in research. We realize the need of a diverse set of resources to make learning more motivating, relevant, and engaging for today’s students.

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3.12. Microsoft Innovation Centers 3.13. Microsoft Digital India Hackathon

A Microsoft Innovation Center (MIC) is a technical facility We have set up 44 Microsoft innovation centres in colleges In July 2015, we organized Digital India Hackathon as hours of training & hands-on development on cutting- that provides programs and services to foster innovation across India. part of the ‘Digital India Week’ celebration. It was aimed edge Microsoft technologies. We extensively leveraged our and grow sustainable local software economies. at preparing ‘Skilled India’ to face technological challenges Microsoft Innovation Centres (MICs) network to host these and devise solutions to contribute towards realizing the large scale events & Microsoft Student Partners (MSPs) to implementation objectives of the ‘Digital India’ & ‘Make in help in driving end-to-end event execution & support. The India’ programs. students were trained and encouraged to develop apps & solutions on Digital India themes/ Smart Governance/ Digital India Hackathons were organised across India for Smart City/ apps in socially relevant areas like Healthcare, 6,000+ Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics Education and Women Safety. ( STEM ) students from 20+ states who received 300+

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3.14. Program Oorja

India has set a target of skilling 500 million people by year 2022. The aim of skill development in the country is to support achieving rapid and inclusive growth through enhancement of individual employability and ability to adapt to changing technologies. The challenge for Department of Technical Education in different states is to develop a high-quality skilled workforce relevant to current and emerging employment market needs.

As part of the skill building initiatives under Project Oorja, we are enabling students of Polytechnics/ Industrial Technology Institutes/ Engineering Colleges, to be industry ready by helping them acquire globally recognized certification on various Microsoft Education curriculum, largely office productivity. Though this initiative started in 2013, it has reached out to 2880 students from 16 states. Students are given 5-day training with sufficient mock tests for preparation and a voucher to take the global online assessment on the sixth day. In this program, students are given hands-on training on basic components of a computer, introduction to Win 8.1, troubleshooting and digital lifestyles and Office 2013 with lot of practice tests to be able to do well in the assessment. Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 33 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education Empowering Entrepreneurs 4.1. Our Approach 4.2. Microsoft Accelerator 4.3. Scale Up & Hi-Po 4.4. GenNext Hub 4.5. Start-up pack for start-ups 4.6. AIM Smart City Accelerator 4.7. #CoInnovate

4 4.8. BizSpark Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 34 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

4.1. Our Approach 4.2. Microsoft Accelerator

India is one of the world’s fastest growing economies. With a growing entrepreneurship Microsoft Accelerator is our corporate venturing arm of building a sustainable business. culture, supported by proactive Government measures encouraging start-ups and increased located in start-up ecosystems around the world, access to venture funding, Microsoft recognizes that India is poised for robust economic including Bangalore, Beijing, Berlin, London, Paris, Tel- Our Accelerator in India identifies high performing growth accelerated by the emerging entrepreneurial landscape. Aviv and Seattle. Through our Accelerator, we work with and promising entrepreneurs and start-ups and runs start-ups across all stages of maturity in an endeavour to the program twice every year - one from August to We partake in this growth story by empowering entrepreneurs through Citizenship help entrepreneurs build great companies. Our support November and another from mid-February to mid- initiatives. We engage with the start-up community in a variety of ways. Through our includes providing the start-ups with tools, resources and June. With a 150+ mentor network and associations with Microsoft Accelerator, Scale Up and Hi-Po programs, we work with promising start-ups expertise to help them scale, develop innovative services notable organizations, we offer entrepreneurs a platform directly. Our reach in the start-up community is greater through initiatives like BizSpark and acquire new customers. Our Accelerators have been to accelerate their start-ups and take them to the next and partner accelerators. These initiatives and the subsequent impact are detailed in the rated as the best among leading accelerator and incubator level. We provide world-class mentorship and expertise, following sections. programs across the globe. technology and infrastructure support, and access to investors and customers, so that, every start-up mentored In India, Microsoft Accelerator was established in 2012. at the Accelerator can scale from idea to execution at an Stationed in Bangalore, India, we run one of India’s largest accelerated speed. start-up accelerators. Within this time, we have created a unique position for ourselves in the Indian start-up Our variety of programs, including Scale Up and Hi-Po, ecosystem - becoming a platform for entrepreneurs, are designed to get seed and series-funded start-ups the corporates, investors and other stakeholders. growth and traction they need to be successful in future. We believe that with individualized support and access to We have worked with 83 start-ups including those at seed our resources, start-ups can accelerate their growth six fold stage, early growth stage and scale up stages. Our primary through our programs. Approximately 76% of the start- vehicle to empower start-ups is through our mentor- ups associated with us have been funded with an average driven accelerator program. This program is designed to funding of US $1.08 mn. equip entrepreneurs effectively manoeuvre the challenges

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4.3. Scale Up & Hi-Po

The Indian start-up ecosystem now has adequate avenues for seed and series-A funding as well as early stage incubation. However, there is a dearth of support during growth stage. Many promising start-ups die a premature death without adequate guidance and follow-up funding in the growth stage. In order to address this, we launched two programs - Scale Up & Hi-Po, specifically designed to help later stage start-ups.

For the Scale Up program, 10 start-ups made the cut from over 1,800 which applied for the winter batch of this program. They comprise two series-A funded start-ups and eight others that have raised over US $1 mm in funding. Three of them are already well-established in the market. “Hi-Po” program provides mentorship to such firms and access to new markets, partners, customers, and technology.

Our Accelerator in India was recognized as the ‘Top Ecosystem Builder’ by Fortune Magazine at the 40 Under 40 Awards in 20xx. In 2015, we emerged as one of the key players in the start-up ecosystem as part of a survey on the start-up scenario undertaken by The Economic Times.

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4.4. GenNext Hub 4.5. Start-up pack for Start-ups

We partnered with Reliance Industries through GenNext We support GenNext Hub in working with the In November 2015, at ‘Future Unleashed’ conference held on Azure through a new portal which connects start-ups Hub to help start-ups scale up and evolve from a ‘Minimum entrepreneurs and help them with technology mentoring. in Mumbai, we launched an initiative for local start-ups with cities and their needs. This initiative is anticipated to Viable Product’ to a ‘Minimum Viable Company’. We Start-ups also get access to our business units for product focused on delivering innovative solutions for smart cities. impact over 50 smart cities in the next year through a believe in providing a strong foundation for growth and feedback, marketing and technical guidance including our Working with accelerators, these start-ups can now apply catalogue of over 50 start-ups and Independent Software success by providing them with the critical resources that BizSpark program. for individual access up to USD 120,000 (INR 80 lakhs) Vendor solutions. they need. The hub has a 4-month immersive program worth of Azure computing to help India’s smart cities where start-ups gain access to funding, business mentors, explore solutions and run smart city digital pilots. Cities For more information, please click here. technical and design experts, plug and play office space can also apply for access to these services and solutions and other resources.

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4.6. AIM Smart City Accelerator 4.7. #CoInnovate

India is spearheading growth of its cities through the accelerator. The accelerator will provide start-ups with a In our committed endeavour to empower entrepreneurs, Kyron, Patni Healthcare and other large corporates using ambitious smart cities program. We strongly believe that focus on technology and solutions for smart cities access we launched #CoInnovate, in December 2015 - a program this platform to drive innovation in their organizations by connected solutions and systems will play a key role in to funding, investors, customers as well as technological to connect mature start-ups with corporates. Through the leveraging the solutions developed by the start-ups. enabling smart cities and the technology in this space assistance. So far, over 80 start-ups across multiple program, corporates get access to innovative solutions for needs fast-tracking – to productize ideas and bring these industries have been accelerated as part of this program. their business needs while start-ups find greater market solutions to the market for rapid and mass adoption. access. We have the likes of Citibank, Reliance Industries, For more information, please click here. In providing this enabling environment, we have joined hands with Ashoka University, D-Labs at the Indian School of Business and Holostik to create the AIM Smart City

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4.8. BizSpark

We run BizSpark, a flagship three-year program for and creating usable products. privately owned start-ups that are less than 5 years old and with an annual revenue of US$ 1 million or less. BizSpark This strategic partnership aims at: helps start-ups succeed in a variety of ways including • Providing software through Microsoft BizSpark program by giving them free access to Microsoft cloud services, to the start-ups enrolled in the ISB TEP and Azure cloud software services and other support. Some of the services platform through BizSpark program to high potential include: start-ups • Providing mentorship to participants/ students of TEP • Up to US$750 per month of free Azure cloud services for program both on the technical front where participants are 3 years (US$150 per month each for up to 5 developers building products/ solutions using Microsoft technology per start-up). or on the business front for products/ solutions using the • A full suite of development and test software and tools Microsoft technologies such as Visual Studio, Windows and Office. • Developing and implementation of educational modules • Access to hundreds of free training classes, technical on entrepreneurship in the engineering college of content plus 4 break-fix phone support incidents. Telangana and Andhra Pradesh • Providing a holistic entrepreneurial ecosystem involving During the year 2015-16, a total of ……. start-ups applied academia, students and entrepreneurs which facilitates for the BizSpark program, out of which ……..were enrolled. synergy across all relevant stakeholders for support of technology entrepreneurship in India Leveraging our BizSpark platform, we have partnered with • Setting mechanism to select 10 projects across sectors the Indian School of Business to support promising start- where Microsoft can extend its technology and business ups under the ‘Technology Entrepreneurship Program’ including free software under its BizSpark program (TEP) to focus on budding entrepreneurs in their business growth and development, industrial strength technology For more information, please click here.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 39 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education Serving Communities

5.1. Our Approach 5.2. YouthSpark 5.3. Tech4Good 5.4. Employee Giving& Volunteerism 5.5. Empowering Non-profits 5.6. Accessibility 5.7. Disaster and Humanitarian Relief Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 5 40 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

5.1. Our Approach

Serving local communities has been an integral part of the overall activities of all Microsoft entities in India. Over all, Citizenship efforts in India have a considerable focus on community development. These range from disaster relief to providing long term sustenance to communities over various programs taken up by the different entities. Our initiatives in this area include:

Promoting education and Skilling, employability and Women and girls’ Helping NGOs use Promoting employee giving Support sanitation drives Expanding opportunity for Supporting humanitarian digital inclusion including entrepreneurship: provide empowerment: participation technology to magnify the and volunteering to contribute as part of an overall children and youth living relief and disaster training of teachers to digital and vocational of girls and women in jobs, social change and impact to various projects focusing education program to help with disabilities management efforts in areas use technology for better training and job placement science and technology through donating software on ensuring education of girls drive better results from affected by natural calamities outcomes in education support for youth (especially careers and other activities to and services, improving through provision of safe and education programs through our partnership girls and women), facilitate promote gender equality access to hardware, sharing clean sanitation facilities, support and grants to national level young people to start their knowledge and building to mid-day meal programs, disaster response NGOs, own micro enterprises and capacities of NGOs to provision of fellowship grants assisting in rehabilitation small businesses leverage technology for and support to education of work around provision of social good and provide street children shelters, safe and clean water, innovative technology medical aid and ensuring solutions sanitation in the relief facilities

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5.2. YouthSpark

In 2012, Microsoft announced YouthSpark, a company-wide, global initiative to create opportunities for 300 million 5.2.1. Project Jyoti youth by 2015. Through 30+ programs and partnerships with more than 350 youth-serving not-for-profits, YouthSpark brings together technology, training, investments and experiences to help the youth change the world. We believe that The YouthSpark-Project Jyoti program works through the technology offers renewed possibilities that can empower both educators and students in this new mobile-first, cloud- Jyoti have created some amazing stories. We have also Community Technology Learning Centre (CTLC) which is first world. YouthSpark enables them to make a difference, both to their own lives and to those within their community. helped the incredible youth we work with, find IT-related a hub where youth can come to learn about computers, The three core objectives that we have identified, as illustrated below, are powered through a number of directed jobs across sectors including BPO, Customer Management use the internet, explore new careers and further their programs focused on partnerships with Governments, not-for-profit organizations and businesses. Spread across 16 & Retail, Hospitality and Fashion Design. Together, all education. Through this initiative, we partner with not- states in India, YouthSpark empowers youth to imagine and realize their full potential as it: the initiatives help empower the youth by making them for-profits across the country to empower underserved educated and self- sufficient fostering the growth story of individuals, especially unemployed youth, marginalized India. women and rural communities, through computer literacy and IT skills training. The scope of the program has been expanded beyond employability to incorporate the component of entrepreneurship. Transforms education and Unleashes future innovators Helps youth realize expands digital inclusion by giving youth the inspiration new opportunities of YouthSpark - Project Jyoti adapts an enterprise approach and tools to imagine new and entrepreneurship to training and actively encourages the youth to develop opportunities an entrepreneurial mindset. As a result, over 1700 youth enterprises have been established. In 2015-16, over 30,000 young adults received training, 70% of who got gainful employment or are self-employed and over 900 youth enterprises were established.

From the Chikanari weavers in Uttar Pradesh who use CAD software to make better designs to the fishermen of Tamil Nadu who use satellite connectivity to gather timely Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 weather information, the efforts of YouthSpark - Project 42 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

5.2. YouthSpark

YouthSpark-Project Jyoti - Dream for Women Initiative (Anudip Foundation)

At present, a student of Anudip Foundation’s 3D4D Project, Project. It was at this point that Dilsad decided to leave her Dilsad earns Rs. 6000 per month. She is simultaneously teaching job. She is now on her tenth month of training completing her graduation and taking care of her family. and has learnt to print a number of 3D products including Prior to Anudip, her life was completely different. Her some basic models and shapes, company logos, sports family income was less than Rs. 1000 per month. Such a mementos, engineering products, corporate gifts like severe lack of finances forced her to look for a job and name holders, pen stands, key chains and prosthetic hand. start earning as soon as possible. She managed to secure She is a very serious and dedicated student with good a job at St. Peter’s School as a part time teacher and communication skills. She diligently attends all classes and started earning approximately Rs. 1000 per month. Dilsad is determined to do well. Dilsad says that at last she feels though was determined to continue with her studies. After happy, confident and satisfied with life. completing school, she started her graduate studies at Harimohan Ghosh College. She started looking for better job opportunities to fund her education and support her family. This search first led her to Anudip’s Foundation’s 3-month ‘MAST’ training course, which she completed at Swayam Metiabruz Community Support Centre. Her continuous pursuit for better employment then steered her towards Anudip’s 3D4D Project. On the recommendation of her ‘MAST’ trainer, she decided to face a number of preliminary interviews. She was chosen as one of the eight students who would be participating in the 3D4D

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5.2. YouthSpark

YouthSpark- Rural Support Program (partnered with Aga Khan Foundation)

Ketan belongs to the village of Racchvada in Narmada 9,000 a month as a base pay. In addition to this, he also District of Gujarat. He is 20 years old. Due to financial issue pulls off multiple benefits from the company and gets at home, Ketan was unable to attain any education after additional pay for finishing off various sections of the his schooling grade 12th. After a meeting with Ketan and outlet. Ketan is a very shrewd saver too. With all his long his parents at the Selamba Centre, he agreed to join the term planned savings, he has recently bought a top-notch skill development program in order to become eligible bike (Yamaha FZ) which costs nearly a sum of INR 80,000. for a job with sustainable and exponential salary. Ketan This tells us how Yuva Junction has helped Ketan with basic joined Yuva Junction with great spirits and aspirations. His life skills too. In addition to this Ketan also financially assists motivation to earn money as quickly as possible out of his father, who still resides in the tribal village and this is need made him a fabulous listener, learner and in later done through openhanded means - giving how much ever stages, a marvellous performer. He took his training as he is in need of. Ketan is just steps away from becoming seriously as he could. It did not come as a surprise to a manager at KFC as he is to finish only one more section everyone when he cracked his interview in the very first before he becomes eligible for the post of a manager. attempt. In fact, that is what every person who knew his struggles and endless efforts would have predicted to come about.

At the moment, Ketan works at KFC at the Adajan outlet in Surat. When he first joined, his salary was only INR 5,500 but just in a matter of 8-9 months he has managed to pursue successive increments which makes him earn INR

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5.2. YouthSpark

5.2.2. YouthSpark Live 5.2.3. YouthSpark - Build Your Business

YouthSpark Live events bring young people together We have a long-standing commitment to helping youth to plan their future. Throughout the event, they identify realize their full potential. In April 2015, Microsoft India the skills they need to reach their goals, figure out unveiled the ‘Build Your Business (BYB)’ curriculum for how technology will accelerate them forward, and get Indian youth. This is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs connected to programs that will help them get there. and start-ups with tools and practices to develop their business strategy, build and sustain their business, and YouthSpark Live focuses on three major goals: effectively compete in the marketplace. With this, we hope • Employment: Ensures technology proficiency and to encourage youth to become entrepreneurs and job preparation for jobs creators. • Careers in Tech: Equips with skills required for jobs in computer science • Entrepreneurship: Nurtures business acumen to create, build and grow a business

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5.2. YouthSpark

5.2.4. YouthSpark – Challenge for Change 5.2.5. DigiGirlz

This is a global contest that encourages young people who are passionate about social causes to find ways to spark good DigiGirlz is an exclusive initiative under the YouthSpark Microsoft employees are orchestrated in a day-long event in their communities. umbrella that gives girls aged 12–15 years an opportunity at the Microsoft campus inspiring young girls to adopt to learn about careers in technology by connecting technology as their career. with Microsoft employees & participating in hands- The project ‘Emancipator’ – a real time position tracking on computer & technology workshops. Interactive For more information, please click here. system developed by Roopam consists of a mobile technology workshops and inspirational talks from application which sends alerts to a Dementia patient’s caregiver. The Dementia patient wears a band which starts vibrating as soon as the geo-fence is crossed giving a sense to the patient that he has crossed the geo-fence and once he is back to his senses he presses a button which triggers a voice navigation back to his home. The application also has features like medication reminders and suggested exercises for the well-being of the person, thus reducing the cost of Dementia Care along with the number of care-giving hours. Roopam’s victory has been rewarded by Microsoft with an amazing leadership-development trip to Nicaragua to learn about creating change, $2,500 cash to help turn his ideas into a reality, a Windows Phone, and the opportunity to serve as a Microsoft YouthSpark Advocate from India.

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5.3. Tech4Good 5.4. Employee Giving & Volunteerism

Microsoft acknowledges the powerful role that technology technology for the benefit of all, more than 2000 trainees The foundation of all of our efforts to serve communities Pay As You Earn can play in empowering citizens. To this end, we have built from 1500 NGOs have been directly trained on critical is the passion of our employees. The Employee Giving thoughtful features in our products. Our Windows app IT processes like software procurement and donation, Campaign, the largest ever corporate giving program in Is yet another program executed in partnership with Guardian aims to safeguard the user in times of distress and planning exercises to identify future technology needs and the world was started in India in 2006. Our employees Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India. This gives our is very beneficial for the women users. Enabled with real- execution of advanced technologies. A total of 200,000+ participate in the annual Giving Campaign and donate to employees an opportunity to give back to the community time tracking and intelligent SOS Alert, it ensures seamless people have directly benefitted from these trainings. a charity regularly. The funds raised through the Giving by supporting a cause of their choice directly from their connectivity between the vulnerable and their loved ones. Campaign are matched dollar for dollar by Microsoft India pay. The idea of the programme is also that even small Besides this, it also offers the facility to be integrated with before being handed over to the trusted not-for-profits. contributions by employees make a positive impact on the the relevant emergency help centres in the location. During 2015-16, employees donated INR 2.31 crore which lives of the underprivileged. resulted in funding of 146 NGOs. VideoKheti is another revolutionary app that puts technology in the hands of the farmers. This essential tool bridges the gap between farmers and technology. The potential of this research prototype lies in its ability to serve as a platform for farmers and the less-literate communities to connect and share best practice videos in the language and dialect of their choice.

Microsoft India also seeks to enhance digital literacy by providing free access to Office 365 – a cloud based office suite for select schools. As a result of our inclination to align

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 47 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

5.4. Employee Giving & Volunteerism

Sanitation for Education

This initiative is aimed to build a holistic sanitation program in 42 schools, especially girls schools across Delhi NCR, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad benefitting nearly 30,000 students.

As part of our annual Giving Campaign, which is celebrated every year in the month of October, Microsoft India and our employees formally handed over sanitation facilities to 42 schools in Haryana, Telangana and Karnataka. This also marked the culmination of a six-month long awareness campaign about sanitation and hygiene for 10,746 students in 42 schools. We are proud to have reached a milestone in the six-month long Sanitation for Education project which was conceived to support the Government’s Swacch Bharat Abhiyaan.

For more information, please click here.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 48 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

5.4. Employee Giving& Volunteerism

Charity Partner: Udavum Karangal, Chennai Charity Partner: Avvai Home and Orphanage for Girls, Chennai

When we first met Althaf, he was mentally deranged. He When Udavum Karangal staff contacted Althaf’s family Kaaviya lives with her mother Malarvizshi in Dharmapuri able to visit those. I am enjoying too much at Avvai Home. spent many months in a garbage bin in Coonoor in the with the recovery news, it was an emotional sight. The District in Tamil Nadu. Malarvizshi started working in a In my class, the teachers are teaching well. Our teachers Nilgiris. Some of the store owners in the nearby area family never expected to see him again. Around 10 years clinic to support her family after her husband deserted help us like our friends. I feel very happy to study in Avvai brought him to Udavum Karangal centre in Coimbatore. ago, one fine day, Althaf disappeared from his house. her. Her income was not sufficient to meet the family’s Home. I feel proud to say I am a resident and student of After few days of initial care and attention, Mr. Ratan started Since the family couldn’t trace him so they took him to basic needs. She approached Avvai Home for Kaaviya’s Avvai Home. When I grow up, I want to become an IPS.” training him on how to take care of himself. Althaf started be dead. When Althaf’s family came to take him home, admission as she could not send her daughter to school showing improvements just after three weeks of training they were very happy and the tears in their eyes clearly due to financial difficulties. Kaaviya is being provided with and was able to correctly tell his family and address in local explained how much they missed him. Now Althaf is living shelter, food, clothing and education at no cost at Avvai language. a normal life with his family. Home.

We are able to provide these services to girls from vulnerable families of the society who otherwise would not have any hope for brighter future. In year 2011, Kaaviya was given admission in class IX and in April 2014, she appeared exams for class XII.

Kaaviya says “I am getting a very rich protein diet and healthy food here at Avvai Home. In my house, I can’t get gift products like set watch, encyclopedia etc. but I am getting them at Avvai Home. I can’t visit tourist places like Queen’s Land, ChokkiThaani etc. but in Avvai Home I am

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 49 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

5.5. Empowering Non-profits 5.6. Accessibility

We are proud to work with several not-for-profits in India infrastructure enabling them bring about a greater social Accessibility makes it easier for anyone to see, hear and Project Bhasha to support their work and help them be more efficient, change. Since 2006, we have donated software products use technology irrespective of age or ability. The concept of effective, and innovative. Whether through our software worth about 300 crores (USD 51 million) to more than accessibility is driven by the motto of ‘bringing productivity Project Bhasha promotes local language computing with donations or technology solutions, we strive to help not- 550 NGOs. During 2015-16, 2,00,000 licenses for software to every person on the planet’. The core applications such an objective to lower the barrier for people who prefer for-profits do more good. Various initiatives are undertaken products worth about 12 crores (USD 2 million) were as Windows and Office have been successfully developed computing in their native tongue. The program is the part by us to help NGOs get equipped with the requisite IT donated. to be accessible. For people with impairments, features of the accessibility initiative at Microsoft India. This project such as the narrator, magnifier and on-screen keyboard is our commitment to provide local language interface are what make computing possible. Users can personalize packs for our flagship products. The initiative also looks at their devices to suit their needs and preferences bringing a building vibrant local language communities that define world of technology to people of all abilities. Through our and contribute to these efforts.Our products include efforts and collaborative work with Governments, industry, features with options for seven Indian languages - Gujarati, academia, and NGOs, we have developed innovative Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Tamil and Telugu. solutions that remove barriers to access for many. For more information, please click here.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 50 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

5.6. Accessibility 5.7. Disaster and Humanitarian Relief

Product Localization Microsoft Translator App We have always been supporting humanitarian relief and the devastating floods in Chennai - and the subsequent disaster management efforts by developing technological impact to the local communications infrastructure – we Localization of Microsoft Windows and Office has been We have also introduced a Translator app that works on all solutions that foster social and economic change. made all international calls to landlines and mobiles into included to the 14 Indian languages. We support all the smartphones, tablets, Apple Watch and Android Wear Technology can help save lives by making communication Tamil Nadu free of charge for a few days immediately after platforms and full range of products to offer Indian devices. With this, users can translate words or phrases and collaboration faster, easier, and more comprehensive. Chennai floods. language. A feature of Microsoft Office Suite Hindi (and either by typing or by voice. The app can also speak out several Indian languages available) is proofing tool that the translated words or phrases. The app allows to copy As a part of relief and humanitarian effort, we provided improve the customer experience. and paste text from and to other apps for quick translation. monetary and technology support to those affected by earthquakes in Nepal and floods in India. In light of

Accessibility features are factored into the early stages of product planning, research and development making Microsoft an industry leader in building products that are safer and easier for anyone to use. Our commitment to accessibility began over two decades ago and continues with each new product we develop.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 51 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education Our People

6.1. Our Approach 6.2. Recruitment, Onboarding & Integration 6.3. Programs for the employees 6.4. Benefits & Support

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6.1. Our Approach

At Microsoft India, we believe that our people are the driving strength. We strive to build an environment that nurtures our people to bring out the best in everything that they do. To achieve this, we believe in a culture founded in a growth mindset in two areas:

One Microsoft Diversity and Inclusion

We are a family of individuals united by a single, The world is diverse. We serve everyone by shared mission. We build on the ideas of others and representing everyone. We seek to be open to collaborate across boundaries to bring the best of learning from our own biases and changing our Microsoft to our customers as one. behaviors so we can tap into the collective power of everyone. We don’t just value differences; we seek them out and invite them in. The diversity emerges from the unique experiences and skill sets.

Our workplace is a hub where people from diverse We believe in building and sustaining relationships with backgrounds with similar passion for technology meet. It is our people and this reflects in everything, right from recognized as a center for broadening awareness around recruitment to professional and personal support. We go gender diversity and having several initiatives for making an extra mile to ensure comfort to our employees while the place a truly inclusive workplace. Our culture promotes they are scaling new heights. Microsoft India has been growth of ideas through impetus of diversity of people and recognized as the ‘Second-most admired IT company in thoughts that further reflects in the way we innovate. As India’ by the Fortune India List 2014. a result, our ideas are better, our products are better, and our customers are better served

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 53 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

6.2. Recruitment, Onboarding & Integration

Microsoft Academy of College Hires (MACH)

At Microsoft India, hiring is a critical strategic activity as it We have the New Hire Buddy Program where we assign directly impacts one of our strategic goals- to acquire, retain a Buddy to each hire who addresses a variety of topics, and develop the best talent. Microsoft Academy of College shares tips and resources. We also have a dedicated Mentor Hires (MACH) is our accelerated career development program Program where the assigned mentor assists the new hire in designed to recruit and hire top-performing engineering and building skills and Microsoft IQ through coaching, guidance, business school graduates across a broad range of roles resources and connections. within the information technology domain, aimed to cultivate talent through training, mentoring, and community support. We have a structured program called LEAP that spans three We invest in their career development, provides guidance weeks and is essentially an accelerated technical training and and support to the new hires to help them excel in their onboarding experience involving a series of classroom and career with us. Through a series of rotations, the program immersive leanings. Each new hire executes a live project provides them an opportunity to explore their potential that is mentored by a manager and evaluated at the end. by offering exposure to multiple roles, strong ‘on-the-job’ learning support, professional development & training, global We indeed go the last mile to hone the budding talent. networking and community-based learning. We believe that We launched the program Foundry with an endeavor to a good start makes the journey more enjoyable. We aspire develop and groom future talent to join Microsoft. The to create memories while our hires flag off their career with program consists of summer interns working in teams of us, and for this we have a line-up of events for smooth 4-5 each, ably supported by seasoned coaches from our integration of the new hire into our ecosystem. product groups.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 54 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

6.3. Programs for the employees

We believe in holistic well-being of everyone at Microsoft India. introduced to the excitement of technology and fun at the To keep the vigor up, we keep organizing events round the same time. year. We organized a ‘Race within the Race’ for our employees in Hyderabad - for both the 10K and 7K categories. Fierce We have organized the Management Excellence Community competition ensued amidst the camaraderie and cheer, as (MEC) which is a peer-driven excellence community of Microsofties aimed to reach the finish line before any of their managers who have come together to learn and share colleagues.We kick-started ‘Happy Hour’- entertaining one- best management practices from each other and to drive hour sessions to rejuvenate employees with some quick, fun, common learning agendas for the community members. on-the-floor activities without eating into their work time too Garage is yet another community through which we much. The sessions are usually held at dinner time to garner encourage employees to hone their creative side. Our maximum participation and typically each event has seen an Guardian app, aimed at promoting women safety, is the average of 60 people participating. This number varies with result of incubation in Garage. XpressionZ provides a stage interest and work load but the mood at every ‘Happy Hour’ to the theatre enthusiasts, and Cricket Hungama and Soccer session is usually upbeat and full of fun, healthy competition, Mania are for sport enthusiasts. We also support Employee team spirit and cheer! Resource Groups (ERGs) and Employee Networks (ENs) which provide cultural awareness and social networking, and All the Microsofties have a sense of ‘Giving’ imbibed through are linked to the overall business goals of the organization. our immediate culture. There is a concerted effort made Members voluntarily work together and serve as internal every year by dedicating the month of October to ‘Giving resources to ensure that diverse perspectives are included Activities’. We witness a surge of passion and contribution to in business operations, marketing and product development the fullest, helping in shaping a life through various NGOs activities. These organizations provide career development that we are tied with. The annual Bring Your Child to Work support, networking opportunities, mentoring, community custom welcomes children of our employees to be a part participation, product input, and assistance in activities that of the regular office day. Through this initiative, children are promote cultural awareness.

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6.3. Programs for the employees

Microsoft for Her Springboard Women in IT

Our approach to gender diversity is at two distinct levels. Internally, we ensure greater representation of women across We endeavor to recognize the huge untapped pool of Women in IT (WIT) community at Microsoft India strives all levels in the organization from new hires to senior management. At the same time, we seek to impact the ecosystem talent and an initiative to channelize the value ‘women on to attract, develop, and retain talented women within at large by influencing and empowering more and more women to make technology as their preferred career choice. a sabbatical’ could possibly bring to a corporate. This is the organization. This community works with the mission an exclusive career re-connect initiative through a unique to cultivate a diverse work environment that attracts, program designed to make the transition back into the develops, advances and retains talented women. This corporate world, easily and smoothly. It is a comprehensive community specially strives for the female workforce program designed to provide quality projects with flexible to grow as technologists and business leaders. The WIT work arrangements. initiatives, driven by women themselves, make it a woman- friendly workplace in true sense.

We recognize that diversity gains will not be sustained if the work environment does not promote behaviors that encourage new ways of problem-solving and reward diversity of thought. We provide our leaders with cultural competency training, diversity and inclusion best practice management strategies and offer employees ample opportunities to network and build key stakeholder relationships, thereby fostering a culture of inclusive behavior.

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6.4. Benefits & Support

We make and sustain efforts towards work-life balance a healthy life-work balance. In addition to a central team, 6.4.1. Compensation and Benefits of our employees. Access to the latest software and HR professionals are embedded within each group in tools from remote locations, extended training resources, Microsoft to ensure that every employee has a clear point Our compensation and benefits policy is a crucial months from February 1 2016 onwards. This is in addition medical insurance and relocation program are some of of contact and support on HR issues, from our executive instrument in our effort to attract and retain industry’s top to the option of unpaid leave for up to three months and the initiatives available to the employees aimed towards managers to individual contributors. talent. Consequently, our compensation and benefits policy flexible work hours for up to two years. We also recognize centers on ‘Pay for Performance’ and is conscientiously the importance of bond that new fathers share with their agnostic to hierarchy. Every full-time employee at Microsoft babies. To support the same, all the male employees are is eligible for an amalgam of rewards that comprise of base eligible for two weeks of paternity leave. Additionally, to pay, performance bonus, stock awards and benefits. This care for adopted children, mothers are eligible for eight is supplemented with various life-stage benefits – such as calendar weeks of paid leave and fathers are eligible for child care, tuition assistance, vehicle lease, and relocation two weeks of paid leave. - that an employee can opt for if such a need surfaces.

Aside from monetary contributions, individual preferences take prominence. Through flexible work timings, options to work from home and teleworking, we encourage employees to balance work and life for we believe, a happy employee is a productive employee. In the same vein, we keep employees stress free by supporting them in taking care of their loved ones. Each employee can customize his or her employment benefit to suit personal requirements – such as elderly care, child support, and tuition assistance. Aligned to our employee-centric policies, we have doubled the maternity leave for our women employees to six

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6.4. Benefits & Support

6.4.2. Employee Wellness & Safety 6.4.3. Culture of Appreciation

We believe in inducing a culture of wellness among our We sponsor an annual executive health checkup for our We have a sabbatical program called Microsoft Initiatives like Wall of Fame, Morale Cup and Send a employees. While our comprehensive benefits policy employees. On-site diagnostics camp was held at the Achievement Awards (MSAA) that allows us to retain and Kudos try to keep the work environment healthy. Acts covers employees and their family members on health and Microsoft office enables employees to have private checkup revitalize eligible employees who, by virtue of their high- of appreciation help in keeping the team motivated and accident cover, we continue to encourage employees to and consultation with a doctor. level positions, experience, and proven performance, letting them know that their hard work is truly valued. keep fit and stay fit. would be difficult to replace. It is our belief that MSAA Micrsoft CARES acts as a confidential counseling service fosters retention by enabling employees to avoid burnout. Livewell365, an employee wellness portal, was initiated that equips our employees to meet life’s challenges in a by Microsoft India in June 2014. This portal serves as a more mature and balanced manner. Professional counselors single point destination for everything related to health from Microsoft CARES assist the people in developing the and wellness. By answering the online questionnaire on necessary coping skills to help them maintain the emotional biometrics, an employee can gauge his/ her health risk balance in their lives. online any given time.

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7.1. Our Approach 7.2. Human Rights 7.3. Business Conduct 7.4. Privacy and Data Security 7.5. Responsible Sourcing from Indirect Suppliers 7.6. Environmental sustainability Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 7 59 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

7.1. Our Approach 7.2. Human Rights

Our respect for our stakeholders in the ecosystem we operate in, reflects in our longstanding We take all measures to respect and protect human commitment to be responsible in everything that we do. Across our businesses we have rights with mechanisms of remedy for any violations or Microsoft’s Annual Employee poll (MS- a wide range of policies, practices, and programs that relate to human rights, ethical grievances. We aligned our human rights work with the UN Poll) is an online survey tool where the business conduct, data privacy and security and environmental sustainability. In addition to Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights released senior management and leadership can adherence to Microsoft’s policies, we ensure strict adherence to the laws of the land and its in 2011. Microsoft’s Global Human Rights Statement receive the employees’ opinion and anti-corruption policies. All escalations pertaining to violation with respect to Microsoft’s articulates our human rights commitments in line with feedback on pressing issues. policies are addressed by the Office of Legal Compliance (OLC) at the global level. the framework of the Guiding Principles, including issues related to governance, due diligence, and remediation. We believe in fostering a people-friendly work culture that encourages our employees to realize their full potential at the workplace. While diversity and inclusion remains the strong motive, the vastly different set of employees are brought together by a clearly articulated and strong set of core values, often referred to as Microsoft Values. Practices such as town halls, weekly leadership meetings, off-sites, skip level meetings and Microsoft 360-degree feedback act as listening channels to gather employee opinion on topics of importance. Our human rights commitments are incorporated into our Standards of Business Conduct, which all employees receive and for which they must complete training. In addition to our employees, the policies also encompass all our stakeholders - suppliers and clients.

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7.2. Human Rights

Grievance Redressal Mechanism

We have various redressal mechanisms that empower our employees, suppliers and even the community to report about human rights violations. We have set up email aliases, telephone hotlines with multi-language support, fax lines and websites for the same. The grievance mechanisms and remediation processes are monitored by the Office of Legal Compliance (OLC) at global level. We take stringent measures to address some of the human rights violations at workplace as evident in the following –

Workplace Violence/ Discrimination Sexual Harassment

Any act of violence or the threat of it leads to an immediate Microsoft has a zero-tolerance policy on sexual disciplinary action. We acknowledge the right of every harassment. These policies are carefully crafted with inputs individual to be different and strive to create a culture of from the Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) inclusivity and respect. To this end, any act of discrimination team to ensure fairness. A special complaint committee – based on color, gender, ethnicity and religion is met with set up by us personally deals with all the cases and ensures strictness. compliance.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 61 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

7.3. Business Conduct

We believe in our responsibilities towards employees, customers, partners and the society at large. Anti-Corruption and Anti-Trust Policies For this purpose, we have set up Corporate, External and Legal Affairs (CELA) team, a functional business division within Microsoft, that comprises of experts who assist the other business groups in We acknowledge and respect the diverse cultures, We are also signatories to the Confederation of Indian compliance and matters pertaining to investigations, litigations, regulatory interventions, company customs, and business practices we encounter in our Industries’ (CII) Code of Business Conduct. law and law enforcement requests. marketplace. We comply with the laws and regulations designed to promote healthy competition. Antitrust laws We interact with our customers, partners, vendors and regulatory authorities to identify aspects that and fair competition laws generally prohibit activities that can be of threat to our organization. To ensure transparency in all business dealings, we endorse and restrain trade and restrict competition. We conduct our adhere to a strict code of conduct. business in compliance with these laws.

We have a zero tolerance policy against corruption Ethics and Integrity and are strongly committed to Microsoft’s Standards of Business Conduct and Anti-Corruption Policy for Integrity, accountability, openness to feedback, and Representatives that lay down the standards of conduct. Our policy includes strong commitments to observe the criticism are some of are values that guide us through the We follow a three-point rule to guide anti-corruption and anti-money laws in India. We monitor company mission. Building a fabric of trust is paramount our employees make ethical decisions: the risk profile and drive risk mitigation efforts accordingly. to realizing our mission to empower every person and A. Consistence with core values and To this extent, we have a continuous assessment process every organization on the planet to achieve more. This the Standards through internal compliance rhythms to assess the key means winning and preserving the trust of our customers, B. Compliance with Laws risks related to corruption. We provide training on risks partners, and authorities. We work to build and maintain C. Comfort in letting peers know about related to corruption to our employees and the key third trust through a shared commitment to ethical behavior the decision parties in value chain. and by acting with integrity in everything we do. We have If these three points are positively multiple internal as well as external mechanisms that allow answered, the decision is ethical. for escalation of unethical and unlawful behavior.

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7.4. Privacy and Data Security 7.5. Responsible Sourcing from Indirect Suppliers

We set and adhere to stringent privacy standards. We have data we store and process. One of the major threats is We screen our indirect suppliers on an ongoing basis mandatory for a segment of our supplier based on risk developed industry-leading privacy policies, compliance posed through cyber space and ensuring data security against 23 different ethical, social, and environmental to ensure they understand and follow ethical business programs, and security measures that we apply across for our customers is of prime importance to us. Fighting risks by country and by commodity category, and apply practices in accordance with our code. We encourage and our cloud computing ecosystem. Our time-tested piracy and counterfeiting is just one dimension of our assurance requirements for suppliers found to pose the recognize suppliers who made exceptional impact in social approach to privacy and data protection is grounded in battle against cybercrime. Our cybercrime experts focus highest risks. Among these, we have dedicated supplier and environmental areas through our Supplier Awards our commitment to give our customers control of the on two areas: fighting malware and reducing risk; and training and assurance programs related to anti- Program, which highlights those awarded as examples to collection, use, and distribution of their information. We protecting vulnerable populations, especially the young corruption, privacy and security. We provide supplier attendees of our Annual Supplier Summit. strive to be transparent in our privacy practices, offer and the elderly. development and training resources, including our Supplier meaningful privacy choices, and responsibly manage the Code of Conduct Training Program. This online training is

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7.6. Environmental Sustainability

Our commitment to environmental sustainability is mechanism and remediation process is monitored by the articulated in our Environmental Principles and Climate Office of Legal Compliance (OLC) at global level. Change Policy Statement. We undertake best practices to ensure compliance with the environmental laws and One of the major milestones of our sustainability journey regulations. has been the LEED certification of our buildings in Hyderabad. It has a large rain-water harvesting reservoir Since 2013, we have achieved 100 percent carbon neutrality that holds up to 30 million liters of water that can sustain for our global operations that includes a good contribution greenery in the campus for one half of a year. We adopted from Microsoft India that includes our datacenters, IT asset disposition (ITAD) for disposing of obsolete laboratories, offices, manufacturing facilities, and business or unwanted equipment in a safe and ecologically- air travel. We have implemented numerous environmental responsible manner. We planned and executed a take- conservation activities like Green Building Certification and back and recycling programme with the objective of raising the 3R principles - Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. We use consumer awareness on recycling and making it easy for innovative software solutions that help reduce energy and consumers to recycle by deploying a permanent collection carbon footprint - Microsoft Skype for Business, Microsoft infrastructure and tying up with responsible recyclers. We Roundtable (RT) and Microsoft LiveMeeting (LM), to boost strive to have paperless offices and take a printout only productivity and help reduce travel. Our three data centers when it is absolutely necessary. Instead of discarding paper launched recently in India, are fully compliant with the laws waste, we send it for recycling and encourage the use of of Pollution Control Board in India. All our products satisfy recycled papers whenever possible. Our Citizenship Report the requirements of The Bureau of Indian Standards Act and Perspective Magazines are also printed on recycled (BIS), 1986. Furthermore, we have a grievance redressal sheets. Additionally, we have initiated digital signage in all and monitoring mechanism to address any complaints our offices. We also run many awareness campaigns on raised by employees, suppliers or community regarding saving electricity, reducing plastic and paper usage that breach of environment-related policy/ law. The redressal supplement corporate initiatives.

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7.6. Environmental Sustainability

7.6.1. Power Conservation 7.6.2. Water Conservation

Microsoft Hyderabad campus is a green campus with 2% reduction in both fuel and electricity consumption Water is a scarce resource in most parts of India. We leaking. We have a 30 million liter reservoir to harvest 40% of the 54 acre campus landscaped. The remaining despite the increase in our employee count. have been prudent in our efforts to conserve water while rainwater. The greenery in the campus is watered with area hosts three buildings. Buildings 1 & 2 are ensuring comfort to employees and clients. Automated recycled water from the two Submersible Turbine Pumps undergoing LEED certification process whereas Building We are designing energy-saving approaches into all our sensors in faucets prevent accidental wastage through installed on campus. 3 has already been LEED ‘Gold’ Certified. We ensure three new datacenters, such as using outside air cooling that the buildings are so designed to reduce heat and and airside economizers that dramatically cut the energy YoY reduction from YoY reduction from YoY reduction from light coming in (Solar Heat Gain Co-efficient of 0.25). and water usage for cooling. This approach to cooling Source Similarly, we allow for visible light transmittance of more reduces energy consumption by 15-20 percent and 2015 to 2016 2014 to 2015 2013 to 2014 than 30% allowing maximum natural light passage water consumption by 90 percent. We are continuously by using double glazed façade glass which controls researching better ways to conserve energy and the Ground Water -18.5% 45.3% 47.6% radiation while maximizing natural lighting. We have current project is to enable remote access to PCs in case undertaken initiatives such as installation of water cooled data needs to be fetched outside the office hours. This Municipal or other water supplies 74.11% -5.7% 12.4% chiller in Building 1 which is more energy efficient and will help in cutting down on power consumption due to helps reduce 30-40% energy consumption compared to active running of PCs. Our products are so designed Rainwater collected directly air cooled chillers. Throughout the campus, traditional that we help customers limit their energy use by 26.4% 4.7% -47.9% or stored CFLs have been replaced with LEDs. Wherever there is leveraging the power management features embedded a possibility of choice such as between water and air in Windows 7, Windows Server 8 and Windows 10. cooled chillers, we prefer the option that offers more energy reduction. Likewise, we have achieved energy consumption reduction by replacing the halogen campus lights with LED. Together, we have achieved a

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 65 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

7.6. Environmental Sustainability

7.6.2. Water Conservation 7.6.3. Employee-led Sustainability Initiatives

Total Volume Of water Withdrawn (inKL) At Microsoft India, sustainability is considered the saplings, World Environment Day drive and pollution responsibility of every one of us. This has led to several checks for cars in the parking lot to name a few. employee-led activities such as distribution of plant

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7.6. Environmental Sustainability

7.6.4. Programs for the Community

Create to Inspire Fellowship Create to Inspire School Program

Launched in 2012 by Nokia, this program continues to enroll This aims to build the capacity of teachers and provides and inspire today’s youth on sustainable consumption. This them a framework to engage with students on the themes fellowship is an out of the box challenge for youngsters of Energy, E-waste, Transportation, Water and Bio-diversity. to create campaigns based on the judicious consumption and management of water, energy, transport, e-waste and The primary objectives of this program are: biodiversity. It uses the mediums of art, theater, music, • Develop capacities and competence of teachers to enroll, dance, film making and photography to help the fellows engage and inspire students to take actions on sustainable create campaigns on the themes related to the program. lifestyles and environment protection • Lay the foundation for students to become potential The main objectives of the fellowship are: agents of change who reach out to the community and • To build capacity of the selected fellows by engaging engage with them on sustainable living via inspirational them with environmental and art experts campaigns and activities • To provide a platform to the fellows to practice • Inculcating the idea of lifecycle thinking into the minds of leadership by creating an environmental movement using students and teachers performances and action projects • To spark exciting conversations amongst masses on In 2015, the program targeted over 3500 schools in more sustainable lifestyles and enroll and inspire people to be than 50 cities, building the capacity of over 7000 teachers. part of the movement The school program runs with the help of over 30 ecosystem partners including Government departments, institutions and NGOs.

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 67 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

About the Report

8.1. Scope 8.2. Standards 8.3. Disclaimer

Microsoft India Citizenship Report 2016 8 68 Microsoft Innovation Empowering Empowering Serving Our People Working About the India for Societal Community Entrepreneurs Communities Responsibly Report Welfare through Education

8.1. Scope 8.2. Standards 8.3. Disclaimer

This report covers the citizenship activities of Microsoft This report is based on the Global Reporting Initiative’s G4 This document is provided as is. Information and views Bing, BizSpark, DreamSpark, Imagine Cup, Internet Explorer, India – the Indian subsidiaries of Microsoft® , from April Sustainability Reporting Guidelines. Please refer the GRI expressed in this document, including URL and other Office, Office 365, Outlook, Microsoft, Microsoft Azure, 2015 through March 2016. This is Microsoft India’s first G4 for further information on the GRI G4 disclosures. Internet website references, may change without notice. Microsoft Dynamics, Microsoft YouthSpark, PhotoDNA, Citizenship Report. We intend to report annually on our You bear the risk of using it. OneDrive, Skype, Surface, Windows, Xbox, Xbox 360, Citizenship activities. Xbox One, Xbox LIVE, and Yammer are trademarks of the This document does not provide you with any legal rights Microsoft group of companies. All other trademarks are to any intellectual property in any Microsoft product. property of their respective owners. You may copy and use this document for your internal reference process. Please consider the environment before printing this report.

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