Hyderabad, (IANS) : Microsoft India, as part of the software giant’s ‘Public cloud for good’ initiative, is making public cloud platform Microsoft Azure broadly available to eligible non-profit organisations, bringing the power of technology to them.

Qualifying non-profits can avail free Azure credits worth $5,000 for a year to unlock benefits such as insight, agility and operational efficiency.

Globally, Microsoft is donating $1 billion in cloud computing resources between 2016 and 2018 to 70,000 non-profits and NGOs worldwide, including in India, the company said in a statement.

To drive greater inclusion, Microsoft India partnered with NASSCOM Foundation to organise an Azure for Good workshop in Hyderabad on Friday.

Attended by 22 representatives from 12 local non-profits, the workshop highlighted how other organisations in the sector are using the cloud platform to drive greater impact among communities in the face of constant challenges of limited manpower and resources.

Some of the participating non-profits included Share India, Rural Development Foundation, Parents Association for the Mentally Handicapped Persons, LEPRA Society, Hyderabad Eye Institute, CHORD, CAP Foundation, Bhagavatula Charitable Trust, Ashray Akruti, Jaldhaara Foundation, Dr. Reddy’s Foundation and Aide et Action.

“At Microsoft, we are committed to empowering non-profits with technology and technology skills as fundamental enablers to help them solve basic human challenges and are pleased to partner with NASSCOM Foundation who share our vision for this initiative,” said Manju Dhasmana, Head – CSR and Philanthropies at Microsoft India.

“We are glad to partner with Microsoft in offering the Azure services worth $5,000 for a year free of cost to the eligible NGOs and are confident that this grant will more than suffice their cloud platform needs,” said NASSCOM Foundation CEO Shrikant Sinha.