New Delhi, Dec 8 : Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), Bina Refinery, has joined hands with Smile Train, the world’s leading organization dedicated to cleft care, to provide life-changing surgeries and awareness campaigns for underserved communities in Madhya Pradesh’s Sagar district.

This partnership aims to facilitate 70 free cleft lip and palate surgeries by March 2025 while conducting awareness initiatives to dispel myths, educate communities, and promote timely identification and treatment of cleft conditions across 12 tehsils of the district.

The initiative includes screening camps to identify cleft patients and workshops for Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA workers), empowering local healthcare providers to assist in treatment and ensure long-term sustainability of the project.

Shirish Chandekar, General Manager (HR) at Bina Refinery, emphasized BPCL’s dedication to community welfare, stating, “BPCL is deeply committed to supporting social change and improving healthcare access in rural areas. Through this collaboration with Smile Train, we aim to provide life-transforming care to children, bridge awareness gaps, and ensure underserved communities receive the healthcare they deserve.”

“Our mission to provide free, safe, and quality cleft treatment aligns perfectly with BPCL’s commitment to community upliftment. Together, we are enabling underprivileged children to lead healthier, fuller lives and fostering a deeper understanding of cleft conditions among local communities and health workers.”

Each year, an estimated 35,000 children in India are born with cleft lip and/or palate, while many remain untreated due to limited awareness, inadequate medical infrastructure, and financial constraints. This partnership represents a significant step forward in addressing these challenges and underscores BPCL’s dedication to sustainable development and Corporate Social Responsibility.