CSR News: On 75th anniversary of Mahindra Group, employees pledge to volunteer 750,000 hours

The Mahindra Group today commemorates its 75th anniversary since its inception in 1945. To celebrate this significant milestone, its employees pledge to contribute 750,000 hours volunteering. This is for the well-being of the communities in India and around the world, as part of Mahindra’s campaign, ‘My Seva’.

The campaign aims to enthuse employees to celebrate and devote their valuable time in small or big acts of kindness throughout the year. It will provide employees with a platform to share their personal stories of volunteering and will be run along with the company’s Employee Social Options (ESOPs) volunteering program.

Additionally, the Mahindra Group is launching the #RiseUpChallenge. Taking inspiration from the insight that music has been a sanctuary for many people during the ongoing pandemic and forced lockdown, the group is launching a new video film. Focussing on the Group’s corporate purpose ‘Rise’, the video celebrates the hope and optimism of individuals to win and overcome seemingly insurmountable challenges.

This social media-first campaign will challenge people to watch the video, make their own video, upload it or share it on their social handles with the hashtag #RiseUpChallenge.

Anand Mahindra, Chairman, Mahindra Group said, “The Mahindra Group has remained resilient and thrived over the past 75 years by staying true to its core values and high standards of corporate governance every single day. These values seek to drive positive change in the lives of our stakeholders and the communities we serve around the world, while ensuring we remain agile and future-ready. I am filled with enthusiasm and gratitude as we make this commitment toward giving back to the community, in a particularly tough year for humanity.”

Over the past seven decades, the Mahindra Group has played a leading role in transforming business and society driven by the core idea that people will succeed if given the right opportunity. Throughout its history, Mahindra has taken a thoughtful, holistic approach to CSR that aligns with its core values. The Group has worked to serve the needs of India and other global markets over time and is deeply proud of this fact.

Key milestones of Mahindra Group of companies

– On November 8, 1945, an advertisement appeared in the Times of India – the very first by M&M after its launch as a business firm in October 2, 1945 and it focussed only on the new company’s purpose & principles as opposed to promoting any products or services. The principles that were listed in the advertisement still hold true for the company. Among them were: The encouragement of private enterprise and the initiative of the individual; Belief in the ability of corporate institutions to oppose anti-social trends, such as monopolies and cartels; Respect for the dignity of the individual; Ability must be the sole test of merit and advancement.

– The Group Pioneered an Electric three-wheeler named ‘Bijlee’ in 2002 and electric vehicles in 2010, Mahindra was ahead of its time and ready to support India’s National Electric Mobility ambition announced in 2018.

– Mahindra Susten, a clean energy business pioneered the spread of solar energy in India in 2010. It is one of the largest players in the growing alternate energy sector in India.

Committed to rejuvenating the environment

– Climate change is not about Sustainability or Profit but Sustainability with Profit. The Mahindra Group has pledged to become carbon neutral by 2040 a decade ahead of the Paris Agreement’s target by optimizing energy efficiency, focusing on the use of renewable energy and creating carbon sinks. Project Hariyali commits to planting more than a million trees annually, having planted over 17 million trees till date

– Most of the M&M plants are certified Zero Waste to Landfill.

– It is a water-positive Group.

– Mahindra has a $600 million green product portfolio that consists of low carbon, climate-friendly product lines and corporate practices, including EVs, green housing, solar business, micro-irrigation.

Which are the flagship CSR programmes of Mahindra Group?

Its comprehensive, well-planned and long-term social interventions address constituencies of girls, youth and farmers, by supporting them in education, health & environment. CSR flagship programmes are:

– Project Nanhi Kali has supported the education of over 450,000 underprivileged girls till-date.

– 9 Mahindra Pride Schools have trained 39,280 youth from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds. 100% of the students have been placed.

– 6,519 Mahindra Pride Classrooms have trained till date 2,87,417 youths, thereby drastically improving their chances of being gainfully employed.

– Mahindra marked its 60th anniversary by redefining corporate social responsibility at the Mahindra Group, and pledged 1% PAT towards CSR initiatives which included providing cochlear implants to 60 hearing-impaired underprivileged children across the country. Symbolically, the then President of India handed over the cochlear implants to two children on October 2, 2005.

– ‘Employee Social Options’ (ESOPs) encourages employees to volunteer for various CSR projects. Year on year, Mahindra Group employees have contributed more than 3.3 million person-hours cumulatively for initiatives to benefit disadvantaged communities.

– Community Outreach & Disaster Relief – Mahindra steps in with donations, equipment and support to help impacted communities in serves.

Community Engagement in the USA

– Mahindra Urban Agricultural Grant Program by Mahindra Automotive North America [MANA] has donated over $625,000 in cash and farm equipment to support 20 unique community-based organizations in Southeast Michigan committed to sustainable farming.

– Military Veterans Program by MANA helps the veterans deal with their physical and emotional challenges to rediscover joy through off-road recreation.

– The Women in Ag scholarship programme by Mahindra Agri North America [MAgNA] awards scholarships to young women and urban-area high school students.

– University Collaborations – Key partnerships with 12 US universities such as Virginia Tech, Michigan State, University of Texas at Dallas, Hayward State University at CA, University of Washington, University of Nebraska & many more.

COVID-19 Pandemic solutions

Mahindra Group leveraged every possible of its resource to uniquely support the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.

– Quickly converted its existing production facilities to produce aerosol box, face shields, face masks, hand sanitizers for hospitals, the police, Municipal Corporations and community members.

Club Mahindra made available their resorts across India as Temporary Care Facilities

– Tech Mahindra leveraged technology to connect citizens and the government, from developing and deploying a blockchain-based ePass solution for State Governments, to developing an integrated Digital Health Platform and coordinating Dial 100 emergency services and citizen services.

– Over and above the grants made to the PM CARES Fund, Mahindra employees contributed over Rs. 7 crores to support their stakeholders who were impacted because of the lockdown.

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