Faridabad is a major industrial and residential city in the State of Haryana. It falls in the National Capital Region (NCR), and has grown enormously during the last couple of decades, particularly because a large number of industries have come up in the town. The city was founded back in 1607 by Shaikh Farid, treasurer of Jahangir, with the object of protecting the highway which passed through the town. Faridabad district became the 12th district of Haryana on 15th August 1979. Faridabad is famous for producing henna, while tractors, motorcycles, switch gears, refrigerators, footwear and tyre-making are other famous industries there.
CSR in Faridabad is witnessing more funding in the recent past because of its proximity to the fast-developing cities of Delhi and Gurugram. Here are some of the highest-rated corporate social responsibility initiatives in this flourishing town.
Faridabad was the second largest recipient of CSR funds in FY 2022-23 in Haryana. The district received Rs. 74.92 Cr. in CSR funds in FY 2022-23 from 228 companies. The top three contributors in Faridabad include JCB India Limited, Escorts Kubota Limited and Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, spending Rs. 4.66 Cr., Rs. 3.83 Cr., and Rs. 3.3 Cr. respectively through CSR. The top three areas of focus of CSR initiatives in the district were Health, Education and Environment.
Top CSR Projects in Faridabad
Digital Empowerment Program with CSR support
NIIT Foundation, together with Ciena, a networking systems, services, and software company, has launched an initiative called the “Digital Empowerment Program through the Digital Transformation Vehicle (DTV)” initiative in Faridabad, Haryana.
This program is a mobile education and training program that aims to provide digital literacy and skills to underserved and remote communities, with the goal of narrowing the digital divide.
The initiative features a mobile training facility equipped with 16 computers, internet connectivity, and comprehensive training materials. Certified trainers, including an IT trainer and a mobilizer, who encourages individuals to enrol in the program, travel with the vehicle to provide hands-on support. The program offers customizable courses tailored to community needs, covering digital literacy, financial literacy, and vocational skills.
“Since its inception, the program has made significant strides in impacting lives. The DTV has reached 8,667 beneficiaries, while the Hole in the Wall Learning Stations, which are installed in the villages after the DTV departs, have engaged 2,190 individuals. The initiative has successfully installed 12 Hole in the Wall Learning Stations across various locations from August 2023 to March 2024, promoting digital literacy and self-directed learning,” as per an announcement made by the company.
ABB India’s CSR: Smart Centre for electrician training in Faridabad
In August this year, ABB India announced the establishment of a smart centre for electrician training in Faridabad, Haryana. This initiative was launched in partnership with the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI). The program aims to equip the youth with the necessary skills to thrive in the competitive job market and create ample employment opportunities in line with the National Education Policy, 2020.
The electrician training initiative will involve an end-to-end program management solution to screen and select the right candidates, train them, and provide job opportunities locally. The chosen candidates will receive 540+ hours of training, equivalent to 90 days at the centre. ESSCI will collaborate with industry partners to facilitate job placements for trained individuals, bridging the gap between skill acquisition and employment.
Veterinary Hospital and Mobile Health Van launched in Faridabad through CSR
The Animal Care Organization (TACO), a flagship animal welfare initiative by the Anil Agarwal Foundation, inaugurated a Veterinary Hospital with an Animal Birth Control Unit, in its shelter in Faizupur Khadar, Faridabad (Haryana) in July this year. The event also marked by the launch of a Mobile Health Van (MHV) to extend TACO’s reach beyond its immediate location in Faridabad.
Animals in need of surgeries or diagnostic tests will be able to receive prompt and comprehensive care without the need to be transported elsewhere, at the TACO facility spread across 2 acres. The Veterinary Hospital, ABC Unit and MHV are equipped with an Operating Theatre (OT) each. Five experienced veterinarians and surgeons have already been employed to diagnose and treat various medical conditions in animals, including complex and critical ones.
The Mobile Health Van (MHV) shall provide door-to-door veterinary care including vaccinations and treatments to the needy strays as well as livestock and pet owners, within a radius of 20km of the shelter. It is equipped with two treatment tables for animal and best-in-class infrastructure, including hydraulic facility that would facilitate the provision of a raised platform for treatment of large animals. A doctor, a para-veterinarian and a veterinary assistant will travel with the MHV.
CSR for Healthcare in Faridabad, Noida, and Ghaziabad
In September this year, Shahi Exports Pvt. Ltd. joined hands with the Centre for CSR and Sustainability Excellence (CCSE), the not-for-profit arm of Delhi-based CSR Consulting Firm, Innovative Project Management Services Pvt Ltd (Fiinovation), and the Indian Stroke and Paralysis Foundation, for the implementation of its CSR project, ‘Swaasth: Holistic Health Care Supportive Programs.’ The project aims to reduce the existing healthcare accessibility issues by providing primary healthcare services to marginalised communities in the targeted regions of Faridabad, Ghaziabad, and Noida.
CCSE, the division of Innovative Project Management Services Pvt Ltd (CSR Consulting Firm) explains that the project is categorically formulated and designed to cater to the healthcare needs of the underprivileged and marginalised section of the community. The project aims to bridge the primary healthcare accessibility gap for those who are often disregarded or have restricted access to healthcare. This involves women, elderly and children, for often these groups challenges when it comes to access to healthcare.
The project employs a mobile medical unit to facilitate access to healthcare and overcome last-mile healthcare challenges. The mobile medical unit is set to cover and serve 15 wards in 9 villages in Faridabad, and also vital population pockets in neighbouring Ghaziabad and Noida. Mobile medical units effectively bring the medical services directly to the people who need it. It reduces the accessibility gap by bringing the healthcare practitioners and caregivers closer to the targeted community.
Toyota Driving School
The Toyota Driving School in Faridabad was the first one in the Delhi/NCR region. Auto company Toyota’s mission behind this road safety initiative is to have ‘Safest Cars with Safest Drivers’. The NCRB (National Crime Records Bureau) report has revealed that an average of 17 people are killed in road accidents each and every hour, and the primary reason for road accidents is poor road safety practices.
This facility is equipped with driving simulators so that the new driver can learn in a safe and controlled environment. The simulator is based on the cabin of Toyota Etios. This system is said to train the learner about fine control of brake, accelerator, and steering. Moreover, the simulator can also replicate tricky driving situations like fog, rain, low light, driving uphill, and driving downhill. The students are trained to handle basic diagnostics, maintenance and repair of the car. So, it’s not “just another driving school” for getting a driving license, but more of a place that follows a comprehensive approach ensuring that every single student becomes a responsible driver and a safety ambassador in creating a safe road for everyone to use.
