Andhra Pradesh, the state with rich and vivid history is known for being the source of the world-famous Koh-i-Noor diamond and many more diamonds in its Kollur mine. The state also is known as the ‘rice bowl of India’ for being a major producer of rice. The Telugu speaking state is first to be created on a linguistic basis, making it important for its art and culture. Let us look at top CSR projects in Andhra Pradesh contributing to its development.
In FY 2023-24, Andhra Pradesh was recipient of Rs. 954.65 Cr. in CSR funds from 824 companies. The top three areas of focus for CSR initiatives in the state were Education which received Rs. 361.44 Cr. through CSR initiatives, Health received Rs. 266.21 Cr., and Rural Development that received Rs. 168.41 Cr. in CSR funds. The top recipient district in the state was Chittoor which received Rs. 167.84 Cr. in CSR funds followed by Prakasam at Rs. 164.11 Cr., and Bhilwara at Rs. 151.33 Cr.
Top CSR projects in Andhra Pradesh
The Good Rice Alliance by Bayer, GenZero, Shell, and Mitsubishi
The Good Rice Alliance (TGRA), formerly known as the Sustainable Rice Carbon Programme, will reduce approximately 100,000+ tCO2e of methane emissions from rice cultivation, annually.
TGRA now aims to streamlining the scientific measurement of GHG emissions from rice paddies and strengthening the farmer handholding and support system. Currently, TGRA covers major rice-producing states in the country, like Andhra Pradesh, Bihar, Haryana, Karnataka, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
Through TGRA, Bayer, a global enterprise with core competencies in the life science fields of agriculture and healthcare, in collaboration with GenZero, a Temasek-owned investment platform company dedicated to accelerating decarbonization globally, Shell Energy India Private Limited, a subsidiary of Shell Plc and investor in nature-based solutions and Mitsubishi Corporation, a global integrated business enterprise that develops and operates businesses which span numerous industrial sectors, are committed to reducing Green House Gas (GHG) emissions through sustainable agricultural practices in rice cultivation.
The program has also managed to reduce cost of cultivation of the majority of the enrolled farmers. In the first year, a scientific GHG measurement study was carried out in six different locations in the country.
Projections indicate that demand will continue to rise, reaching between 330 million and 1.5 billion tCO2e by 2030. The carbon offset platform industry in India is projected to grow at an impressive rate of 28% annually, reaching a market value of US$ 68.5 million by 2033.
TGRA is armed with a Quality Management System, a farmer training, support and hand holding mechanism and a Monitoring, Report and Verification (MRV) mechanism which are in place to help maintain program integrity.
Through use of Total Quality Management (TQM) tools all plots are monitored at least thrice a month, to ensure real reduction in emissions is achieved. The alliance prioritizes high-quality implementation to deliver credibility benefits to farmers and is committed to incentivizing farmers financially while safeguarding the environment and improving farmer livelihoods. The program undergoes regular systemic checks, internal audits, and independent verification to ensure genuine emissions reduction.
Paddy rice cultivation is responsible for approximately 11% of global methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas with a global warming potential over 27 times that of carbon dioxide. Rice farms occupy 15% of global farm area, equivalent to more than 150 million hectares worldwide. With a keen focus on sustainability, the alliance is closely aligned with UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and plans to work together with smallholder farmers from the grassroots to drive maximum co-benefits and mitigate climate change.
CSR of Electrosteel
Leading Ductile Iron Pipes and Fittings manufacturer company Electrosteel Castings Limited (ECL) is working to impart skills to women in rural Andhra Pradesh as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
The company has been running a skill development program on ‘Tailoring and Fashion Designing’ for local women in Tirupati district of Andhra Pradesh under the guidance of professional trainers from Citizens Welfare Forum, Srikalahasthi. The project aimed at empowering women residing in villages around Srikalahasthi in Tirupati district. Most of the women residing in these villages are unemployed. They work as agricultural labour during season time, with no guarantee of continuous employment. This programme was undertaken with a vision to uplift communities around the company’s facility.
Each batch of women undergoes a 100-day programme comprising around 30 trainees. The 100-day programme originally launched in 2017 was interrupted due to the pandemic, but resumed in full swing again in July, 2022.
Apart from empowering women, the company is also working to boost digital literacy in the state. ECL-Srikalahasthi, conducted Computer Literacy Programmes for around 140 students at Zilla Parishad (ZP) High School, Thondamanadu village, Tirupati district, for classes 6 to 9 students from June 2022 to April 2023. The training programme has been envisaged as a continuous CSR activity to be conducted year-round in different schools in Tirupati district.
Electrosteel set up the computer learning infrastructure with desktops at ZP High School along with identifying trainers from Softline Institute of Computer Education from Srikalahasthi. Periodically computer quiz contests and tests were organized to assess the students’ knowledge. At the end of every programme a test will be conducted along with a valedictory function and the top performing students will be awarded with digital tablets.
CSR of Kia India
In June this year, Kia India Private Limited is a subsidiary of Kia for its operations in India launched a skill development and livelihood enhancement programme for women in Andhra Pradesh as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility. The automobile manufacturing company headquartered in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantpur district.
The beneficiaries are rural women residing near the company’s manufacturing unit in Erramanchi in Penukonda mandal of Anantapur district. The programme is being executed in partnership with non-profit organisation Timbaktu Collective.
As per an announcement made by the company, 75 women will be trained under the 36-week long programme. The company has funded a training centre equipped with sewing machines, equipments, raw materials etc.
Apart from this, Kia India has sponsored a Kia Library Block for Government Degree College in Penukonda town of Satya Sai district. The library is expected to become a learning hub for students of 83 villages in Penukonda, Roddam, Somandepalli and Kothacheruvu mandals.
The car manufacturer also made a contribution of Rs 5 crore to Andhra Pradesh State Disaster Management Authority during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. During the first wave of the pandemic, the brand had donated Rs 2 crore from their CSR funds to the Chief Minister’s Relief Fund.
CSR of Aurobindo Pharma
Aurobindo Pharma Foundation (APF), the philanthropic arm of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd, launched its hi-tech centralized kitchen at Perumallapuram, in Kakinada SEZ in Andhra Pradesh last year. This centralized kitchen is the fourth one to be built by Aurobindo Pharma Foundation in collaboration with Hare Krishna Movement Charitable Foundation (HKMCF). The kitchen, which has a capacity to produce 5,000 breakfast meals per day, has a built-up area of 5,500 sq. ft. spread across 2 acres of land donated by Kakinada SEZ Limited.
The centralized kitchen is completely powered by solar equipment. The food prepared mainly caters to the students studying in 41 Government schools in the region. The kitchen has sophisticated automated equipment such as an Idly batter dispenser, dough kneader, sambar cauldron – double jacketed (1200 litres) with auto-dispensing setup, vessels sterilization stands, etc., to maintain the highest quality, hygiene, and speed while preparing the meals so as to retain nutritional values, from the time of preparation to the time of serving the needy.
Along with the Inauguration of this kitchen, “Swasthya Ahara” – A free breakfast program in Government schools was also started. Swasthya Ahara is a free breakfast program primarily concentrated on providing hot and nutritious breakfast to the underprivileged children of Government Schools. Providing access to nutritious food which will go beyond nutrition, Swasthya Ahara aims to aid in the enrichment of underprivileged children fostering optimal growth and development. The programme will be implemented across 41 government schools spread across 36 villages of U. Kothapalli and Thodangi mandals.
Aurobindo Pharma Foundation, previously collaborated with HKMCF to construct 3 centralized kitchens in Narsingi at Hyderabad, Mahabubnagar in Telangana, and Srikakulam in Andhra Pradesh, which is running successfully. As per an announcement made by the company, this Kakinada project has an outlay of INR 12 crores and will cover the construction cost of the kitchen, along with the required infrastructure and operational costs of the kitchen for 4 years.
Aurobindo Pharma Foundation launched a newly constructed Government Junior College building at Somalingapuram village and panchayat, Merakamudidam Mandal, Vizianagaram district. With a built-up area of 14000 sq. ft. in extent of 1.80 acres land, the building consists of 12 classrooms that includes a laboratory room besides a Staff room, Principal Room, Cycle shed, separate toilet blocks for Girls, Boys & Staff, Compound wall and other Infrastructure (dual desks, chairs, chalk boards and wardrobes). The college building will be inaugurated on 26 February 2022.
Total CSR funds of INR 3.30 Crores for the construction of this college wherein INR 2,60,00,000 was spend by Axis Clinical, INR 51,00,000 was spent by Trident Chemphar Ltd and INR 19,00,000 was spent by the Aurobindo Pharma Foundation for the establishment of Government Junior College at Merakamudidam, as per a statement issued by the company.
In July this year, 2500 cycles were distributed to the girl students of various government schools across Andhra Pradesh. Each cycle costs Rs 6500 which has been purchased with the corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds of Aurobindo Pharma Foundation.
Aurobindo Pharma Limited in association with Shreya Life Sciences and Axis clinicals provided Rs 6 lakh worth breath analysers and 20 high voltage rechargeable LED torch lights to Ranasthalam police station in the month of July 2023. While breath analysers are needed to check the alcohol consumption level among the drivers on the national highway and other routes, high voltage LED torch lights come handy during patrolling in remote areas.
CSR of UltraTech Cement
Leading cement manufacturing company UltraTech Cement Limited has implemented watershed project through its integrated cement manufacturing unit Andhra Pradesh Cement Works in two villages. The project aims to protect and restore community water structures in rural Andhra Pradesh, uplifting the lives and livelihoods of the local population.
To address the water scarcity issue in the semi-arid chronically drought prone Rayalaseema region of Andhra Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh Cement Works (APCW), located in Tadipatri, Andhra Pradesh, adopted Ayyavaripalli (Anantapur district) and Petnikota (Nandyal district) villages in Andhra Pradesh state to implement integrated watershed project. The region faces an alarming 30% per year decrease in ground water levels. The unit partnered with International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) for implementation of the project to address water scarcity, land degradation and low crop productivity and thereby improve the income levels and living standards of villagers.
As per an announcement made by the company, seven water harvesting structures were constructed in Ayyavaripalli village of Kolimigundla Mandal and Petnikota village of Tadipatri Mandal to enhance the ground water levels in addition to improving year-long availability of water. Farmers were trained on good agricultural practices and income generation activities and demonstrations were conducted on best practices for land use and crop management to increase crop productivity.
High yield variety of seeds was distributed for utilisation by local farmers in 250-280 acres of farmland. Soil health cards were distributed to farmers in these two villages. Training programmes were conducted for farmers to increase awareness on usage of fertilizers and pesticides based on soil health condition which resulted in reduced usage of fertilizers and pesticides there by reducing the cost of cultivation. Kitchen Garden seeds were distributed to households, encouraging local women to earn additional income.
CSR of Gland Pharma
Gland Pharma Limited, a leading manufacturer of high-quality injectables, performs Corporate Social Responsibility through its public charitable trust, Gland-Fosun Foundation. The company’s ‘Free Breakfast Programme’ is providing free breakfast-cum-health support to underprivileged children studying in Government schools and lactating and expecting mothers in Anganwadi centres of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
This programme was started on 14th November 2019 on the occasion of Children’s Day. Presently, the company is feeding more than 16,000 children from 83 government schools. Of these, 43 schools are in Hyderabad, 40 are in Vishakhapatnam. Many students from government schools come from financially poor background. They are children of construction workers, migrant workers, daily labourers etc. who are benefitted through this initiative.
The company provides CSR funding support to Akshaya Patra Foundation, who is their implementing partner. They have huge community kitchens in Hyderabad and Vishakhapatnam. They have specialised vehicles to convey these meals in hot and hygienic condition to all the beneficiaries. They provide meals on time in the morning, which enables these children to have a good and filling breakfast at the beginning of their school routine.
Apart from this, with an aim to improve government schools in the state, Gland Pharma funds infrastructure development, renovation works, including additional classrooms, staff rooms, laboratories, dining halls, kitchens, stores, assembly stage, toilet blocks, drinking water facilities, compound walls, playgrounds etc.
They also sponsor ‘Vidya Volunteer’ teachers/non-teaching staff in schools that face a shortage of them, and provide teaching boards, chairs, dual-desks, dining tables and other essential furniture.
Also, to address systemic gaps that prevent underprivileged school children from pursuing experiential STEM learning, the company has implemented a ‘Janyaa Lab-In-a-Box’ (JLIB) program in 11 government high schools, in association with an education-specialist NGO. The JLIB kit, with its 340 Science/Math experiments, provides hands-on learning that can be applied to the students’ lives and benefit their families/communities. It promotes their problem-solving and creative thinking, builds a strong foundation for STEM learning relevant for vocational pursuits, and makes them future-ready with demand-driven skills.
CSR of ITC Limited
ITC’s CSR projects include promoting education, conservation of natural resources, health and sanitation; animal husbandry; improving agricultural practices; waste management and disaster management among others.
The Primary Education Programme aims to provide children from weaker sections of society in the company’s factory catchments. The company spent towards promoting education and special education in the state.
ITC’s Social and Farm Forestry initiative has led to improvement in pulpwood and fuelwood availability in Andhra Pradesh and a few other states.
The ‘Village Adoption Programme’ pioneered by the company’s Agri Business covers 228 model villages in the states of Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka. This initiative is aligned to the Prime Minister’s Sansad Adarsh Gram Yojana (SAGY), an initiative to promote holistic rural development.
ITC has adopted a multi-pronged approach towards improving public health and hygiene. To make potable water available to local communities in two districts of Andhra Pradesh, Reverse Osmosis (RO) water purification plants were set up in villages where the water quality was poor. 6 new RO plants were established in FY 2020-21 taking the total to 148, which provide safe drinking water to over 1.8 lakh rural people.
ITC’s initiatives focus on creating replicable, scalable and sustainable models of municipal solid waste management that can be implemented to ensure that zero waste goes to landfills. The company has also spent towards improving agricultural practices in the state.
CSR of Reliance Industries Limited
CSR activities of Reliance Industries Limited are carried out in India through Reliance Foundation.
Some of their top projects in the state include providing disaster relief and information services during floods in Uttarakhand and Andhra Pradesh. Reliance supported farming communities in the aftermath of the floods in Godavari district, Andhra Pradesh, in August 2020 to safeguard crops.
The company distributed food to the marginalised and under-resourced communities during the lockdown. Mission Anna Seva provided cooked meals, ready-to-eat food packets, food coupons, dry ration kits to communities in Andhra Pradesh and some other states.
Reliance works to address gender inequality, especially in rural areas. In FY 2020-21, Reliance focused on livelihood trainings in collaboration with various agencies for economic empowerment of self-help groups with end-to-end mentorship, bank and government department linkages.
The Reliance Foundation Digital Classrooms programme provides digital education tools to government schools in remote locations of the country. The programme has empowered teachers and impacted students in schools across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and a few other states.
Others
Infosys Limited, Divi’s Laboratories Limited, Amara Raja Batteries Limited, GAIL (India) Limited, Rashtriya Ispat Nigam Limited, Gangavaram Port Limited, Asian Paints Limited and Adani Krishnapatnam Port Limited are some of the other companies spending towards CSR and empowering people in Andhra Pradesh.
