Piramal Enterprises Limited (PEL) is one of the large listed companies in India, with a presence in Pharmaceuticals and Financial Services. Within Pharma, the Company offers a portfolio of differentiated products and services through end-to-end manufacturing capabilities across 15 global facilities and a global distribution network in over 100 countries.
Apart from its business operations, the company has been reaching millions of people through its CSR initiatives. It focuses its CSR campaigns mainly on Primary healthcare and nutrition, and Education Leadership and Women & Youth empowerment. The company conducts a majority of its CSR initiatives through the Piramal Foundation.
Piramal Foundation
Piramal Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Piramal Group, is a Section 8 company that develops innovative solutions to resolve issues that are critical roadblocks towards unlocking India’s economic potential. With sustainable development at its core, the foundation, which was set up in 2006, has been diligently working towards providing healthcare & nutrition and education across India, largely in partnership with the central and state government. It has succeeded in creating a better life for people and has impacted over 113 million lives. Piramal Foundation has a vision to transform Health, Education, Water and social sector ecosystems through partnerships, high impact solutions and thought leadership. The foundation’s portfolio of solutions comprises of 5 Big Bets that will leapfrog India towards achieving her Sustainable Development Goals by 2030 through a Platform and Partnership approach. These are as follows:
1. Tribal Health Collective
The Tribal Health Collaborative known as Anamaya is a multi-stakeholder initiative committed to ending preventable deaths among tribal and other marginalized communities across India. These communities, rich in linguistic and cultural diversity, face systemic barriers that exacerbate health-related risks. Anamaya aims to improve health and nutrition outcomes for these communities, which constitute 8.6% of India’s population. The collaborative operates in tribal districts across several states, including Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Odisha, with plans to expand its reach over the next decade. It is supported by the Piramal Foundation and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The goal is to enhance the health and nutrition status of tribal communities, aligning with India’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) by 2030.
Anamaya at improving health and nutrition outcomes for tribal and marginalised communities across India. Here are some of the significant initiatives:
1. Community-Based Interventions: Anamaya works closely with local communities to design and implement health programs. These interventions focus on preventive healthcare, maternal and child health, nutrition, and hygiene practices.
2. Capacity Building: The collaborative invests in training and building the capacity of healthcare workers, community health volunteers, and frontline staff. This ensures that they can effectively deliver healthcare services and promote health awareness within tribal communities.
3. Health Infrastructure Strengthening: Anamaya collaborates with government health systems to strengthen healthcare infrastructure in tribal areas. This includes setting up health centers, improving facilities, and ensuring access to essential medicines.
4. Nutrition Programs: Anamaya emphasizes nutrition-sensitive interventions. They promote breastfeeding, micronutrient supplementation, and diversified diets to address malnutrition among tribal children and women.
5. Maternal and Child Health: Anamaya focuses on reducing maternal and child mortality rates. They provide antenatal care, safe delivery services, immunization, and postnatal support.
6. Health Education and Awareness: Anamaya conducts health awareness campaigns, workshops, and community meetings to educate tribal populations about health, hygiene, and disease prevention.
7. Research and Data Collection: The collaborative collects data on health indicators, disease prevalence, and healthcare utilisation. This informs evidence-based decision-making and program design.
8. Advocacy and Policy Influence: Anamaya advocates for policies that prioritize tribal health and well-being. They collaborate with government bodies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to influence policy changes.
2. Aspirational Bharat Collaborative
The Aspirational Bharat Collaborative (BHARATCOLLAB) represents a harmonious partnership between NITI Aayog and the Piramal Foundation. It evolved from its predecessor, the Aspirational Districts Collaborative (ADC), with a focus on addressing unique demographic, geographic, and socio-economic challenges in specific districts and blocks across India.
BHARATCOLLAB aims to support India in becoming a developed nation by 2047, featuring among the top three economies globally. It focuses on improving the quality of life for the bottom 100+ million population in the country. The collaborative builds hyper-local partnerships with civil societies, facilitates last-mile convergence at the block and gram panchayat level, and drives campaigns to enhance service delivery in aspirational blocks and districts. NITI Aayog and the Piramal Foundation jointly lead this initiative. Their strategic foresight and grassroots experience combine to effect tangible change at the local level.
Evolution
2018-2021: Initiated with 25 Aspirational Districts.
2021-2022: Expanded to 112 Aspirational Districts.
2022-2023: Progressing to 160 Aspirational Blocks, including those in Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, and the Palghar Aspirational Block.
Ethos
Sewa Bhav: Collaboration across NGOs, youth organizations, local media, faith leaders, panchayats, and self-help groups (SHGs).
Convergence: Effortlessly connecting governance tiers from district to panchayat level, harmonizing with government programs.
Community Empowerment: Leveraging community power for rapid behavioral transformations.
Hyperlocal Emphasis: Collaborating with district administrations for comprehensive last-mile convergence.
Approach: Tailored interventions address specific needs and obstacles faced by individual communities.
The Aspirational Bharat Collaborative strives to uplift marginalised districts sustainably, fostering enduring prosperity for millions of underserved residents in India.
3. Digital Bharat Collaborative
The Digital Bharat Collaborative (DBC), a part of Piramal Foundation, is dedicated to revolutionizing public systems through digital innovation. It focuses on several key aspects:
Strengthening Public Systems: DBC endeavors to bolster India’s public healthcare system by establishing a robust digital delivery platform. This platform ensures the availability and accessibility of high-quality healthcare services for all citizens.
Equal Opportunities: DBC’s goal is to foster equal opportunities by harnessing digital transformation. It aims to narrow disparities and offer fair access to essential services throughout the country.
Collaboration: Embracing a collaborative approach, DBC works closely with government agencies, like-minded organizations, and technology partners. Together, they strive to drive positive change in public service delivery.
The Digital Bharat Collaborative (DBC), an initiative by Piramal Foundation, offers a diverse array of digital solutions aimed at fortifying public systems and advancing service delivery. Here are some specific solutions:
Health Management Information Systems (HMIS): DBC develops and implements HMIS platforms to digitize health records, streamline data collection, and bolster decision-making for healthcare providers. These systems enhance patient management, supply chain logistics, and the monitoring of health programs.
Telemedicine and Teleconsultation: DBC facilitates telemedicine services, enabling patients in remote areas to consult with healthcare professionals via video calls or phone. This bridges the gap between patients and doctors, particularly in underserved regions.
Mobile Applications: DBC designs user-friendly mobile apps for health workers, community health volunteers, and citizens. These apps furnish information on health services, vaccination schedules, maternal care, and nutrition. They also enable real-time reporting and data collection.
E-Learning Platforms: DBC develops digital learning platforms for healthcare workers, equipping them with vital knowledge and skills. These platforms offer training modules, videos, and interactive content to augment capacity-building.
Supply Chain Management: Leveraging technology, DBC optimizes supply chains for essential medicines, vaccines, and medical equipment. This ensures the timely availability and distribution of healthcare resources.
Data Analytics and Insights: DBC employs data analytics tools to extract meaningful insights from health data. These insights inform evidence-based decision-making, resource allocation, and program evaluation.
Community Engagement Platforms: DBC constructs platforms that engage communities in health awareness campaigns, behavior change communication, and preventive measures. These platforms empower citizens to proactively manage their health.
It’s crucial to note that DBC’s solutions are meticulously crafted to enhance healthcare access, efficiency, and equity across India, benefiting both healthcare providers and the communities they serve.
4. Piramal School of Leadership
The Piramal School of Leadership (PSL), launched by the Piramal Foundation, stands as a flagship initiative in leadership development. In partnership with the Piramal Group, it focuses on harnessing and refining the inherent leadership capacities of government school headmasters and officials. By employing adult learning principles, PSL strives to empower these leaders to effect positive change in public service delivery. The school comprises five specialized institutions, each dedicated to crucial development sectors:
– School of Education and Systems Change: Devoted to the transformation of education systems.
– School of Climate and Sustainability: Addresses challenges related to climate change.
– School of Health: Aims to enhance healthcare delivery.
– School of Justice: Engages with issues pertaining to justice.
– School of Inclusion: Promotes inclusivity and equity.
Situated in Jaipur, the PSL campus boasts world-class architecture across 25 acres of land. It is envisioned as a beacon for educational leadership in India, equipped with the capacity to initially train 600 learners, eventually expanding to accommodate 3000. These learners encompass government officials from Rajasthan, other states, national officials, fellows, and staff, who can benefit from up to 12 days of training per year.
5. Tapas (The Piramal Academy of Sewa)
Tapas (The Piramal Academy of Sewa) is a transformative initiative by Piramal Foundation, dedicated to nurturing leadership potential among the youth. It addresses the absence of a leadership-building platform to tap and nurture the potential of young individuals for contributing to development and nation-building.
Tapas envisions leveraging the power of youth and cultivating future leaders engaged in nation-building. Through its approach, Tapas believes that with the right mentoring and by tapping into leadership potential, young people can play a pivotal role in making India a superpower. It provides a platform for youth to develop leadership skills, engage in community service, and contribute to positive change.
Tapas focuses on various sectors, including education, climate and sustainability, health, justice, and inclusion, empowering young leaders through project-based learning and mentorship to drive meaningful impact in these areas. Based in Jaipur, India, the Piramal Academy of Sewa nurtures and trains youth to become effective leaders, aiming to create a generation of socially conscious leaders who actively participate in shaping India’s future.
In conclusion
Piramal Enterprises Limited has been actively pursuing its CSR initiatives in India to contribute to nation-building. In FY2022-23, the company spent Rs. 20 Crores on its CSR initiatives and touched the lives of 11.3 Crore people.