North-East India has been the most neglected region when it comes to corporate social responsibility. However, the tide is turning. CSR spending in the north-eastern region has witnessed a sharp spike over the past five years, with corporate houses and public sector enterprises giving more importance to north-eastern states in their CSR planning and budget.
According to the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA), four north-eastern states recorded a jump of 200% in CSR funding between 2014-15 and 2018-19. Assam is the biggest beneficiary in the region.
Where does Assam stand
As per National CSR portal, in the financial year 2021-22, the total CSR expenditure in Assam has been Rs 400 cr which is substantially high as compared to the total CSR expenditure in FY 2020-21 which was Rs 163.21 crores.
In FY 2021-22, a total of 175 companies invested in 25 districts of the state under 8 different sectors.
Top 3 districts
The top 3 districts to get CSR benefits in Assam are respectively Kamrup (amount spent towards CSR 110.86 cr), Sivasagar (90.11 cr) and Darrang (41.34 cr). Golaghat, Dibrugarh, Barpeta, Tinsukia, Cachar, Majuli, Jorhat and Sonitpur are some of the districts enjoying CSR benefits in the state.
Top 3 sectors
The top 3 sectors in which most of the CSR activities have been performed in the state are
Healthcare (CSR spent 163.79 cr)
Education (CSR spent 147.3 cr)
Environment (CSR spent 44.42 cr)
Top 3 companies
The top three companies spending for CSR in Assam in FY 2021-22 are respectively Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (92.19 cr), ICICI Bank Limited (80.94 cr) and Numaligarh Refinery Limited (45.86 cr).
CSR of ONGC – Multi-Speciality Hospital at Sivasagar, Assam
Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri recently inaugurated ONGC’s Multi-Speciality Hospital named Siu–Ka–Pha Hospital in Sivasagar, Assam. The hospital has been built at a cost of Rs 483 crore. The Hospital has been funded by ONGC under CSR and will be managed and operated by Aurangabad-based Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Vaidyakiya Pratisthan (BAVP). The hospital is expected to improve the healthcare services for the people of upper Assam as well as other parts of the Northeast.
The multi-speciality hospital at Demow in Sivasagar district has been built with an investment of Rs 483.19 crore, and is expected to provide healthcare services to over 1 lakh patients annually. The state-of-the-art hospital, spanning over 35 acres, has 300 beds and a team of 70 specialised doctors. It has modular operating theatres, a critical care unit and telemedicine facilities, connecting patients with specialist healthcare providers nationwide.
CSR of ICICI Bank: ICICI Academy for Skills
Since 2013, ICICI Academy for Skills (ICICI Academy) has been providing skill training with the aim of generating employment for underprivileged youth as part of a unique livelihood and skilling initiative. It provides sustainable job opportunities for such youth through industry-relevant and job-oriented training. The pro bono training initiative also includes skill development in financial literacy as well as soft skills and life skills.
ICICI Academy is operating through 26 centres across the country. The centres are equipped with state-of-the-art practical laboratories for imparting technical and non-technical skills through 15 courses which are curated in collaboration with as many reputed institutions. These institutions are AkzoNobel, Blue Star, BPL Medical Technologies, Cars 24, Crompton, Enrich, Godrej Disha, KOEL Care, LG Electronics, Mahindra Rise, Schneider Electric India, Tally Solutions, TVS Motor Company and ICICI Bank. ICICI Academy provides job opportunities to the successful candidates through over 1,400 placement partners.
ICICI Bank water conservation projects
In FY 2021-22, Residents of Kamrup district in Assam have been benefitted from Livelihood Enhancement Projects implemented by ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, while Darrang district has been benefitted from the bank’s water conservation projects.
In fiscal 2021, ICICI Bank initiated rainwater-harvesting projects at over 300 schools across 14 states. The ambit of the project was expanded in fiscal 2022 to 2,000 schools in 21 states. It has led to savings of 50 million litres of water in the year which is equivalent to filling 20 Olympic-sized swimming pools, the bank claims in its ESG report. In addition to helping these schools to save water, ICICI bank is also educating students about the benefits of rainwater harvesting.
CSR of Numaligarh Refinery Limited
Numaligarh Refinery Limited has been given the responsibility by Niti Aayog to work in Darrang district which is allotted as an Aspirational District to the Company. NRL has involved itself closely with the district administration of Darrang district which is allotted as an Aspirational District to the Company.
In the year 2021-22, NRL’s CSR Expenditure mostly concentrated on ‘Health and Nutrition’, Covid- 19 related Expenditure and creating Covid- 19 care infrastructure as per guidelines of Department of Public Enterprise and Ministry of Corporate Affairs. Apart from above, NRL also focused on CSR in Education and Skill Development, Livelihood, Infrastructure development, Promotion of Arts, Sports, Literatures and Culture.
NRL’s healthcare initiatives
NRL has associated itself with Assam Cancer Care Foundation (ACCF) for setting up a Radiation Block coming up as an Annexe to Barpeta Medical College Hospital which was inaugurated by the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi on 28th April 2022.
As a flagship project under CSR, Numaligarh Refinery Ltd. set up a 120 bedded makeshift Covid- 19 Hospital in Jorhat Medical College & Hospital (JMCH), Jorhat within a period of one month. The 120 bedded Hospital have 20 ICU beds having ventilators, cardiac monitor, Oxygen Concentrators, Oxygen cylinders and other ICU related equipment.
NRL also organised Mobile medical health camps and Eye camps through VKNRL hospital and donated 7 ambulances. NRL with its Medical Assistance Scheme for critical ailment such as cancer, lung and heart diseases, kidney problem etc. has been supporting the needy and economically weaker section of the society.
CSR of Fujifilm for cancer
FUJIFILM India donated the state-of-the-art CAD EYE technology to Dr. B. Borooah Cancer Institute (BBCI) Hospital in Guwahati, Assam in November 2023. This philanthropic initiative aims to provide free patient health checkups in the region.
Gastric cancer is the fifth most common occurring cancer in Indian men and the seventh most common in women. Furthermore, the Northeastern region bears the highest cancer incidence in India, compounded by elevated risk factors and insufficient cancer treatment infrastructure, highlighting the importance of finding timely detection and strategies to tackle this cancer.
Fujifilm’s CAD EYE at BBCI Hospital in Guwahati is poised to be a significant step in detecting Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers. Using advanced imaging and artificial intelligence (AI), CAD EYE aids early-stage detection by analyzing endoscopic images for subtle abnormalities. This boosts diagnostic accuracy and facilitates timely intervention, improving patient outcomes. Such integration at BBCI Hospital showcases the power of leveraging innovative tech in the fight against gastro cancers, reinforcing its position in modern healthcare.
Quick Heal donates medical van in Barpeta, Assam
Quick Heal through its CSR initiative donated ‘Arogya Yan’ a fully equipped medical van, to the rural community in Barpeta, Assam in November, 2022. In collaboration with Srijan Ek Soch, a local NGO, this initiative aims at making basic treatment and necessary testing accessible for the marginalized.
This state-of-the-art fully equipped medical van enables more than 20,000 people, who earlier walked between 10-30 kms to access primary healthcare amenities, at their doorsteps. The van covers more than 450 villages across 7 states touching more than 3.5 lakh people in Barpeta, Assam. The van also spreads awareness amongst the beneficiaries around the various government schemes that aim at promoting public welfare and better health.
CSR of Signify
Signify partnered with Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) in 2023 to light up 20 community volleyball courts in the rural districts of Assam in India. This project aims to support the growth and adoption of volleyball amongst rural communities in the state. The Brahmaputra Volleyball League (BVL) is a prominent grassroots volleyball league founded by Abhijit Bhattacharya, former captain of the Indian Volleyball team.
Signify has also illuminated 43 villages in Majuli Island, Assam, with solar street lighting to enhance the safety of local citizens. The project executed in partnership with Evangelical Social Action Forum (ESAF) is part of the company’s Har Gaon Roshan CSR program, that focuses on sustainable rural development.
CSR of Bharti Foundation for education
Bharti Foundation, the CSR arm of Bharti Enterprises started extensive training under its School Excellence Programme (SEP) in the academic year 2022-23 for the partnering government schools in Assam. The programme aims to empower heads of schools to enhance the overall schooling experience for the children. It follows a three-pronged approach by engaging the schools in development plan, improving students’ performance in co-scholastic interventions and life skill building programs and increasing engagement with parents for school development.
CSR of Piramal Foundation for expecting mothers
In October 2023, National Health Mission (NHM) Assam, in collaboration with Kamrup district authorities, unveiled “Xushrukha” (meaning “Taking Care” in Assamese), an innovative 18-month research programme that will help reduce the rate of probable high-risk pregnancy (HRP) cases in the state. This first of its kind initiative in Assam, supported by the Piramal Foundation, is aimed at addressing and reducing high-risk pregnancies in the state, with a focus on the Chaygaon, Nagerbera, and Rangia blocks of Kamrup district.
With Assam’s Maternal Mortality Rate (MMR) standing at a concerning 215 (Sample Registration System 2016-18), well above the national average, state health officials have made it a top priority to address this critical issue. This research program aims to assist state and district health authorities in reducing maternal mortality by proactively identifying and providing counselling for at-risk women in the eligible couple category.
The programme includes:
Early identification of probable and current high-risk pregnancies (HRPs) during Eligible Couple Registration by ASHAs
Targeted Counselling on Family Planning for identified high-risk beneficiaries by ASHAs
Care and counselling is provided through the entire 18 months cycle – starting with preconception upto a few months after the birth of the child
The Piramal Foundation plays a pivotal role in enabling and supporting the implementation of the Xushrukha project. Within this initiative, the Foundation has developed innovative mobile applications containing counselling content and guidelines. These tools will empower the digital knowledge of 694 Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHAs) to conduct door-to-door screenings and provide support to pregnant women facing high-risk situations. In addition to training the ASHAs, the Foundation will provide analytics to districts and blocks, thereby affecting governance and healthcare delivery, as per an announcement made by the Foundation.
At the project’s conclusion, the Piramal Foundation will publish a comprehensive study in collaboration with NHM, Assam that will lay the groundwork for the expansion of this crucial program across the entire state of Assam.
