During the year, we concentrated on providing relief to the people affected by the pandemic and other natural calamities, besides supporting community and infrastructural development.
CSR expenditure
We extensively worked towards supporting communities during the pandemic with over 26 projects across India being executed, also benefiting the frontline workers (doctors and paramedical staff, police personnel, corporation and municipality workers and transport workers).
We dedicated 52% of the CSR expenditure towards the cause and reached ~7,74,000+ public, 49,000+ police personnel, 10,500+ hospital staff, 12,100+ corporation/municipal/panchayat workers and 200 transport workers. We distributed materials such as masks, sanitisers, dry ration, sprayers and PPE kits, among many.
We also started a COVID-19 education programme, primarily designed to create awareness about the pandemic. It provided information on how to remain safe, RT-PCR testing and relevant government insurance schemes and clarified misconceptions. More than 3,57,000+ beneficiaries were trained across the country.
The COVID-19 relief work was also carried through partnerships with Give India Foundation. We distributed 5,000+ PPE kits to major COVID-19 hospitals in Mumbai during the early stages of the pandemic. We also supported in setting up four fullfledged Intensive Care Units (ICUs) in CMC Vellore hospital in Tamil Nadu to ramp up their COVID-19 care and treatment facilities.
Community development has always been a key focus area for us. We focus our efforts across areas of education, healthcare, health awareness, sanitation, and more.
Healthcare
We provided 5 digital information kiosks at St. John’s
Hospital in Bengaluru. These will benefit 1,000+
walk-in patients every day in accessing relevant
healthcare and COVID-19 information.
We also collaborated with Sumanahalli Society, an organisation that provides shelter and care for people affected with leprosy and HIV aids. We sponsored food and daily needs for 75 inmates for six months.
Education
We supported the education of 850+ girls in the
government high school in Samrala, Punjab by
providing them with notebooks and school bags.
We conduct the Chote Kadam programme in partnership with Parinaam Foundation. Overall, 24 civil projects were completed across India for the benefit of the underprivileged communities. These projects include:
We catered to the underserved communities of Kolkata with dry ration support for three months. Online education was provided to slum and street children, and vocational training to girls in the community. The initiative reached 1,200+ adults and children, who benefited from food aid, online education and vocational training programmes.
Disaster relief
During FY 2020-21, India faced several regional
challenges on top of the nationwide pandemic – in
the form of floods and cyclones, among others.
Therefore, disaster relief constituted a large part
of our community responsibility efforts. After
cyclone Amphan caused widespread devastations
in West Bengal, damaging lives, livelihoods and
properties, we worked to support the affected
families with food and shelter. We distributed relief
materials such as tarpaulin, dry ration, masks, and
sanitisers, helping 20,000+ victims. We supported
the victims of two separate fire breakouts in Kolkata
in winter by distributing relief materials such as
blankets and utensils.
Cyclones Nivar and Burevi clobbered the coastal regions of Tamil Nadu back-to-back. As part of relief work, 7,800 dry ration kits were provided aiding 31,000+ beneficiaries.
Winters across North India have always been harsh but during the year under review it was especially unforgiving, alongside the pandemic. It was particularly difficult for those families and people who lost their livelihood due to pandemic. We supported 24,000+ people by providing thick blankets at the night shelters.
Vocational training
We focus on building skills and generating livelihood
to enable our communities to build better lives. We
support the Cheshire Disability Trust, which enables
people with disabilities to avail of skill-building,
residential training, helping them find suitable jobs.
We are committed to enhancing our presence across urban areas and rural hinterlands. We will continue to support the healthcare systems and people affected by the pandemic.
Annual Report 2020-21