India has committed to go net-zero by 2070 in the recently conducted climate summit in Glasgow. In order to achieve this, the Prime Minister has said that the country will rely on renewable sources of energy for 50 per cent of its energy needs by 2030. This has brought the role of power companies in India under the spotlight.
Power companies in India have been responsible for the socio-economic development of the country. Their reach has led to the development of the remotest areas of the country, improving the agriculture sector and increasing the standard of living of people. The power companies are also responsible for the upliftment of the underprivileged because of various CSR initiatives. Let us look at five power companies that take CSR seriously.
NTPC
NTPC Ltd. is India’s largest power-generating company. The company has been around since 1975 and has a pan-India presence that permeates the entire value chain of the power industry.
Back in 1995, before the term ‘climate change’ became a buzzword in sustainability circles, NTPC was the first public utility in our nation to create the comprehensive ‘NTPC Environment Policy and Environment Management System’. NTPC has also been conducting EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) studies and following them up with environmental audits. In fact, it’s among the first power companies in India to run an EIA. This climate-positive attitude is a testament to its commitment to corporate citizenship.
CSR runs through the company culture. Social welfare is largely directed towards the people residing near the power stations, but not restricted to them. It is institutionalised in a way that it can be monitored periodically.
Water, sanitation, health and education are the thrust areas for CSR activities of NTPC. Since the centres of NTPC span a large and wide geographical area, as many as 19 states, the government-owned company is in a position to effect change through CSR on a national scale.
Communities living in the vicinity of its plants form the major chunk of beneficiaries, with other projects reaching out to the poorest of the poor. Other CSR projects are implemented to supplement the central government’s programmes for inclusive growth like Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan and PMSSY.
The company spent Rs 418.87 Crores in FY 2020-21 for CSR.
Tata Power
Electric utility company Tata Power is no stranger to corporate social responsibility. In line with the famous Tata legacy, societal good is as important as profit-making. Tata Power spent Rs. 3.45 crore on CSR in 2020-21. CSR initiatives are categorised into five thrust areas: financial inclusion, education, health & sanitation, water, livelihood & skill-building.
The Adhikaar programme is an interlinked socio-economic and scheme-based CSR initiative that aims to inform, enable and empower marginalised communities. Teaming up with the Rockefeller Foundation, the Tata Power Renewable Microgrid Limited (TPRMG) was set up to enable access to reliable and renewable electricity for 25 million Indians. On average, two micro-entrepreneurs with two associates each will be supported by the proposed microgrid of 30 kW.
To support women empowerment, Tata Power established an all-women dairy-based enterprise with about 1,500 members from 26 villages of Maval in Maharashtra. The Dairy 10000 LPD Plant was successfully commissioned in December 2019. It is Maharashtra’s first and India’s second all-women dairy farm. The dairy provides 1 lakh litres of bulk supply with a turnover of around Rs. 1 crore.
Tata Power Skill Development Institute (TPSDI) helps develop employable skills, especially in the power and allied sectors. The institute provides modular training and certifications. TPSDI operates five training centres and has trained 40,000 youth on various trades with safety and soft skills as an integral part of the modules. TPSDI Skills on Wheels is a new facet that will make skill training more accessible and provide Recognition for Prior Learning (RPL), Motor Rewinding, and Solar Skills. Abha is an initiative to encourage skill development and empowerment for girls through the ‘earn while you learn’ approach in JJ clusters of Delhi. The initiative covers 2,246 beneficiaries in collaboration with the UNDP and Urban Clap across Maharashtra and Delhi.
Dhaaga is a women-based micro-enterprise initiative of Tata Power. This CSR initiative has led to the promotion of local talent and the conservation of traditional art form. The Rabari women artisan and tribal Santhal women of Gujarat and Jharkhand, respectively, are engaged in this initiative.
Torrent Power
Torrent has always been committed to the cause of social service and has consistently channelized a part of its resources and activities, such that it positively impacts society socially, ethically and environmentally. The Company has taken up various CSR initiatives improving the quality of life of the people and making quality value addition to the society. The Company channelizes its CSR activities in light of its guiding principle as enumerated by its founder- Shri U. N. Mehta: “Giving back to the society, for all the years of care, support and nurturance that is being bestowed upon the organization”. Torrent Power spent Rs. 33.74 Crores for various CSR initiatives in FY 2020-21.
The company’s flagship CSR program, REACH which stands for Reach EAch Child, has three components. “Shaishav”, the first pillar of the programme, targets to establish the baseline health status of children in age group of 6 months to 6 years, through medical camps in 372 villages surrounding the industrial establishments of the Group. “Jatan”, the second pillar of the programme, encompasses the provision of healthcare services to children upto 18 years. Initiated with the establishment of 4 state-of-art paediatric primary healthcare facilities, supported by mobile OPD vans, in areas where Group’s industrial facilities are located, primarily rural areas. Under “Muskaan”, the third pillar of the program, counselling and support was provided to rural adolescent girls around Sugen, Dahej & Indrad centers covering menstrual hygiene and sanitation, by providing free health and hygiene kits.
Adani Power
The company’s annual report explicitly states that Adani Power Ltd. (APL) is not required to spend on corporate social responsibility as per Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013. However, for noble causes, the company has spent Rs. 2.77 crore on CSR activities in FY21. These initiatives have reached out to 6.5 lakh beneficiaries.
Adani Power runs replicable and sustainable initiatives across five states, in 200 villages. Flagship programmes include Swachhagraha, SuPoshan and Udaan. Community development at Adani Power is all about identifying the social needs and then planning projects in their entirety in meticulous detail. While the CSR team interacts with the target beneficiaries before the project kicks off, third party agencies come in to make a formal assessment. Rural infrastructure, livelihood, education and healthcare are the primary focus areas for the interventions that Adani Power CSR takes on.
JSW Energy
JSW Energy Limited reinforces its commitment to the society and environment by adopting robust Environmental, Social and Governance practices. It strongly believes in inclusive growth to facilitate equal social and economic opportunities to communities. The company spent INR 6.68 on CSR in FY 2020-21.
JSW Foundation supports, plans and executes JSW Energy’s CSR interventions. It has been working alongside the communities and other stakeholders to create shared vision and values that rally around not only to create a synergy among the individuals but also serve to multiply the benefits of its CSR initiatives. Through its various CSR interventions, the Foundation has benefited 60,268, 54,000 and 67,381 beneficiaries directly in 2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-20, respectively.
The Company won “Rajasthan CSR Leadership Award 2019” under “Poverty Alleviation” category and “National NGO & CSR Excellence Award-2019”, for “Water & Sanitation-2019” presented at the 6th National NGO and CSR summit-2019.
