Coimbatore is the second-largest industrial city in the state of Tamil Nadu (after Chennai). Situated along the border of Kerala, in the northwest of Tamil Nadu, this city is rich in agricultural wealth and natural resources. The city is known for being a hub for entrepreneurs. When Kongunad fell to the British along with the rest of Tamil Nadu, its name changed to Coimbatore. Although the city is known as Coimbatore in general, in Tamil, it is called Kovai.
The rich black soil and red soil of the region has contributed to Coimbatore’s flourishing agricultural sector. The Development of Hydro electricity from the Pykara Falls in the 1930s led to a cotton boom in Coimbatore. The red soil, availability of water and pleasant climate made cotton farming more lucrative. Naturally, the district is the largest producer of cotton in the state. There are more than 30,000 small, medium and large-scale industries and textile mills here. Coimbatore is also famous for the manufacture of motor pump sets and varied engineering goods. Being one of the greatest industrial cities in India, CSR in Coimbatore is backed by large companies. Here are some of the top CSR projects in the city and district.
CSR in Education
Talking about Corporate Social Responsibility in Education, a latest survey by UNICEF has revealed that government schools in Coimbatore and Chennai receive more CSR funds as opposed to educationally backward districts like the Nilgiris, Perambalur, and Kallakurichi. According to the survey, schools in Coimbatore district have received Rs 11 crore funding in the last three years.
CSR of Larsen & Toubro
Larsen & Toubro, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, handed over two Integrated Community Development Projects (ICDP) at the hands of Mr. Shaffe Ahamed, Deputy Director, Department of Agriculture, Government of Tamil Nadu last year. The projects were launched in 2015 by Mr. Tha Murugan, Additional Director / Project Director, District Rural Development Authority. L&T through its CSR work has been realising its vision of building India’s social infrastructure by ensuring water availability followed by interventions in Agriculture, Sanitation and Education in rural areas.
L&T’s ICDP covers 2,028 hectares (ha) in Madukkarai and 1,585 ha in the Sulur blocks of the Coimbatore district. The program was deployed in partnership with the local communities led primarily by women. Starting with soil and water conservation, the programme was extended in a phased manner to develop sanitation facilities and strengthen government schooling infrastructure.
CSR of Netcon Technologies
Netcon Technologies, under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative has reportedly donated funds to build an Emergency Room at Thudiyalur Urban Primary Health Centre (UPHC) in Coimbatore. The 220-sq.ft. Emergency Room located in Ward 2 of the Health Centre was inaugurated in March this year. The room is meant to provide first aid for minor and moderate-level accidents.
Traffic Training Park
Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India (HMSI) and Coimbatore City Police celebrated the 7th year anniversary of its Traffic Training Park at Balasundram Road, Coimbatore in January this year. With an aim to spread road safety awareness among the citizens, HMSI in collaboration with Coimbatore City Police inaugurated the first traffic training park of Tamil Nadu in Coimbatore in January 2017. The traffic park simulates real road conditions like traffic signals, zebra crossings and speed breakers etc. Since the inception of the park, HMSI’s road safety instructors have reportedly educated over 2.6 lakh people of Coimbatore through its daily trainings for all age groups.