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Cisco Hands Over More Than 500 Houses to the Government of Karnataka in Raichur to Mark Its Commitment to Support Rehabilitation of Flood-Affected Areas

Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships, Government of Karnataka and Cisco Sign a Memorandum of Understanding for Healthcare Services in Gillesugur Village

Cisco Hands Over More Than 500 Houses to the Government of Karnataka in Raichur to Mark Its Commitment to Support Rehabilitation of Flood-Affected Areas

Encouraging Public-Private Partnerships, Government of Karnataka and Cisco Sign a Memorandum of Understanding for Healthcare Services in Gillesugur Village

Published 08-27-10

Submitted by Cisco Systems, Inc.

(Marketwire) -- Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) today announced that it has handed over more than 500 houses to the Government of Karnataka, as part of the completion of phase one of "Project Samudaya." The initiative represents Cisco's commitment to partner with the government in its Asare program towards helping rehabilitate flood affected communities in Karnataka. The handing over ceremony was held in N. Malkapur in Raichur district and was presided by Dr. B.S. Yeddyurappa, Karnataka chief minister, and Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services.

The more than 500 houses that were handed over by Cisco in N. Malkapur and Khataknur villages of Raichur have been constructed as per the government guidelines and specifications, and the model design is based on the feedback received from the village residents.

As part of the Memorandum of Understanding also signed earlier today, remote specialist healthcare services were launched in Gillesugur village, where Cisco is using the network as a platform to help bring remote healthcare and education services to these flood affected villages. The initial pilot services are now operational and have accelerated access to affordable, high-quality health care by connecting patients in Raichur remotely with medical providers in cities in a convenient and efficient way. The next phase is to make these services scalable, replicable and sustainable.

Project Samudaya is an initiative by Cisco to rehabilitate
communities in flood affected areas of Karnataka. It is a public-private partnership program to create a sustainable society and uses the power of network to help provide access to urban amenities such as quality healthcare and education to rural areas. It aims to construct 3570 houses, two schools, and one primary health care center in the five flood-hit villages and is on course to complete this within the stipulated two year time frame.

During October 2009 as part of its commitment to corporate social responsibility, Cisco announced a donation of US $10 million commitment comprising cash, services, solutions and equipment over two years to support rehabilitation and reconstruction efforts in the Raichur district of Karnataka. Through the use of public-private partnerships towards helping build sustainable communities, Cisco committed to reconstruct five villages in the flood affected Raichur district: N. Malkapur, Khataknur, Talmari, Bichali and Chikkamanchal. The handing over of more than 500 houses marks the completion of the first phase of this project.

Cisco collaborates with government agencies and NGO leaders to develop 21st century sustainable education and health care models, enabled by collaborative networked information technology and communications. Cisco believes in the power of the network to establish connections between communities to facilitate more effective delivery of services to citizens, and provide a platform for economic regeneration.

Cisco very actively responds to most humanitarian disasters and in the past has participated in relief activities that include supporting the victims of the earthquake in Sichuan, China in 2008, those affected by Hurricane Katrina in the United States in 2005 and the Indian Ocean Tsunami in 2004.

Executive quotes
"I am pleased with our partnership with Cisco towards rehabilitation efforts in the flood-hit regions of Karnataka. With the handing-over of more than 500 houses in Raichur, which is the most significant milestone so far from the corporate sector, I would like to thank Cisco for the successful completion of the first phase of their partnership with the state government in our Asare program. Our collaborative effort and such public-private partnerships will help us realize our vision of rebuilding the lives of the flood victims and providing them a safer sustainable community," said Shri B. S Yeddyurappa, chief minister of Karnataka.

"We are encouraged by the Government of Karnataka's shared vision to rehabilitate and build sustainable communities in the flood-affected areas of Raichur. Our vision is to improve the quality of life in these communities by using technology to provide access to affordable healthcare and education services. Cisco stays committed in its efforts to support the rehabilitation of the flood affected areas of Raichur and help build a 21st century sustainable and stronger community," said Wim Elfrink, chief globalisation officer and executive vice president, Cisco Services.

As the leader for Project Samudaya, Aravind Sitaraman, vice president and managing director, Cisco Development Organisation, India said, "Cisco would like to thank its partners for their contribution towards the successful completion of phase one of Project Samudaya. This project is a great example of how employee volunteerism, technology and public-private partnerships have all come together to help rehabilitate and rebuild a sustainable community. We envision this project to be a scalable and replicable model towards providing access to essential urban services to rural areas through networking technologies."

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