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Top CSR Projects in Patna

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The CSR Journal

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April 22, 2025

Patna

The capital city of Bihar state, Patna used to go by many names – Pataliputra, Patalipattan, Pataligram, Kusumpur, and Azimabad. Patna district is the most populated in all the districts of Bihar. It is one of the oldest inhabited places in the world, its history and tradition dating back to the dawn of civilization. Ancient Patna was the seat of power and capital of many kingdoms like Haryanka, Nanda, Magadh, Mauryan, Sunga, Kanva, Gupta, Pala and Suri.

Patna has long been a major agricultural centre of trade and industry. The region is famous for the medium-grained Patna rice. It is an important business centre in eastern India. Major industries in the city include leather, handicraft and food processing. There are four industrial areas in Patna – Patliputra, Fatuha, MIP Bihta, Bihta. Food processing is the sector rising the fastest, because of the availability of surplus agro products in the district.

Patna is also a preferred destination for execution of CSR initiatives of companies. In FY 2023, the district was the second largest recipient of CSR funds in Bihar at Rs 26.54 crore. The top three areas of focus for the CSR programs were: health, education and environment with respective spending of Rs 19.55 crore, Rs 4.52 crore, and Rs 1.05 crore.

Let us look at the top CSR projects in Patna.

YIAL initiative by Bal Raksha Bharat

The YIAL (Youth Innovation and Action Lab) initiative by Bal Raksha Bharat in Patna is an incubation and accelerator program designed to empower marginalized youth and adolescents to become entrepreneurs and community change-makers. Through YIAL, participants identify local challenges and develop innovative solutions, focusing on sectors such as farming, goat rearing, mushroom cultivation, stitching centers, broom making, and food carts.

In Patna, the program operates in two urban wards (covering six slums), where youth collectives receive training, mentorship, and seed funding to pilot and scale their business ideas. The initiative unfolds in three phases: incubation (training and idea development), marketplace pitching (presenting ideas for seed money), and business acceleration (mentorship and business growth support). The aim is to equip young people with 21st-century skills, enhance their entrepreneurial capacity, and help them overcome socio-economic barriers, ultimately fostering sustainable livelihoods and broader community development.

Takeda India

Takeda India, in partnership with the National Centre for Vector Borne Diseases Control, the Bihar Health Department, and the Rajendra Memorial Research Institute of Medical Sciences in Patna, has supported the establishment of two specialized health centers in Saran (Chapra) and Purnea (Dhamdaha) districts of Bihar. These centers focus on improving the diagnosis and treatment of leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease transmitted by sandflies, bringing advanced care closer to communities most at risk. By refurbishing laboratories and wards, the initiative enables district hospitals to handle complicated cases such as visceral leishmaniasis (VL), VL co-infections, and post-kala-azar dermal leishmaniasis (PKDL), conditions that previously required patients to travel to Patna for treatment.

Beyond patient care, the centers also serve as hubs for training healthcare workers, helping them develop the necessary skills to test and treat various forms of leishmaniasis effectively. This approach not only addresses immediate health needs but also ensures that expertise in managing the disease is retained and strengthened within local health systems. As part of a broader effort to eliminate visceral leishmaniasis in India, the initiative reflects a collaborative, sustainable model that aligns with national health priorities and supports ongoing public health improvements in Bihar.

Gnarly Troop adopts village

Gnarly Troop, a non-profit organisation has adopted the Bakhari Village (Paigambarpur Panchayat) of Muzaffarpur in Bihar to facilitate major societal transformations among around 1500 villagers in the area.

Post adoption of the village, the non-profit has established a rural development centre, community hall for farmers, women, and children, library for students, and an open sky campus for Paigambarpur Panchayat meetings and for the higher authority members of the village. At the open sky campus, every Sunday, the Gnarly Troop organises a meeting where the members of the Panchayat and other higher authorities of the village discuss the development of the area and the prospects of future growth. During the meeting, the members of the Panchayat and representatives from the non-profit also addressed issues like banking services, government forms, etc., and provided solutions to the residents of the village.

The Bakhari Village of Muzaffarpur in Bihar has around 586 voters who are over 18 years of age and over 900 children; with the male-female ratio being 1:1.2. The major occupational income of the villagers is through wages, and the number of students enrolled in an educational institution is 134. Around 60 per cent of men and women depend on the hiring for work in and at agriculture land. With the help of the Gnarly Troop, employment in private jobs has been increased by 17 per cent, claimed an announcement from the non-profit.

Indian Oil Corporation’s robotic scavenger

In a bid to end the practice of manual scavenging in Patna, IOCL (Indian Oil Corporation Limited) has funded a mechanised sewage cleansing bot. ‘Bandicoot’ is a robotic manhole-cleaning system that costs Rs. 40 lakh. Municipal commissioner Himanshu Sharma formally launched the scavenging machine in the city jointly with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) – Bihar.

The management panel stays outside the manhole and the spider-like construction with an arm and 4 legs enters the manhole and clears the silt and blockages. The management panel helps in internal inspection with the assistance of infrared cameras. UNFPA – Bihar hired an expert agency to operate the cleaning bot as part of the MoU that the Patna Municipal Corporation has signed. Bandicoot has two interconnected buildings.

ISM Patna’s education programmes

International School of Management, Patna conducts various CSR activities to help children and youth who cannot afford quality education. Students of ISM Patna conduct computer literacy classes for the students of the primary schools of nearby villages. A batch of 15 students is selected and they are brought to the Institute’s lab every Saturday for close to 3 months. The Institute conducts English and communication training through the use of Language Lab facility at the campus. Training modules are specifically customised to cater for the needs of students from nearby villages.

The institute has installed an Internet Kiosk at the campus to help people from nearby villages who are seeking information regarding crop varieties, current market rates of their produce, weather forecasts, information regarding doctors, etc.

Jharkhand: Eight Naxals including three high profile leaders killed in encounter

By

Ahana Bhattacharya

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April 22, 2025

Eight Naxals including three high profile leaders were eliminated in an encounter by CoBRA commandos and police at Lugu Hills in Jharkhand’s Bokaro district on Monday. A high-ranking central committee member was among the deceased who had a Rs 1 crore reward announced after him. The central committee serves as the primary decision-making authority of the banned CPI (Maoist organisation).

The CoBRA functions as the CRPF’s specialised jungle warfare unit. This operation aligns with the government’s objective to eliminate Naxalism by March, 2026.

Naxal members who were killed

The deceased included central committee member Prayag Manjhi (Vivek), special area committee member Arvind Yadav (Avinash), zonal committee member Sahebram Manjhi (Rahul Manjhi). Mahesh Manjhi, Talu, Ranju Manjhi, Gangaram and Mahesh were also killed in the encounter.

The rewards on the militants were Rs 1 crore for Prayag Manjhi aka Vivek, Rs 25 lakh for Arvind Yadav and Rs 10 lakh for Sahebram Manjhi aka Rahul. Multiple cases of violence were registered against the deceased Naxalites.

Weapons seized during encounter

The confrontation between Naxals, Jharkhand Police and CoBRA commandos began at around 5.30 am in Lugu Hills of Lalpania area. During the operation, conducted by 209 CoBRA Battalion and state police, weapons including an AK series rifle, three INSAS rifles, a self-loading rifle, eight country-made guns and a pistol were seized.

Maoist wiped out in North Chotanagpur: DGP

Jharkhand DGP Anurag Gupta said, “With this encounter, Maoist squads in North Chotanagpur region have been wiped out. Maoists have nearly been wiped out from across the state. They only remain in Chaibasa region. We are going to relocate all our forces, including the CRPF, Jharkhand Jaguar and Jharkhand Armed Police, in the Saranda area. Our target is to eliminate all the Maoist squads in the region in the next 15 to 20 days, or certainly before the rainy season.”

Home Ministry commends Naxal encounter

The home ministry commended the security forces for their achievement in the ongoing anti-Naxal operations.

“Our march to eliminate Naxalism continues unabated. Today security forces achieved another significant success in the ongoing operation to uproot Naxalism. In an encounter at Lugu Hills in Bokaro, Jharkhand, 8 Maoists were neutralised, including a top-level naxal leader, Vivek, who carried a reward of Rs 1 crore, and two other notorious Naxalites. The operation is being continued. Applaud our security forces,” official X account of the Home Ministry posted on Monday.

Chhattisgarh CM to meet Amit Shah to review anti-Naxal operations

Meanwhile, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on next Monday to review anti-Naxal operations. Over 140 Maoists have been eliminated in Chhattisgarh this year, a state which is considered as a stronghold of Left Wing Extremism.

Bengaluru Road Rage Twist: IAF Officer Booked After CCTV Shows He Initiated Assault

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April 22, 2025

DRDO wife attacked in road rage bengaluru

A road rage incident in Bengaluru has taken a new turn following the emergence of CCTV footage that challenges initial accounts provided by the involved parties.

On April 21, 2025, Wing Commander Shiladitya Bose and his wife, Squadron Leader Madhumita Dutta, were en route to Kempegowda International Airport when they encountered Vikas Kumar, a 27-year-old call centre employee, on Old Madras Road. According to Dutta’s complaint, Kumar was riding rashly and allegedly attacked them after noticing the DRDO sticker on their vehicle, shouting, “This is Kannada land.”

Bose Recorded Himself, Video Went Viral

In response, Bose recorded a video showing his injuries and posted it on social media, accusing Kumar of assault. The video quickly went viral, garnering widespread attention.

However, subsequent CCTV footage from nearby establishments painted a different picture. The footage showed Bose confronting Kumar aggressively, with Bose appearing to initiate the physical altercation. Dutta was also seen engaging in verbal exchanges during the incident.

Vikas Kumar Files Counter FIR

Based on this new evidence, Kumar filed a counter-complaint, accusing Bose of attempting to kill him during the confrontation. An FIR was registered under sections 109 (abetment of a crime) and 115 (attempt to commit a crime) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

In turn, an FIR was filed against Bose, charging him with assault and attempting to murder. Police have initiated investigations and are analysing all available footage to ascertain the sequence of events.
Both individuals have been arrested, and the Bengaluru police are continuing their probe into the incident.

Murshidabad violence: West Bengal Govt to probe delay in Police Action

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April 22, 2025

The West Bengal Police have decided to launch an internal investigation into allegations of lapses and delayed response during the recent violence in Murshidabad’s Shamsherganj. Officials have stated that a full-fledged probe will begin once the situation in the area returns to normal.

Despite repeated calls for help from residents, police reportedly failed to respond in time.

In a preliminary administrative shake-up, the officers-in-charge (OCs) of Shamsherganj and Suti police stations have been removed from their posts and two Inspectors-in-Charge (ICs) have been appointed in their positions. “Further changes in the local police hierarchy will be made as part of the action against the alleged delay,” said a senior police officer.

Tensions remain high in Shamsherganj following a wave of violence that left several villages in ruins and three people dead. While calm is gradually being restored with the deployment of central forces, serious questions are being raised about the role—and delay—of the police during the attacks. It was alleged that negligence and failure to act in time triggered the attack on a particular community of people.

According to multiple accounts from residents, the violence on April 12 unfolded over several hours without any police intervention. Villagers claim they began calling the police as early as 9 a.m., reporting attacks, arson and looting across at least five villages. However, they allege that their cries for help went unheeded for hours. By the time the police arrived—allegedly four hours after the initial calls—dozens of homes had been ransacked and set ablaze.

“Our initial findings show that a large police contingent was stationed just one-and-a-half kilometers away from the violence-hit villages,” said the officer, adding, “The investigation will focus on why it took them so long to respond and reach the affected areas.”

In Jafrabad, the brutality reached its peak. A father and son were killed by a mob. While the father died at the scene, residents believe the son could have survived had he received timely medical assistance. An initial autopsy report confirmed that the young man died from excessive bleeding—fueling claims that a delay in police response cost him his life.

Central forces present, but no action

Adding to the controversy is the fact that three companies of central paramilitary forces were reportedly stationed in Shamsherganj at the time of the attacks. A large police force, including senior officers, was also present in the area. Yet, they failed to intervene until the violence had run its course.

A section of the police has suggested that they were unaware of the ongoing attacks because the local police failed to relay the information in time. This has led to further criticism, with villagers questioning why local officers, even after receiving multiple distress calls, delayed reporting the violence and did not mobilise immediately.

Was It a Planned Attack?

Several officers have expressed concern over the apparent planning behind the violence. Bombings and killings across multiple villages suggest a level of coordination that, they argue, should have been detected by the police intelligence network. The failure of the intelligence department to foresee or intercept the threat has become a major point of contention.

The unrest first began on April 8 in areas like Suti, Dhulian, and Shamsherganj over opposition to the amended Waqf Act and escalated dramatically by April 11. Although a temporary calm was restored with the presence of central forces, fresh violence erupted the very next morning—raising questions about both preparedness and intent.

As the state police face increasing scrutiny, villagers continue to demand justice and accountability, not just for the violence that took place, but for what they see as a complete breakdown in the duty of law enforcement.

Terrorists Target Tourists in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley, 27 Dead; Several Injured

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April 22, 2025

A serene afternoon in one of Kashmir’s most cherished tourist spots turned tragic today after terrorists opened fire on a group of visitors in the upper reaches of Baisaran Valley, Pahalgam. Initial reports suggest 27 dead and at least five to seven tourists are reported to have sustained injuries in the attack.

According to officials, the assailants, believed to be in camouflage, targeted a group of tourists in Baisaran a scenic meadow only reachable by foot or horseback. Gunshots were first heard in the area around noon, following which security forces and emergency medical personnel rushed to the scene.

This suspected terror attack comes at a sensitive time for the region, coinciding with the beginning of peak tourist season in Kashmir and ongoing preparations for the annual Amarnath Yatra. The 38-day pilgrimage is scheduled to commence on July 3, via two main routes: the 48-km trail through Pahalgam in Anantnag and a 14-km route via Baltal in Ganderbal. Both tracks are expected to see thousands of pilgrims, heightening concerns about security in the region.

Injured Tourists Are From Rajasthan

Initial reports indicate that some of the injured tourists may be from Rajasthan. The Jammu and Kashmir Police have confirmed that at least four to five people were hurt, including some locals.

Security agencies suspect that the attackers aimed to create panic and derail the upcoming yatra by targeting areas popular with tourists. The operation to locate and neutralise the perpetrators is currently underway, and the entire Baisaran Valley has been cordoned off.

The Jammu and Kashmir National Council party also responded swiftly to the incident. Party spokesperson Umesh Talashi posted on X (formerly Twitter), confirming the attack and requesting immediate intervention from Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and other state leaders.

Victim’s Pleads for Help

A distraught woman, overwhelmed with emotion, desperately begged for help to save her husband after witnessing a horrifying shooting incident targeting tourists in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed one life.

Through her sobs, she repeatedly cried out, “Please save my husband,” her remaining words lost in anguish as she struggled to speak through her tears.

Tension Rise Amid Infiltration Fears

The broader security context in the Union Territory has remained tense in recent weeks. Heightened alerts had already been issued following provocative comments from Pakistan’s Army Chief, raising fears of cross-border infiltration attempts. Union Home Minister Amit Shah, during a recent visit to Jammu and Kashmir, had emphasised a zero-tolerance policy towards terrorism and instructed law enforcement agencies to intensify surveillance especially in vulnerable zones like pilgrimage routes.

Tourism officials and security personnel now fear that the incident might impact the state’s tourism prospects and disrupt upcoming religious gatherings. A senior police officer described the attack as a “deliberate provocation meant to instill fear,” but reaffirmed that authorities are prepared to ensure the safety of tourists and pilgrims.

As the rescue and investigation operations continue in Pahalgam, officials have urged the public to remain calm and avoid speculation until more verified details emerge.

Flute, Tabla, Violin, and Harmonium to make Traffic Jams Entertaining in India

By

Ahana Bhattacharya

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April 22, 2025

Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari has once again proposed a law to mandate using the sounds of Indian musical instrument as vehicle horns. Speaking at an event on Monday, Gadkari said that he aims to make vehicle horns across India more pleasant and hence the sounds of instruments like flute, tabla, violin, and harmonium would be a good idea.

“I am planning to make a law that horns of all vehicles should be in Indian musical instruments so that it is pleasant to hear. Flute, tabla, violin, harmonium,” Gadkari was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Similar proposal by Gadkari earlier

This is not the first time that Gadkari has proposed such a law in the country. In 2021, the minister had said he was planning to introduce a law to make sound of Indian musical instruments mandatory as a horn for vehicles.

India earning significant revenue from automobile exports

Gadkari also highlighted the strength of India’s automobile industry, noting that the country earns significant revenue from the export of two-wheelers and cars. He shared that the industry, valued at Rs 14 lakh crore in 2014, has now grown to Rs 22 lakh crore.

Furthermore, he announced that India has overtaken Japan to become the third-largest automobile market globally, after the United States and China.

Govt of India trying to reduce air pollution caused by transport sector

Gadkari also highlighted that the transport sector is responsible for 40% of the country’s air pollution. To combat this, the central government is actively promoting the adoption of green and biofuels such as methanol and ethanol for vehicles.

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