Amritsar is the largest and most important city in Punjab and is a major commercial, cultural, and transportation centre. The city famous for its sacred sites for Sikhs such as Harmandir Sahib and Golden Temple receives a large number of pilgrims every year. The tourism potential of the city and its contribution to the manufacturing sector of the country makes it an attractive destination for CSR funds.
In FY 2021-22, Amritsar was recipient of Rs. 12 Cr. in CSR funds from 43 companies. The top three areas of focus for CSR initiatives in the state were Health which received Rs. 7.33 Cr. through CSR initiatives, Education received Rs. 2.02 Cr., and Rural Development that received Rs. 1.62 Cr. in CSR funds. The top three spenders in the district were Finolex Cables Limited, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited, and HDFC Bank Limited that spent Rs. 2 Cr., Rs. 1.93 Cr., Rs. 1.61 Cr. respectively for CSR in Amritsar.
CSR of Royal Enfield & Shikhar Dhawan Foundation
Royal Enfield’s CSR and Sustainability arm, the Eicher Group Foundation, along with Shikhar Dhawan Foundation announced earlier this month that they have organised an innovative ride to engage the Indian motorcycling community, including Shikhar Dhawan himself, to come together and ride for the cause of community upliftment for National Tourism Day.
On 28th & 29th January 2023, more than 500 motorcycle enthusiasts, in Amritsar, Delhi and Agra rode to distribute aids for schools, orphanages, blind schools, zero line villages and other such regions where resources and logistics are often sparse. In Amritsar, the riders covered three routes with scenic or iconic locations, starting from Golden Temple, right up to the Indo-Pak border near Wagah.
‘Among the many things that were distributed were sewing machines, which were given to women with tailoring skills in order to help generate livelihood. Specialised walking sticks for the visually impaired and high quality wheelchairs for the differently abled were also distributed along with customised hygiene kits. Art kits were distributed too, along with ration kits that will feed you a family of four for a month, shawls and clothing. Two bio-toilets were also installed in tourist spots in Delhi,’ they announced.
Bharti Foundation’s Sanitation program – Satya Bharti Abhiyan
Bharti foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises announced in October, 2022 that the Impact Assessment report of the Satya Bharti Abhiyan which constructed over 32,000 individual toilets (IHHL) impacting 2,19,872 people in rural Amritsar and rural & urban Ludhiana, have been presented to the Department of Water Supply and Sanitation.
The impact assessment study covered a sample size of 1,014 toilets and was undertaken during 2021-22. As per their announcement, ‘98% of the households surveyed still have the toilet infrastructure intact; while 94% households have functional toilets 84% of the respondents said that the program benefitted women by helping them feel safer; 78% households noticed a decrease in the frequency of falling sick after construction of the toilets; expenditure on health reduced from an average of Rs. 4,788 to Rs. 3,249 a year.’
Bharti foundation had commissioned Sattva to conduct an Impact Assessment Study of its ‘Satya Bharti Abhiyan’ program based in Amritsar and Ludhiana districts of Punjab. ‘Launched in August 2014, the program contributed to the Government of India’s National Mission of ‘Swachh Bharat.’ 32,149 households and institutions were provided toilets free of cost, benefitting over 2,19,872 people. Separate toilets for girls in 14 government schools in rural Ludhiana and 37 separate ladies’ toilets in police stations in the districts were also constructed. The project was completed in December 2021,’ they stated in an announcement.
Vistara hosts children on a day trip to Amritsar
In October last year, Vistara airlines, a joint venture of Tata group and Singapore Airlines, commemorated the first flight piloted by Late Sh. JRD Tata by enabling 12 children to set off on their #RunwayToDreams. The airline, in collaboration with its NGO partner – Smile Foundation, hosted these children on a special, fun-filled day trip to Amritsar to experience the joy of travelling, and fuel hope for a brighter future.
‘The day trip started with a specially curated experience on board Vistara where they were familiarised with airport functions and introduced to airline systems and processes. This was followed by felicitation with customised mementos and a delightful tour of the Taj Swarna, Amritsar,’ they stated.
#RunwayToDreams is an initiative under Vistara’s CSR program – Book Your Future, that provides access to educational resources, books and learning interventions for holistic development of children.
HDFC Parivartan
The HDFC Bank under the corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative of ‘Parivartan’ which is the bank’s umbrella brand, has projector screens installed to create digital classrooms at Government schools Amritsar.
The digitisation drive by the bank is in partnership with the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB). The PSEB has developed e-learning content based on the syllabus and is also building the required infrastructure for imparting digital education in schools. As part of this initiative, the HDFC Bank is working with the education board and has installed devices like desktops and projectors in classrooms to broadcast the e-content. Further, the bank is also training the teachers to handle these digital devices. Around 50 digital classrooms in 25 schools have been installed in the Amritsar district.
ICICI Bank donates ambulance
ICICI Bank announced in January 2023 that they have donated a hi-tech and fully equipped ambulance to Sri Guru Ram Das Charitable Hospital in Amritsar, as a part of the Bank’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme. On the occasion, Abhay Sharma, Zonal Head, ICICI Foundation, handed over the keys of the vehicle to Dr AP Singh, Additional Secretary, SGRD Charitable Trust.
FICCI FLO’s Commitment to Livelihoods for Specially-abled
FICCI FLO, the women’s wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI), reaffirmed its commitment to empowering livelihoods nationwide by extending its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Mitti Social Initiative Foundation (MSIF). This collaborative effort aims to bolster the chain of ‘Mitti Cafés’, renowned for being inspiringly managed by specially-abled staff. Building upon their successful partnership in key locations such as Delhi’s Supreme Court, Mumbai’s Terminal 2, and Amritsar, FICCI FLO and MSIF are poised to expand their impact across India.
The objective of this renewed collaboration is to create more opportunities for individuals with special needs and foster inclusivity in society. By supporting initiatives like Mitti Cafés, FICCI FLO aims to champion the cause of empowerment and provide a platform for those with unique abilities to thrive in the workforce.
Bharti Foundation’s Satya Bharti Abhiyan
The Satya Bharti Abhiyan is a sanitation initiative launched by the Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises, aimed at improving sanitation facilities in rural and urban areas of India, particularly targeting underprivileged communities. In Amritsar, the program’s primary objectives are to eradicate open defecation, promote hygiene, and improve overall health by reducing sanitation-related diseases. Key components of the initiative include the construction of individual household toilets, community toilets, and school toilets. Additionally, the program ensures the maintenance and upkeep of these facilities and conducts behavioral change campaigns through workshops and educational sessions to encourage the use of toilets and proper sanitation practices. The Bharti Foundation collaborates closely with local government bodies and other organizations to ensure successful implementation and sustainability.
As of the latest reports, the Satya Bharti Abhiyan has constructed thousands of toilets in both rural and urban areas of Amritsar, resulting in high levels of community involvement and participation. This initiative has led to a noticeable reduction in sanitation-related illnesses and improved health outcomes. However, challenges remain, including ensuring the long-term maintenance and consistent usage of the toilets, overcoming deeply ingrained habits related to open defecation, and managing funds and resources efficiently to maximize impact. Despite these challenges, the Satya Bharti Abhiyan in Amritsar represents a significant effort towards improving sanitation and public health, contributing to the broader goals of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Mission) launched by the Indian government.
