Karnataka is a state that ranks significantly higher in the country for its environmental sustainability. The state ranks first in generation of hydroelectricity and is also among the states with above average forest cover. Karnataka is also popular among tourists for its lush coffee plantations and delicious cuisine.
Bengaluru in Karnataka has become an IT hub in the last several years. Some of the top IT companies of the world have an office in Bengaluru and are hiring the top talents of the country. This has made Karnataka, and especially Bengaluru, a desirable destination for investment of CSR funds.
The Government of Karnataka is planning to formulate a policy as per which corporates operating within the state will have to direct their Corporate Social Responsibility funds to education. Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar recently spoke about this while addressing corporate sector representatives at the 47th Annual General Meeting of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce (BCIC). According to the minister, the move will help address employment issues in the state.
In FY2022-23, Karnataka received Rs. 1985.55 Cr. through various CSR initiatives from 2534 companies. The top three areas of focus for the CSR programs were: education, health and environment, with an expenditure of Rs. 1110.16 Cr., Rs. 377.82 Cr., and Rs. 307.25 Cr. respectively in them. The top three spenders in the state included Infosys Limited (Rs. 180.4 Cr.), Biop Steels and Power Private Limited (Rs. 141 Cr.), and Wipro Limited (Rs. 117.68 Cr.).
Top CSR Projects in Karnataka
L&T Finance Limited’s Jal Vaibhav 2.0
L&T Finance Ltd. (LTF), one of the leading Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs) in the country, has launched its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) project, ‘Jalvaibhav 2.0’, in the Mulbagal Taluk of Kolar district, Karnataka. The initiative focuses on integrated water resource management to create additional water harvesting capacity, benefiting over 5,000 farmers across 12 villages.
The Jalvaibhav 2.0 project addresses water scarcity and soil health improvement through various initiatives, such as replenishing existing and new water resources, promoting climate-smart agri, and allied interventions. These efforts will directly impact farmers’ income levels while spreading awareness and training on sustainable practices.
Mulbagal Taluk, located in the Kolar district, has a semi-arid climate with hot summers and scant rainfall, characterised by an average annual rainfall of 760 mm over 50 days. The region’s over-reliance on groundwater has led to severe agricultural challenges, including poor soil quality, erratic monsoon patterns, and frequent dry spells. This has resulted in rapid depletion of groundwater levels, aggravating the existing agricultural issues and highlighting the need to address the three critical components of drought-proofing: ensuring water availability, optimising water use, and securing water entitlements.
Digital classrooms set up by UWB and AMD
United Way Bengaluru (UWB) in partnership with Zila Panchayat, Davangere supported by Advanced Micro Devices India Pvt. Ltd. (AMD), has set up digital classrooms enhancing coaching for students in Davangere district. These smart classrooms have been set up in 21 Pre-University Government colleges in the district.
The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education (MoE), Govt. of India is the basis for students entering the engineering stream. Considered as one of the toughest examinations in India, the JEE is the gateway for pursuing engineering as a career for students. In recent years, the quality of coaching has become a crucial factor in the probability of students getting a college and stream of their choice. Many students have to move cities to get quality training which uproots them from their family and local communities; it is also a large financial burden for the families to sustain such an effort. These barriers are a key reason many students find it difficult to score well in the JEE.
Recognizing this gap in the system, the Zila Panchayat, Davangere embarked on bringing world-class infrastructure available in the metros to Davangere by expanding access to technology with new smart classrooms. The ease of access and locally available infrastructure aim to bring quality training infrastructure to those who otherwise could not afford to travel to metros and to girls who have an interest but could not find coaching infrastructure locally.
It is anticipated that more than 6500 students studying in Davangere will benefit from these digital classrooms.
City-Farmer Partnership project by Godrej Properties Limited
Godrej Properties Limited, India’s leading real estate developer, partnered with the Chikkaballapur City Municipal Council (CMC) and the Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IIHS) for the City-Farmer Partnership project in Chikkaballapur, Karnataka to address the city’s waste management challenges and to promote scientific management of solid waste.
Focused on converting organic wet waste into valuable compost for farmers, approximately 759 tonnes of legacy waste was semi-processed into organic compost and supplied to 109 farmers across 17 villages of Chikkaballapur. The compost, processed from 1,000 cubic meters of waste, was provided at no cost to encourage the adoption of organic farming practices. Additionally, more than 569 tonnes of segregated wet waste has been processed through collaboration with 81 farmers.
A key aspect of this initiative and Godrej Properties’ focus is fostering a symbiotic relationship between urban and rural communities. To enhance and educate the farmer communities and stakeholders on the benefits of sustainable waste management practices, IIHS conducted multiple training sessions for more than 100 farmers on converting municipal waste into organic compost. Additionally, 45 CMC staff members were trained on key aspects of waste management. The training focused on the importance of segregated waste collection and transportation for the success of the city-farmer partnership project.
A series of ward-level and feedback meetings have been conducted as part of the City-Farmer Partnership for the Solid Waste Management (SWM) project to promote waste segregation at source. These meetings have been attended by CMC officials, the IIHS project team, Anganwadi workers, volunteers engaged in monitoring door-to-door collection of waste, and about 50 residents from each ward. To drive home the messaging and create awareness at the ground level, six street plays and a road show traversed key streets in Chikkaballapur, engaging citizens and commercial establishments with messages about the benefits of waste separation.
Cancer screening and treatment by Merck
Merck, a global leader in science and technology, has established strategic partnerships in India with the Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust, a not-for-profit organization and the HCG Foundation a unique not-for-profit initiative of HCG – South Asia’s largest cancer care network. These collaborations aims at facilitating free cancer screening and treatment support to rural areas of Karnataka, Maharashtra and Gujarat.
Continuing its focus on enhancing access to cancer care, Merck and the Rashtreeya Sikshana Samithi Trust are working together to raise awareness about cancer care and provide treatment to people in approximately 600 villages in Karnataka. So far, under this initiative, 933 people have been screened, 60 have received diagnostic support, 106 have been identified with pre-cancerous lesions, 68 have been treated for non-cancerous oral ailments, and 2 people diagnosed with cancer have been provided with referral support.
These initiatives will offer people in the targeted areas, free consultations and lab investigations such as Sugar Tests, BP and BMI measurements, along with physical oral check-ups, Trismus testing, and screenings through digital apps, to assess their overall health, potential risk factors, pre-cancerous lesions and offer counselling on the next appropriate actions.
ABB India’s educational programs
ABB India’s educational programs as part of its CSR initiatives support inclusive and equitable education. These programs, which were being run in 98 schools in Nelamangala, will now also expand to 50 schools in Peenya starting this academic year reaching a total of 148 schools and around 10,000 students from Peenya and Nelamangala.
The STEM Awareness and Foundational Literacy and Numerical Skills Program is aimed at supporting young students with essential scientific concepts and foundational and age-appropriate skills in literacy and numeracy alongside STEM topics. Integrated within the school timetable, it provides hands-on learning opportunities, making learning interactive and highly engaging. Run in partnership with Sikshana Foundation, the program aims to elevate the education level by equipping primary and higher primary students with the much-needed competencies essential for their cognitive development.
Paryavaran Mitra, the other program, will be launched soon, and run in collaboration with the Centre for Environment Education (CEE). It aims to prepare higher primary school students to face environmental sustainability challenges by engaging them in eco-friendly activities in school and its surroundings. The state’s Department of Education is actively involved in the program design and implementation covering critical themes such as water and sanitation, waste management, energy, etc. This would help students move beyond schools and classrooms, connecting them with nature, society, and communities.
These initiatives, launched in 2022, have successfully raised awareness levels among students, bridging the aspiration gap in key scientific concepts. Thorough assessments, done periodically, signal a gradual progress in the students’ capabilities and awareness levels. 98 teachers from Nelamangala block have been trained and provided with upgraded concepts and supplemental resources to effectively deliver the programs. Students across all grades participate in STEM activities under teacher supervision. A similar teacher training and orientation program shall be implemented in the current initiation year in the Peenya block.
Seed-to-mouth initiative by Herbalife
Herbalife India, a global health and wellness company, partnered with Sambhav Foundation, a non-profit organization, to train and empower farmers in India as part of its CSR initiative. Through Herbalife’s Seed-to-Mouth initiative, the organization has strengthened the farming capabilities of over 9,300 farmers across India. In line with Herbalife’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the comprehensive training program has transformed over 25,000 households across 84 villages in Karnataka, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh.
The project was implemented across major districts such as Ajmer (Rajasthan), Vijayapura (Karnataka), and Vidisha (Madhya Pradesh), equipping the farming community with cutting-edge agricultural learning resources, reducing operating costs, and enabling market reach to enhance their income generation. Since its launch in July 2022, the Seed-to-Mouth initiative has enhanced sector access for farmers by connecting them with major industry players, enabling them to reach a wider customer base and expand their market reach.
The NGO conducted a diagnostic study in consultation with over 50 agri-experts across the states to identify and address existing gaps in agricultural practices by providing farmers with essential resources such as seeds, equipment, fertilizers, and loans. Farmers also gained practical knowledge on essential topics such as advanced farming technology, crop diversification, safe use of chemicals, land management, credit support, and market access through collaboration with Krishi Vigyan Kendras and university incubators. Expert-led awareness sessions on farming and irrigation supported farmers throughout the farming process.
Rejuvenation of Hunasamaranahalli Lake by Lowe’s India
Lowe’s India announced the successful rejuvenation of the Hunasamaranahalli Lake in the north of Bengaluru. The project began in 2022, in partnership with Oasis Foundation and HandsonCSR.
The Hunasamaranahalli Lake, near the Bengaluru International Airport, was home to migratory birds, a huge population of fish, snakes and turtles, primarily. However, with a fast-growing neighborhood, the lake started to suffer from soil erosion, depleting water retention capacity and garbage accumulation.
As part of the rejuvenation, Lowe’s India supported a number of enhancements including de-silting, the addition of bunds around the lake, the planting of 1000-plus trees and flowering plants, refurbishment of inlet and outlet sources and the creation of a new walking and cycling path along the lake’s perimeter. Additionally, Lowe’s India associates led cleanup drives, including garbage collection and weed removal, in areas surrounding the lake.
The rejuvenated lake is expected to bring back lost biodiversity in the surrounding areas and save more than 3,00,015.9Kgs of CO2 by 2043. It has already started attracting butterflies, birds and other smaller creatures. More than 500 people visit the lake daily.
DIKSHa Program by Dalmia Bharat
Dalmia Bharat Foundation (DBF), the CSR arm of Dalmia Bharat Ltd initiated DIKSHa program in 2016 in partnership with the National Skill Development Corporation. DIKSHa is dedicated to enabling skill development and sustainable livelihoods for disadvantaged youth in rural communities in India.
In a country with the youngest and largest workforce in the world, India faces the challenge of significant skill gaps, with only 5% of the workforce recognized as formally skilled. Addressing this concern, DBF via DIKSHa provides placement-linked, short-term skill training to youth and women, adding them to skilled workforce for enhanced income.
DIKSHa primarily focuses on training unemployed youth or youth with limited prospects by enhancing their employability through skill development. DIKSHa offers training in a wide range of areas, including healthcare, industrial sewing machine operator, assistant electrician, customer relationship management, sales and marketing, data entry operator, beauty and wellness, and unarmed security. Till date, DIKSHa has trained 11647 individuals successfully with more than 8271 individuals placed in gainful employment, earning monthly wages ranging from INR 8,000 to INR 20,000.
