Livelihoods and Community Engagement

In a major effort towards strengthening the Indian sports ecosystem to host the 2036 Olympic Games, Honorable Union Minister of Youth Affairs & Sports Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya urged corporates to adopt one sport during the first-ever corporate round-table conference on Thursday. Dr. Mandaviya emphasized a vision to position India among the top five global sports performers by 2047, as the nation marks 100 years of independence. Aiming to bridge the gap between aspirations and execution, he stressed the critical role of Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in building sustainable sports infrastructure and talent development programs. He also proposed that PSUs from the Centre support state-level requirements to achieve sporting excellence. “Each corporate entity should focus on a single sport to ensure dedicated

Climate change, one of the most pressing challenges of our time, has sparked a global call to action. In India, this call resonates deeply as businesses take proactive steps to mitigate their environmental footprint. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a powerful mechanism driving sustainable development in the country. Indian companies are leading the charge by adopting renewable energy, reducing waste, and integrating sustainability into their core operations, proving that economic growth and environmental stewardship can go hand in hand. The Role of CSR in Addressing Climate Change India’s CSR mandate under the Companies Act, 2013, requires qualifying businesses to allocate 2% of their profits towards social and environmental causes. While early CSR initiatives were predominantly philanthropic, the focus

26 November 2024: Worldline India has announced its continued support for the Jal Sanjeevani initiative under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program, which has significantly promoted water conservation and improved livelihoods in rural Maharashtra. As part of its commitment to sustainable development, Worldline India’s CSR arm enabled the desilting and rejuvenating of 26 water bodies, contributing to a storage capacity of 29.5 crore liters (295 million liters) of water. This initiative has played a pivotal role in enhancing groundwater levels, benefiting over 2,000 farmers and providing a direct positive impact to 285 farmers through using enriched silt for farming. The project, spearheaded by the Indivish Welfare Foundation, began in April 2023 and spanned multiple regions across Maharashtra, including Murbad, Marathwada,

23rd October 2024: In a significant step towards creating sustainable livelihoods, Futures First Info Services Pvt Ltd, as part of their CSR Initiatives, has collaborated with the Roots Foundation, and has inaugurated a skilling training center in Udyog Vihar, Gurugram. The center is set to deliver an ambitious skill development initiative focusing on sewing machine operations (SMO), tailoring, and pattern-making. The program aims to empower youth and women by enhancing their economic opportunities and fostering financial independence within the community. The launch event was graced by key people from both organizations. Ms. Cheryl Gureja, Director, and Ms. Apurva Sharma, VP- HR & Operations, from Futures First Info Services Pvt Ltd, along with Mr. Ritwik Bahuguna and Ms. Ridhima Bahuguna, Co-Founders

7th October 2024:  Diageo India recently celebrated the graduation of the Third batch of students from Assam, trained in hospitality through its ‘Learning for Life’ program, in collaboration with Orion Educational Society (OES). The convocation ceremony was graced by the presence of Shri Rupak Sarma, MLA (Nagaon Sadar), Shri Simanta Bora, Vice Chairman, Nagaon Municipal Board, Dr. Sarat Borkotoki, Former Principal, Nowgong College Autonomous, Mr. Tarun Yadav, Cluster Head, Assam and Mr. Surajit Dutta, Public Policy Lead, Northeast from Diageo. The program comprises of over 300 hours of skills-based training provided by academia and industry professionals for employment in hospitality, tourism, and allied industries. The comprehensive curriculum offers students training in Front Office Administration and Food and Beverage services along

October 3, 2024: The Flipkart Foundation, the charitable arm of the Flipkart Group, has collaborated with Swades Foundation, a leading grassroots organization in rural development, to launch a transformative initiative aimed at uplifting the rural youth in Raigad district of Maharashtra. The project, named ‘Rural Prosperity: Empowering Rural Youth through Targeted Skill Development for Sustainable Incomes,’ is set to enhance livelihoods by skilling 200 youth with the goal of increasing household incomes by approx. INR 80,000 annually. The program will focus on providing vocational training to youth between the age of 18 and 35, with an extended age limit of up to 10 years for select community-based self-employment courses like masonry and painting. This initiative seeks to elevate individual incomes

19th September 2024: At the prestigious 11th National CSR Summit and CSR Times Awards 2024, Sesa Goa was honored with the CSR Times Award in the ‘Livelihood’ category for its Project Gram Nirmaan. The event was held in partnership with the Goa CSR Authority. The award was presented by the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Goa, Dr. Pramod Sawant, and was received by Saptesh Sardesai, CEO, VAB, in recognition of significant contributions to community development through sustainable livelihood initiatives. The event was graced by the presence of several distinguished guests, including Mr. Sadanand Shet Tanawade (Hon’ble Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha), Mr. Subhash Uttam Phal Desai (Hon’ble Minister of Social Welfare, Government of Goa), and Mr. Bhaskar Chatterjee (Former Director General

The corporate sector should come up with a concrete action plan to ensure that the benefits of economic reforms and industrial growth are available to the people living in poverty. Public-private partnerships for rural development are receiving increased attention in the international community. The idea of linking for-profit business with the broad concerns of governments for economic and social development and achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is becoming increasingly manifested in a growing family of efforts within and outside the UN system. CSR initiatives can support revitalizing these traditions by providing market linkages, skill training, and access to finance. This preserves cultural heritage and creates sustainable livelihoods, contributing to the economic upliftment of rural artisans and craftsmen. The

4th September 2024: Bry-Air, a flagship company under the Pahwa Group, inaugurated a check dam at Bala Dehra village, Alwar as part of its CSR activity. The CSR project is part of the 60-year celebration of Bry-Air with an aim to alleviate the issue of water scarcity in the region. Alwar, being a semi-arid region, has continuously struggled with the water crisis. Owing to this, the people of the place are highly dependent on the monsoon for farming activities. Considering that Bala Dehra village is situated at the foothills of the Aravalli Range in Alwar, the water problem is exacerbated, where people find it difficult to continue farming processes due to shortage of water and a brief monsoon season ranging

3rd September 2024: Maruti Suzuki India Limited (MSIL) donated INR 3 crore to the PM CARES fund as part of its CSR effort for relief across various states that experienced or continue to face flood-like situations due to incessant rains. The recent floods have caused widespread destruction, including loss of lives and livelihoods in many parts of India. MSIL’s contribution aims to support the government’s relief and rebuilding efforts across the country. Mr. Hisashi Takeuchi, Managing Director and CEO of Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said, “We stand in solidarity with the individuals and families affected by the recent natural calamities. In times of crisis, it is a collective responsibility to stand together and rebuild. Our contribution is a humble gesture