The eastern coastal state Odisha is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in India famous for its temples, beaches, wildlife, hills, tribes, handicrafts and handloom. Capital city Bhubaneswar is called the city of temples. The temple architecture style called Kalinga is unique to this region which is characterized by curvilinear shapes and delicate stone carvings. Odissi or Orissi dance, a major ancient Indian classical dance originated in the temples of Odisha ages ago.
Odisha hit headlines in June last year when three trains collided in Balasore district leaving more than 290 people dead and over a 1000 people injured. On 2nd June 2023, the accident involving the Shalimar-Chennai Coromandel Express, Bengaluru-Howrah Superfast Express and a goods train loaded with iron ore, took place near the Bahanaga Baazar station in Odisha’s Balasore district, which goes down in history as the deadliest train accident in India.
Over 83% of Odisha’s population is rural, while nearly half of it belongs to various socially marginalised communities. The state can be divided into 2 regions – coastal and inland districts. While the former is fertile with a high agricultural yield capacity, the latter are remote, hilly and barren with little forest cover, thus restricting the people’s access to socio-economic development.
In FY 2022-23, Odisha received a total of Rs. 987.59 Cr. from 479 companies with the district of Jharsuguda enjoying the highest share of CSR funds (Rs 223.36 Cr). Other districts enjoying a fair share of CSR funds include Sundargarh, Khordha, Kendujhar, Angul, Cuttack and Sambalpur.
The top three sectors of focus for CSR initiatives were Education, Health and Rural Development, which received Rs. 425.32 Cr., Rs. 353.13 Cr., and Rs. 76.05 Cr. respectively. The top three spenders in the district were Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (Rs. 207.96 Cr.), Tata Steel Limited (Rs. 126.16 Cr.), and Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd (Rs. 86.38 Cr.).
Top CSR Projects in Odisha
CSR of Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited was carved out of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in 1992 with its headquarters at Sambalpur. The company has focused on welfare activities mostly in areas like Jharsuguda, Angul, Khurda, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. They have also carried out CSR activity in Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jajpur, kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Rayagada and Sonepur.
The major projects include Construction of boundary wall and toilet, supplying drinking water, tree plantation, Construction of temporary sand bandha on the bed of Ib river, donating blankets and other necessities, road construction, construction of hostel and hall for schools, building toilets in schools, supplying water for domestic purpose and construction of road over bridge among others.
Biogas plant from waste at Paradeep through CSR
Tecnimont Private Limited (TCMPL) has teamed up with Paradeep Municipality and National Institute of Technology, Karnataka – Surathkal (NITK) to develop a biogas plant from waste at Paradeep Municipality, District Jagatsinghpur, Odisha, as part of the Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives that TCMPL is carrying out in India.
The biogas plant enhances the deployment of circular solutions to efficiently manage organic waste. In particular, this initiative will help Paradeep Municipality to generate biogas by converting food and vegetable waste through anaerobic digestion; the biogas obtained from the recycling of organic waste will be then used by community kitchens.
This project is expected to create jobs for local people engaged in the waste collection activities and bring educational benefits, serving as a model for innovative solutions and actively engaging university students in practical learning experiences. A first pilot plant, in fact, was inaugurated in 2021 at NITK campus, promoting research and improving energy self-sufficiency within the campus. The generated energy is obtained by converting food and vegetable waste from the hostel blocks and canteens.
CSR collaboration with Odisha Government to transform Anganwadi Centers in Jharsuguda
On the occasion of Children’s Day 2024, the Anil Agarwal Foundation signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the District Social Welfare Office (DSWO) to upgrade 500 Anganwadi centres across Jharsuguda into state-of-the-art Nand Ghars, which are modernised Anganwadis that act as centres of women and child development.
Jharsuguda, which is the highest recipient of CSR funds in Odisha for FY 2022-23 is the home to Vedanta’s aluminium operations and is the location of the world’s largest aluminium smelter. Launched in 2015, Nand Ghar is Vedanta’s flagship community initiative, developed under the aegis of the Anil Agarwal Foundation in collaboration with the Government of India’s Ministry of Women & Child Development.
Apart from the MoU signing, held at the MCL Community Centre in Beheramal, the Children’s Day event “Dukan Jatra” brought together over 3,500 participants, including students from 60 schools, community members, and Vedanta Aluminium’s employee volunteers. The event featured an Entrepreneurship Showcase with 60+ stalls run by students, offering a diverse range of self-made products, from handicrafts to food items, fostering creativity and entrepreneurial skills.
CSR for Energy Conservation – Urja Mela
In an attempt to promote energy conservation and adoption of clean energy, Tata Power hosted the first-ever State-Level Urja Mela in Bhubaneswar, Odisha in November, 2024. The event witnessed the participation of over 470 students from across Odisha. Serving as a precursor to Tata Power’s national Urja Mela annually conducted during National Energy Conservation Week, the event was part of the company’s Club Enerji initiative, which promotes sustainability through hands-on activities, experiential learning, and inclusive participation.
The Odisha Urja Mela featured various competitions, including a Science Exhibition, Best Out of Waste models, Painting, Quiz, and an essay competition, encouraging students to embrace environmental stewardship, resourcefulness, and innovation in energy conservation. In a strong show of inclusivity, special competitions were also held for visually impaired and deaf students, in alignment to Tata Power’s Pay Autention initiative, which focuses on empowering the neurodiverse community.
Over the past three years, Club Enerji’s footprint in Odisha has expanded. Through Tata Power’s four Discoms — TPCODL, TPWODL, TPNODL, and TPSODL — the initiative has engaged more than 500 schools across the state, including key regions like Bhubaneshwar, Sambalpur, Behrampur, Baleswar, creating a vibrant community of young energy conservation advocates. The students who participated in the state-level event were nominated after series of regional mini-Urja melas.
A special feature of the event was Tata Power’s Gaja Sanrakshana initiative, which raises awareness about biodiversity and habitat conservation by protecting the native Asian elephant in Odisha. This initiative highlights the importance of environmental conservation and inspires the young audience to value the natural ecosystems.
CSR transforming Government School in Jharsuguda
Manufacturing venture Runaya inaugurated a newly renovated infrastructure at the Government Upper Primary School in Banjari, Jharsuguda, Odisha in October 2024. As part of its CSR initiative, Runaya Reach, the school now boasts a modernized library, upgraded kitchen, and improved girls’ washroom facilities. These upgrades are aimed at enhancing the learning environment and ensuring better hygiene, contributing to the overall well-being and holistic development of over 3,300 lives touched.
The facilities aim to provide students with a conducive learning environment, fostering both academic excellence and personal development. Additionally, the initiative will benefit 570 direct beneficiaries including students and staff, and 3300+ indirect beneficiaries including family and community members.
The facilities, including a well-equipped kitchen for the mid-day meal program and upgraded girls’ washrooms, are expected to have a lasting positive impact on the students’ health and hygiene, and academic success. Additionally, a School Students Committee, led by the Sarpanch and Headmaster, has been set up to manage the upkeep of the new infrastructure and ensure its sustainability for future generations.
CSR of Hyundai Motor India
Hyundai Motor India Foundation (HMIF), the CSR arm of Hyundai Motor India Ltd. (HMIL) inaugurated Telemedicine clinic in Humma, Rambha, Pattapur, Raj Ranpur and Godipara villages in the Ganjam and Nayagarh district of Odisha in May 2024.
The five telemedicine clinics are an extension of HMIF’s social outreach initiative ‘Sparsh Sanjeevani’ that emphasizes making quality and affordable medical services accessible to rural India through technology. The clinics are run in association with Karma Healthcare a leading social enterprise in this field.
In these telemedicine clinics, the patient is first assessed by the nurse who understands the concern and then connects him/her to the right empanelled specialist, over a video call. Post consultation, the nurse writes out the prescription and dispenses the medicines. The system allows for follow-ups as well. The entire service inclusive of medicines is available for just Rs 100.
The clinics are linked with labs where basic pathology and blood tests can be conducted. Serious cases will be referred to hospitals in Odisha. Health camps for cancer screening, eye check-up, general screening will also be conducted from time to time.
These five clinics will add to the existing network of 20 telemedicine clinics under ‘Sparsh Sanjeevani’ already operational in the states of Rajasthan, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Haryana taking the total number to 25.
CSR of Jindal Steel & Power
JSP Foundation the CSR arm of Jindal Steel & Power (JSP) inaugurated the Jindal Sports Hostel at Soyabali in Odisha’s Keonjhar or Kendujhar District. This initiative aims to promote rural sports talents and provide residential facilities to 60 children who have demonstrated sporting prowess and a commitment to academic excellence. The Jindal Sports Hostel, established by JSP Foundation has been founded with the purpose of nurturing young athletes from underprivileged backgrounds.
Aligned with the Government of Odisha’s focus on sports infrastructure development, the Jindal Sports Hostel is equipped with state-of-the-art amenities. The facilities include comfortable accommodations, modern sports equipment, a fourth-generation gym, and a dedicated sports training facility staffed with experienced coaches. Moreover, the Foundation will provide the students with nutritious meals and physical fitness training.
CSR of Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Indian Oil collaborated with the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai to set-up an off campus of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai at Bhubaneswar. The institute named ICT Mumbai Indian Oil Odisha Campus, Bhubaneswar was inaugurated in 2018. It has been planned to evolve into an R&D / innovation hub to carry out high-end research in chemical engineering, petrochemicals, textiles, pharmaceuticals and energy.
With an aim to provide livelihood enhancing skill development training to unemployed and underprivileged youth, the ‘Skill Development Institute, Bhubaneswar’ (SDI-B) was set up in 2016 in a temporary campus. The SDI Main Campus is being developed as mega-worldclass, model skill development academy at Jatni Tehsil of Khurda; near IIT Bhubaneswar.
‘IndianOil Vidushi’ CSR programme was started in 2018. Under this CSR initiatve, specialised coaching and mentoring is provided to under-privileged girls after class XII, to help them succeed in JEE Mains, JEE Advanced & other Central and State Engineering College Entrance Examinations.
CSR of National Aluminium Co Ltd
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) was established on January 7, 1981 having its registered office at Bhubaneswar. The company’s major CSR activities include supporting Open Defecation Free (ODF) programme in five villages of Angul, plantation in and around Chandaka Damapara Wild life Sanctuary, construction of BT road from Malkarbandh to Maliput, Medical Health Unit at peripheral villages of M&R Complex, Damanjodi Potangi, S&P complex, Angul and Utkal D & E Coal Block, and supporting residential education of backward and tribal underprivileged children.
The company has also taken up developmental projects like school building, Anganwadi centre, RCC road, Toilets & water drainage system in Ambagaon village, Damanjodi and constructed class rooms, furniture and provided sports materials to schools in Angul Districts. It has also ensured drinking water supply by providing tubewels in Angul districts.
