Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) in India are going green—and in a big way. From solar-powered street lights in remote villages to smart irrigation systems for farmers, these government-backed companies are showing how technology can be a powerful tool for social good. The best part? They’re doing it not just as a form of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), but with a genuine desire to make life better for people and the planet.
Let’s take the example of Indian Oil Corporation (IOC). In a small village near Varanasi, IOC has set up solar-powered study lamps for schoolchildren who had no access to electricity. “Earlier, we had to study under a dim kerosene lamp. Now our house has solar light. I can study late at night,” says Priya, a class 8 student. This simple initiative has transformed education in her village.
Then there’s NTPC, India’s largest power utility, which has been using green technology to help farmers. In rural Chhattisgarh, NTPC installed solar-powered water pumps in fields where electricity supply was unreliable. “We used to wait for hours for the power to come. Now we water our crops on time,” says Ramcharan, a farmer from the area. NTPC’s initiative not only improved crop yield but also reduced the use of diesel-powered pumps, cutting pollution.
ONGC, another major PSU, is investing in waste-to-energy projects. At one of their CSR-supported community centres in Gujarat, kitchen waste from nearby homes is converted into cooking gas. This gas is then used by women self-help groups to prepare food for mid-day meal programs. It’s a perfect cycle—clean, cost-effective, and community-driven.
One of the most innovative examples comes from BHEL, which has taken steps to make school buildings in remote areas more eco-friendly. In Ladakh, where temperatures drop below -20°C in winter, BHEL supported the construction of solar-heated classrooms. “Our children used to miss school during harsh winters. But now, these sun-warmed rooms make learning possible all year round,” says Tsering Dorje, a local parent.
Another inspiring story is from GAIL (India) Limited, which has funded e-rickshaws in small towns of Uttar Pradesh. These e-rickshaws, mostly driven by women, provide a livelihood opportunity while keeping the air clean. Shabana, one of the drivers, shares, “I earn my own income now and my children are proud of me. All thanks to this e-rickshaw project.”
What’s remarkable about these stories is that they are not one-off projects. Many PSUs are now working closely with NGOs and local communities to scale up these green tech initiatives. They’re also using mobile apps to monitor progress, ensure transparency, and involve beneficiaries directly.
In Tamil Nadu, Bharat Petroleum has introduced bio-toilets with self-cleaning technology in government schools. These toilets use bacteria-based treatment to decompose waste and save water. The children feel more comfortable using them, and school attendance, especially among girls, has gone up.
Meanwhile, SAIL (Steel Authority of India Limited) has turned barren land near one of its plants into a lush green zone by using treated wastewater for afforestation. The area now serves as a mini forest and provides a cool breathing space for nearby residents.
In a time when climate change is becoming more real every day, such efforts show that sustainable development isn’t just a buzzword. For India’s PSUs, it’s a hands-on, grassroots reality. They are proving that with the right intention and the right technology, we can light up lives—quite literally—while protecting the environment.
Through these real stories and efforts, PSUs are redefining CSR: not just as charity, but as change. Green tech for good is no longer a dream—it’s already at work in every corner of the country.
