Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar is the new name of Aurangabad which houses monuments like the Ajanta and Ellora Caves
Recently renamed Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Aurangabad in Maharashtra has the distinction of housing two world heritage monuments. Apart from the world-famous Ajanta and Ellora Caves, Daulatabad and Bibi-Ka-Maqbara, the district is rich in monuments of historical and religious significance. This is why Aurangabad is called the Tourist District of India.
Over the centuries, it became a melting pot of cultures since the district is centrally located on the map. It has witnessed the rise and fall of many dynasties such as the Setavachanas, the Vaustokas, the Chalukyas, the Rastrakutas, the Yadavs spanning 15 centuries till the advent of Muslim rule at the end of the 13th century.
Top CSR and Sustainability Initiatives in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar
Corporate social responsibility programmes in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar city and district revolve around quality education, healthcare, skill development and rural infrastructure, while sustainability initiatives largely focus on water conservation, the district being known for scarcity of water. Here are some of the most successful CSR and sustainability initiatives in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar.
CSR of Tata Technologies Ltd to promote entrepreneurs
The Marathwada Accelerator for Growth and Incubation Council (MAGIC), in collaboration with Tata Technologies Limited through CSR funds, initiated a student startup project in December, last year which has been named Ready Engineer – Magic Startup (REMS) incubation programme. The project aims to promote entrepreneurs from tier 2 and tier 3 cities in the states of Maharashtra and Karnataka. Out of more than 100 budding industrialists who took part in the programme, 17 student startups were selected. Upon completion of the project, each startup will receive Rs 50,000 in seed funding and incubation support to transform their concepts and ideas into professional products and services.
MAGIC will offer personal guidance, mentoring, and co-working space in its office. Additionally, the startups will benefit from networking opportunities within the ecosystem for product promotion. They will be provided with a separate booth in the Tata Technologic MAGIC Innovation Hub exhibition and can participate in various online seminars.
Skill development centre for farmers – CSR of PNB
A skill development and training centre for farmers with CSR support from Punjab National Bank (PNB) is being developed at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad). The PNB-funded project has received approval from the agricultural department, Government of Maharashtra. The centre will be located at the Paithan Road campus of Vasantrao Naik Marathwada Agricultural University. An MoU was signed between both these institutions for raising the centre. The facility will have resource persons and provide exposure to technology, with an aim to help farmers to enhance their agricultural skills.
Ambulance donation CSR initiative of SBICAPS
SBI Capital Markets Limited (SBICAPS) and its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) partner Concern India Foundation recently donated four ambulance vehicles to health centres in Nashik and Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. This initiative aims to ensure immediate medical attention for patients in emergencies, with the ambulance fully prepared to initiate treatment upon arrival.
One Type C – Advanced Life Support Ambulance, equipped with essential emergency tools such as a ventilator, multipara monitor, suction machine, and automatic defibrillator has been handed over for the health centre at Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Gangapur Taluka, THO Office. Additionally, three Type B TRAX ambulances, specifically designed to address immediate first aid requirements, bridging the geographical gap and ensuring prompt initial medical care have been allocated to Pangarne PHC Taluka in Surguna, Thanapada PHC Taluka in Thrimbak, and Kaluste PHC in Taluka Igatpuri, Nashik.
Shri Virendra Bansal- MD & CEO along with SBICAPS team handing over the ambulances to Smt. Ashima Mittal – CEO Zilla Parishad Nashik, IAS & officials from the health department
Bajaj Water Conservation project
Bajaj Water Conservation project is a flagship programme of Jankidevi Bajaj Gram Vikas Sanstha (JBGVS) in Marathwada region of Maharashtra. The Gangapur taluka of Aurangabad district has been frequently affected by droughts, it received least average rainfall among all talukas between 2001-2011, identified as priority area for water conservation. To address this issue of water crises, Bajaj launched water conservation project in the villages of Gangapur taluka of Aurangabad district. The project is being implemented by the JBGVS and with the help of some partner organizations.
The first phase of Bajaj Water Conservation Project (January 2015 -December 2017) was launched in 51 villages of Paithan, Gangapur Taluka of Aurangabad District.The second phase of the project (December 2017 – March 2022) was launched in 110 villages of Gangapur and Aurangabad Talukas of Aurangabad District. The key activities undertaken during second phase were water resource development, capacity building, livelihood enhancement through alternate livelihoods, soil conservation and plantation, water use efficiency and productivity enhancement.
Sterlite Technologies Ltd’s digital healthcare programme
Optical and digital solutions company STL has implemented a Mobile Telehealth and social behaviour change programme in more than 1200 villages across Aurangabad, Nandurbar, Gadchiroli and other districts in Maharashtra. STL runs its flagship glass, optical fibre and cable facilities in Aurangabad. The company makes extensive efforts towards ensuring the welfare of the communities it operates in, especially rural ones. STL runs various social programmes for education, women empowerment, and healthcare for the underserved in the region.
People living in these rural communities do not get access to quality healthcare services owing to high medical expenses. Through a hybrid healthcare program, STL ensures that they get accessible healthcare services entirely free of cost.
The programme integrates a 24×7 teleconsultation, video consultation and diagnosis and supplements it with physical onsite check-ups, on-call doctors, social behaviour change and awareness efforts and regular specialist health camps for primary ailments. It also maintains digital health records of all the patients so that health-related information is available instantly and securely for future consultation. This delivers scalable last-mile health outcomes for underserved communities. STL has also tied up with nearby hospitals where patients can avail of advanced treatments.
The company recently announced that in the span of over 2 years, the programme has made quality healthcare accessible for over 2 million rural citizens in the region.
STL replenishes 1.4 billion litres of water in 12 villages
On the occasion of World Water Day (22nd March), Optical and digital solutions company STL announced that it has replenished 1.4 billion litres (1.4 million m3) of water in 12 villages of Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar (formerly Aurangabad), in Maharashtra, India. The company has designed a water resilience program in partnership with the Village Social Transformation Foundation (VSTF) to improve water and sanitation management in the region.
Aurangabad is a water-stressed region. Women have to walk long distances to fetch water. In summer, reserves dry up quickly reducing water availability. This leads to the need for buying water to meet daily requirements. Village residents spend Rs 50-100 per barrel that can store only upto 200 litres of water. This burdens them with added expenses for agriculture and daily activities.
STL, which runs its flagship glass and optical fibre and cable facilities from Aurangabad, makes extensive efforts around water conservation and replenishment, both in its manufacturing facilities and in rural communities. In Aurangabad, the company declared that they have harvested over 9 million litres of rainwater last year and installed sensor-based sewage treatment, automated dosing systems, and dashboards to recycle wastewater for horticulture. 6 out of 11 STL’s global plants are Zero Liquid discharge certified. Its water management programmes are promoting collective action for addressing water scarcity in the region. This involves forming women-led Self-help groups (SHGs), Farmer Producer Groups, and Water User Groups to augment their representation in local governance plans for village water, sanitation, health, and nutrition committees.
CSR and sustainable initiatives by Škoda Auto Volkswagen India
Leading automobile brand Škoda Auto Volkswagen India Private Limited has several water Conservation and Environmental initiatives including Building Bhandaras, developing watershed management projects in perennial dry zones in Pune; tree plantation programs in Pune and Aurangabad; Oxygen Park and Water conservation park in Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar, Maharashtra.
For Women Empowerment, Education and Skill Development, the company offers scholarships to engineering students. Its Mechatronic programme caters to in-class and on-the-shop training and vocational training. The company also funds mini science centres in municipal schools in Aurangabad.
The company has installed a new 980 KW Advanced Solar Power Generation Project at the production facility in Aurangabad, solar panels with higher efficiency to generate 1,475 MWh of power per annum, covering 30 percent of the plant’s annual energy consumption – thereby, contributing to 922 tons per annum reduction in carbon dioxide emissions from the production process.
Canpack – Design for Change
Canpack India Pvt Ltd manufactures metal packaging solutions for food, beverage, and chemical industries. Children are exposed to rote-based learning and old school teaching methodologies in their school classrooms. These practices do not equip them in essential life skills necessary for wholesome education. Canpack’s CSR project Design for Change aims to address the lack of holistic development among school-going children. The objective of the programme is to shift a student’s attitude from ‘can I?’ to ‘I can.’
It encourages students to take charge of their environment and act accordingly to instil leadership skills in them. Their classroom sessions are built on four pillars – feel, imagine, do and share. This approach helps the student develop an evolved thought process that prepares them for the future. Several training programmes are conducted for teachers to enable them with the skills to lead classroom sessions effectively and be prepared to handle the unique problems that the students may face. Kids learn innovative thinking, communication, and teamwork through the programme. The sensitisation of students to be able and responsible citizens of the future is a key takeaway from the project.
Liebherr MIDC Shendra
Liebherr is a German-Swiss multinational equipment manufacturer based in Bulle, Switzerland. The company improved access to water, development and landscaping of the Shendra Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC) area in Aurangabad.
Shendra is an industrial area that has many visitors and passengers that use the highway. The area along the road was not maintained and was an unpleasant sight for visitors and passersby alike. It lacked a provision for safe drinking water for a stretch of five-six kilometre. People had to either buy packaged water or consume unhygienic water at local hotels. Under the initiative, the east and west side of the highway junction was landscaped with a 260 sq.m. lawn at the entrance of the Shendra area. The lighting of the area was also improved under the CSR initiative, catering to the safety norms during dark hours.
Access to drinking water was enhanced through the installation of an RO system at the highway junction providing visitors and passersby with free, clean drinking water 24 hours. The maintenance of the highway junction and the landscaped area is regularly undertaken by Liebherr.
