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June 4, 2025
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Air pollution is the fifth largest killer in India: Abdullah A Rehman, Founder & CEO, Anti Pollution Drive Foundation

By
Kasmin Fernandes
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Delhiites continue to choke on polluted air and debate over the unlivability of metro cities in India continues to rage. As part of our continuous efforts to Be the Solution, The CSR Journal had an exclusive conversation with Founder and CEO of Anti Pollution Drive Foundation, Abdullah A Rehman.
Anti Pollution Drive (APD) Foundation India is a not-for-profit organization working to improve public health through environmental conservation work in India. Winner of the KSPCB Excellence Award 2017 for contribution towards Environmental Awareness in Dakshina Kannada District, Karnataka; and Young Social Innovator 2016 accorded by UN-HABITAT and NSF, the foundation works closely with various government and private agencies across the country.
APD Foundation has been retained as one of Mangaluru City Corporation’s official partners for spearheading projects under the SVEEP programme of Election Commission of India. SVEEP is short for Systematic Voters Electoral Education & Participation programme, initiated by Election Commission of India to increase voter participation and make India a vibrant democracy.
Says Rehman, “Looking at the fact that air pollution is the fifth largest killer in India, we have a long way to go. Even with so many acts and laws, implementation is not happening aggressively enough because of lack of political will, citizen apathy and insufficient data.” Excerpts from the interview:

India has the most number of polluted cities in the world. As founder of an enterprise dealing with anti-pollution, how do you wrap your head around such a massive undertaking?

Despite being the country with the second largest population in the world, India remains directionless in terms of community participation or policy implementation. This is the hardest part of my job and surprisingly, it’s not dealing with the anti-pollution activities.
What has kept me going in the Anti Pollution Drive journey has been my approach of breaking down challenges into small projects and then compartmentalising our approach to deal with the issues.
We at APD Foundation have established departments which focus on research and data mining, enabling citizens’ action, and law and advocacy. Our aim is to create a long-term change by enabling a culture of knowing and caring about how our surroundings affect our health, environment and the economy.
Ultimately, it is about encouraging stakeholders and citizens to participate while simultaneously making their effort seem worthwhile.

How has CSR changed the environment for enterprises like APD Foundation?

It is a revolutionary change that has come into effect and it directly contributes to Nation Building. Since we are a relatively new organization with only three years in existence, we have not had the opportunity to collaborate with a CSR drive yet.

How should CSR projects ideally be executed?

A lot of companies tend to view CSR as a box-ticking process. They intend to spend money on social causes to build brand value but they don’t integrate it with their business strategies properly. This is what I feel every company who wants to draft a CSR plan should do: identify what they want to be perceived as in the market, list out what will work as monetary donations and what actions can be taken internally, and communicate effectively.
There are so many NGO’s out here trying to do their best to bring about change. Large corporations have their own foundations which, I have been informed, are founded to channel their company CSRs. By this practice, lots of other NGOs driven with heart and soul are deprived of opportunities.

What would you term the highlights of APD Foundation since its inception?

Our work has been primarily in Mangaluru in the areas of air pollution and improving the solid waste management profile. We are focusing in mining the missing data in order to enable the citizenry to take a more proactive role in the drives.
This year, Mangalore received the Swachh Survekshan Award for best medium city in solid waste management. This is a milestone achievement reflecting the work that has gone into educating citizens on the importance of segregating waste. By working with the local ULB (MCC) and the waste contractor as part of the Smart Swachh Mangaluru project, we’ve been able to align processes and encourage policy makers to act. We are constantly working with schools, waste workers, and young college volunteers to create this buzz.
Our Shuddh Gaali (Clean Air – Air Quality Assessment & Health Impact Assessment) project was also successful, where we initiated a meaningful conversation with the State Pollution Board to map out challenges in measuring air pollution and mitigating it.

What are your views on public-private partnership?

At the rate India is growing and the overwhelming demands on infrastructure, public-private partnerships are much needed. My experience with this in solid waste management has been challenging, but extremely rewarding. We are a developing nation and it’s important to build public-private partnerships, especially in the environmental aspect as our government still lacks a definite action plan.

Tell us about your latest initiatives in Karnataka?

APD Foundation is predominantly focusing on improving public health through environmental conservation; to achieve our mission, we have taken several initiatives under air pollution and solid waste management. Soon we will be moving into facilitating sanitation as our country and its people face huge setbacks due to lack of private toilets.

How would you be executing the partnership with Mangaluru City Corporation?

During the Karnataka 2018 assembly election, Mangaluru City Corporation invited us to spearhead projects to enable voter participation. Our programs are strategized and designed to influence behavioural changes in citizens. Although APD’s contribution was minimal as our project “Ink Your Finger” was only a month-long, Dakshina Kannada saw a rise of 3% in voter participation this election.

You are also a member of District Urban Development Centre (DUDC) and Swachha Mangaluru Task Force. Which programs have you implemented under these committees?

Under DUDC, I am to ensure the cities and towns in Dakshina Kannada district are complying to the standards to be declared as open defecation-free cities. It is here that I realised the need for private toilets for all.
The Swachha Mangaluru Task force is a committee overlooking the cleanliness aspect of the city. To effectively put this role in action I have initiated several projects for Mangaluru city along with APD Foundation.

How is APD Foundation decoding the laws governing air pollution?

According to Article 21, every citizen has the right to clean air. We have Acts for various aspects that lead to air pollution – factories, mines, inflammable substances, forests etc. The main act that is a central regulation is The Air Pollution (Prevention & Control) Act of 1981 which comes under the Ministry of Environment & Forest.
At a national level, pollution is managed by the Central Pollution Control Board, who then co-ordinate with individual State Boards because every state has its own constraints and challenges. But looking at the fact that air pollution is the fifth largest killer in India, we have a long way to go. Even with so many acts and laws, implementation is not happening aggressively enough because of lack of political will, citizen apathy and insufficient data. As a developing country, we are growing at an unsustainable rate.
To really have these laws be effective, the government should diligently focus on enforcement. We at APD Foundation continuously strive at the legislator, ministry or council levels to influence their mind-set and priorities.

Thank you for reading the interview. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team

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Water.org, Bank of America Expand Partnership to Bring Safe Water to India and Brazil

By
The CSR Journal
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water credit
Without a home water tap, Manjula had no choice but to carry an 8-10 liter water container back and forth each day to a community water tank about a kilometre from her home. Water.org discovered that something keeping moms like Manjula from providing safe water for their families was a lack of access to the financing needed to construct a water tap. This insight led to the creation of WaterCredit, enabling people in need with access to small, affordable loans.
It’s smart, simple and sustainable. More importantly, it helps the people Water.org serves address their immediate need and continues to enrich their lives long after the original loan has been repaid.
For Manjula, the loan allowed her to construct a water tap at home. Now the time she used to spend collecting water each day can be used caring for her children. And with more time and energy to invest in caring for the kakada flowers she sells, Manjula can earn 2,000 rupees a month – enough to repay her loan.
With the help of partners like Bank of America, Water.org is empowering millions of families, like Manjula’s, to solve their water and sanitation challenges and create a better life. Water.org received a $3 million grant over three years from Bank of America to empower more than 2,50,000 people in southern India and Brazil with safe water and sanitation, accelerating positive change in their homes and communities.
This announcement builds on previous grants which, including this announcement, total $4.25 million to Water.org since 2011 from the Bank of America’s Charitable Foundation.
This new grant funding will also enable Water.org’s local implementing partners to mobilize $21 million in local capital that they will use to provide water and sanitation loans to the under- and un-served.
“With support from Bank of America Charitable Foundation, we have made great progress in providing access to safe water where it’s needed the most,” said Gary White, CEO and co-founder of Water.org. “With this new grant, we’ll be able to reach more than a quarter of a million more people in India and Brazil.”

The grant will advance the following key objectives:

1. Accelerate market-based financial approaches for expanding water and sanitation access for the poor
2. Leverage the remaining years of the Swachh Bharat Mission in India to accelerate access in one of the largest and most advanced markets for microfinance solutions to the water and sanitation crisis. Introduce Water.org’s proven WaterCredit solution to Brazil to accelerate impact in this new, top-priority geography.

Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

Funds raised by Wockhardt Foundation to support 210 congenital heart surgeries

By
The CSR Journal
-
Little Hearts and their families

Wockhardt Foundation in association with the Rotary Club of Bombay Bayview organized a fund raising event, Dil Se Dil Tak, to treat children suffering from congenital heart defects under the Foundation’s Little Hearts initiative.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), around 10,000 children are born each year with a critical congenital heart defect. Most of these cases require heart surgery within their first year of life. Sadly many of them succumb due to lack of resources, facilities and awareness.

Wockhardt Foundation supports the cause through its ‘Little Hearts’ programme with an aim to save lives of babies with heart defects from under privileged section of society in association with Wockhardt Hospital. The Little Hearts programme of Wockhardt Foundation plans to give financial aid to children between 0-15 years from underprivileged strata of society with congenital heart diseases and save the young lives, and hence organized a fund raising event.

The fund-raiser, which was attended by prominent personalities of the government and entertainment industry, saw live performances by Dr. Rahul Joshi’s & Evolution (a band of young musicians).

Amruta Fadnavis, Jackky Bhagnani, actor, Prakash Mehta, Maharashtra Housing Minister, Anup Jalota, Bhajan Samrat, Mohit Kamboj, President BYJIM & President IBJA, Dr. Aditi Govitrikar, Mrs. World 2001 supported the cause with their presence.

Dr. Huzaifa Khorakiwala, CEO and Trustee, Wockhardt Foundation, said, “Little Hearts was started with the mission of saving young lives suffering from congenital heart defects and it gives me immense pleasure to share that we have successfully completed 320 surgeries under this initiative.”

CSR: The Happiness of Indian Mothers

By
Hency Thacker
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mothers

The mental health of an individual is of utmost importance. It is very important for mothers to stay healthy and happy in order to raise offspring that is healthy, mentally and physically.

Society puts demands on a mother to rejoice in each and every aspect of motherhood. However, with the social status and material realities of women in India, happiness or even peace is a faraway concept.

Mothers are expected to ignore their emotional needs caused by hormonal and bodily changes in order to fit their role of a strong pillar of the family. Many women also have to balance their careers along with all the added responsibilities of child raising. Some of them might have help from relatives, doctors, nutritionists, trainers and baby sitters. But even that does not guarantee their happiness.

According to a study of working and non-working urban mothers, stay-at-home mothers are more anxious than mothers who hold jobs. Their anxiety scores increase proportionally to the age of their children.

According to another study published in Delhi Psychiatry Journal, 59 out of 100 women who were pregnant suffered from antepartum depression while 41 per cent suffered from postpartum depression. Postpartum depression affects the mother’s ability to produce breast milk. According to studies, women who are stressed during pregnancy often deliver pre-mature babies who might be underweight. This ultimately hinders the healthy growth of the baby.

According to WHO’s maternal mental health prevention guide, mental health problems in mothers can lead to increased maternal mortality by adversely affecting their health and, more directly, through suicide attempts, especially in two of the world’s most populous countries, India and China.

As we celebrate Children’s Day today, let’s pay heed to the mothers as well.

Thank you for reading the story until the very end. We appreciate the time you have given us. In addition, your thoughts and inputs will genuinely make a difference to us. Please do drop in a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team

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What are the biggest roadblocks for the adoption of Solar energy?

By
The CSR Journal
-
solar energy study

Kolkata uses solar lamps on a large scale for household/domestic purposes compared to other tier 1 cities; while Bengaluru constitutes the highest number of solar water heater consumers amongst all the metros.

These are the findings of a pan India study to gauge the awareness and penetration of household solar energy products in urban India by Velocity MR. The national study was conducted among a sample size of 2,580 respondents and covered prominent Indian cities including Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, and Chennai.

The Indian economy is growing at a rapid rate and energy shortage is bound to grow into a big hurdle in the upcoming years. In this research study, an attempt was made to identify and analyse the major triggers and barriers to the use of solar products in Indian households. Interestingly it is a promising outlook for Solar energy, as an overwhelming 95% of the respondents have expressed interest in buying Solar products for their daily use if available. This is further corroborated by the fact that more than half of the respondents that were surveyed, claimed to have used Solar energy in some form or the other.

In the study, Tata Power Solar emerged as the most preferred brand amongst the top 10 solar panel manufactures in India followed by Vikram Solar. Solar lamps and solar water heaters were voted as the most used solar products, with 1 in every two respondents claiming to use it.

Adds Jasal Shah, Managing Director & CEO of Velocity MR, “For a manufacturing economy like India, it is very challenging to supply electricity to the growing population without relying heavily on coal a natural resource, but one that is depleting rapidly. It is estimated that this valuable fuel source is not likely to last beyond 2040-50 in India due to its rampant consumption. However, the geographical location of India presents tremendous scope for generating other forms of energy including solar power. As the study suggests, it is time for India to wake up to this looming crisis and to promote other forms of alternative energy to avoid a catastrophe in the future.”

Highlights of the Study

  • ‘Environmental concerns’ and ‘Reduction in electricity costs’ are found to be the major triggers for using solar products whereas, ‘High maintenance costs’ and ‘Lack of space for installing solar panels’ are the key barriers to use solar products in Indian households
  • Even though 71% of the respondents think that the Government is taking some initiative in making Solar energy available for general use, there is an issue with its awareness amongst the public (80%) and motivation for manufacturers (68%). Consumer awareness of solar technology and adequate government initiatives should be incorporated to promote the usage of solar products for household/domestic purpose.

Bosch gives Bengaluru Lalbagh a digital makeover

By
The CSR Journal
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Bosch gives Lalbagh makeover

Bosch Limited is proactively addressing issues on sustainability and is combatting climate change. As part of its social engagement initiative, Bosch began its association with Lalbagh in 2017. The engagement has resulted in the installation of new facilities including Smart Parking, Aerators in the lake, improved Waste Management and Solar Panels at Lalbagh.

Lalbagh’s 240-acre campus is home to many magnificent trees, a glass house, and spectrum of exotic flora. To take this journey further as part of the company’s commitment to a sustainable future, Bosch began working closely with the Department of Horticulture, Government of Karnataka, to fulfill certain strategic needs of this historic garden.

“Society is an important stakeholder for our business and Bosch is fully committed towards the betterment of communities and the environment. Our corporate social responsibility endeavours, known as ‘Bosch India Social Engagement’, aims to make a difference in the communities in which Bosch operates and beyond,” says Soumitra Bhattacharya, Managing Director, Bosch Limited and President, Bosch India Group.

The inauguration and handover of the newly-installed facilities of Smart Parking, Aerators in the Lake, Solar Panels and Garbage Management System at the Lalbagh Botanical Garden was held in October 2018.

Shalimar Paints Beautifies Slums Via ‘Rang Badlav Ke – Paint the Change!’

By
The CSR Journal
-
Rang Badlav Ke

An urban slum community comprising over 10,000 people situated in the heart of Chanakyapuri, amongst the poshest areas in the Delhi/NCR region, the Sanjay Camp was in dire need of beautification and a dash of colour. This need was met as over 2,000 students of 70 universities and colleges’ volunteers entered the locality with buckets of paint and brushes in tow.

Walls of the previously drab Sanjay Camp were transformed into a vivid canvas that showcased graffiti of Indian culture and tradition to further enable child-friendly communities.

This vibrant transformation was heralded by youth, who enthusiastically joined in to ‘Paint the Change’ at the long-standing slum that has been home to numerous families for several generations. Hundreds of young and energetic volunteers, artists, writers, and photographers turned up to paint, beautify, photograph, and tell stories about the Sanjay Camp slum community as part of a two-part social initiative, ‘Rang Badlav Ke – Paint the Change’, by Shalimar Paints.

Minal Srivastava, Vice President, Marketing, Shalimar Paints Limited, said, “Sanjay Camp has been home to numerous families for generations. It was time to brighten their lives with colours and give them a chance to tell their stories. We are thrilled to see the massive participation of the youth in this initiative.”

‘Rang Badlav Ke – Paint the Change!’ not only added some much-needed artistic splendor to the slum area but also helped preserve a neighbourhood which is a sanctuary to thousands of people.

PNB Housing Finance donates healthcare equipment to AIIMS

By
The CSR Journal
-

PNB Housing Finance Ltd, in an effort to provide quality healthcare to patients from the economically and socially deprived sections of society, donated healthcare equipment to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi today.

As a part of the program, the company has donated surgical Plasma Sterilizers to Departments of Neurosurgery and Cardiothoracic and Vascular surgery. This program is in continuation to PNBHF’s healthcare initiatives last year, where the company donated advanced equipment to the Neurosurgery Department at AIIMS.

The Department of Neurosurgery conducts 3,000 surgeries annually and the Department of Cardiothoracic & Vascular surgery conducts 4,000 surgeries annually.

Said Sanjaya Gupta, Managing Director- ‎PNB Housing Finance Ltd., “Through our collaboration with AIIMS, the intent is to reduce time involved in preparation for a surgery and also sanitize surgical equipment efficiently; thereby reducing the wait time for patients.”

Prof. Randeep Guleria, Director-All India Institute of Medical Sciences said, “AIIMS is a public hospital that caters to the VIPs as well as the poorest of the poor. The rising costs of healthcare, particularly the advanced technology critical to investigation and remediation of illnesses can pose a challenge to service delivery. With support from CSR of PNB Housing, we are hopeful that patient care, across different socio-economic strata will be strengthened.”

10 Steps To Reverse Autoimmune Diseases

By
Kasmin Fernandes
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autoimmune diseases
Yesterday, we explained how the body attacks its own tissues under the influence of autoimmune disorders. Today’s article lays out steps to reverse the inflammation.
Except for treating infections with antibiotics, medicine today approaches most diseases by prescribing a pill to suppress, cover over, block, or otherwise interfere with the body’s biology. We generally do not attempt to seriously address the underlying problems that lead to the disease in the first place. We don’t ask that one simple question:

Why is the body out of balance, and how do we help it regain balance?

There is a movement that is now being advocated by thousands of practitioners at the cutting edge of medicine. It is an approach called Functional Medicine that has helped thousands of patients experience good health. It focuses on interactions between the environment and the gastrointestinal, endocrine, and immune system.

What is the approach?

Functional Medicine practitioners have amazing success with autoimmune diseases. The approach of finding and removing triggers of diseases such as hidden microbes, toxins, or allergens, and supporting the body’s function with nutrients and herbs and “pro” drugs such as probiotics is more than an idea that needs to be proven.

How do you reduce inflammation?

Start with the food you eat. A major source of inflammation is processed food, including sugar, flour and low-quality vegetable oils. Gluten, dairy, grains, and beans are often a trigger for autoimmunity. Clearing out all these foods for 10 days (and longer if it is helping) can help reset your system.

10 Steps to Reverse Autoimmune Diseases

Our bodies are not defective, says Functional Medicine advocate Dr Hyman. Paying attention to a few natural laws of biology can reverse the condition of disease. Here’s what he recommends for reversing chronic illnesses:
1. Cut out flour and sugar because these are inflammatory foods.
2. Get rid of gluten from your kitchen. We know gluten can be a trigger for autoimmune diseases and can contribute to a leaky gut.
3. Eat the right fats. Increase your intake of anti-inflammatory foods rich in Omega-3 fats, including cold water fish, walnuts, chia seeds, flax seeds and hemp seeds.
4. Eat the rainbow. Choose a variety of colourful non-starchy vegetables and berries every day. These foods are packed with phytonutrients.
5. Check for hidden food allergens with food sensitivity testing.
6. Keep your intake of nightshades (tomato, eggplant, peppers, etc.) low to moderate in order to lessen the potential for an autoimmune reaction.
7. Take supplements to help boost levels of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, vitamin C, zinc, magnesium, probiotics, curcumin, and antioxidants – all of which are instrumental in calming down an overactive immune system.
8. Exercise is a natural anti-inflammatory. Move your body regularly and appropriately for your physiology.
9. Manage your stress. Practice deep relaxation through yoga, breath work, biofeedback, or massage because stress worsens the immune response.
10. Check for hidden infections like yeast, viruses, bacteria, and Lyme. These are often indicators of a hidden autoimmune disorder.
The human body has an amazing ability to heal itself, if you allow it to.

This article was issued in public interest as part of a series on natural healing.

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WABAG’s 140 MLD STP inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi in Varanasi

By
The CSR Journal
-
Narendra Modi

PM Narendra Modi inaugurated a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Dinapur, Varanasi with the capacity of 140 million litres per day (MLD) on November 12. The contract valued at INR 235.53 crores is executed by VA TECH WABAG LIMITED (‘WABAG’), a leading pure play water technology Indian Multinational Company.

The company will also be responsible to operate and maintain the facility for a period of 10 years. This project is a major step in contributing to reduction of pollution of the river Ganga.

The project funded by JICA is the first and the largest sewage treatment project to be implemented under the “Namami Gange” mission. The treatment plant employs activated sludge process and is powered by green power from sewage (biogas), significantly reducing the carbon footprint apart from lowering operational cost.

This is in line with PM’s vision to power India through green energy and India’s ratification at the UN Climate Change Convention. The plant boasts of 4,000 m3/day balloon type double membrane gas holders, the largest of its kind in India.

The project will enhance the sewage treatment capacity in the city from 102 MLD to 242 MLD. It is located in Dinapur village, approximately 7 km from Varanasi and will cover an area of approximately 6.2 hectares, adjacent to the existing 80 MLD STP.

Rajiv Mittal, Managing Director and Group CEO said, “As an Indian multinational, we are really proud to be part of the mission to clean the holy Ganga, which is considered sacred and a lifeline to millions.”

Rajneesh Chopra, Global Head, Business Development, said, “The Varanasi sewage treatment plant, demonstrates to the nation the capability of WABAG to build world-class facility purely implemented by an Indian multinational – vindicating our Prime Minister’s vision of Make in India along with his dream of a Clean Ganga.”

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