Top CSR projects in Mumbai

Mumbai, often referred to as the financial capital of India, is not only renowned for its towering skyscrapers and bustling streets but also for its significant role in corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. In the fiscal year 2021-22, Mumbai emerged as the largest beneficiary of CSR funds in the state of Maharashtra, receiving a staggering Rs. 2,890.8 Crores out of the total Rs. 5,229.31 Crores allocated to the state. This remarkable achievement underscores Mumbai’s status as a favoured destination for corporate entities seeking to fulfil their CSR obligations.

In FY 22, a total of 2018 companies contributed to Mumbai City’s thriving CSR landscape, collectively disbursing Rs. 2,890.8 Crores towards a diverse range of social and developmental projects. Among the various focus areas, health, education, and rural development took the forefront, with a substantial expenditure of Rs. 1,724.4 Crores, Rs. 730.13 Crores, and Rs. 184.01 Crores, respectively. These investments have played a pivotal role in addressing critical societal issues and enhancing the quality of life for the city’s residents.

As we delve deeper into the realm of CSR initiatives in Mumbai, we will explore the impactful projects, innovative strategies, and positive transformations brought about by corporate entities in this dynamic city.

Top CSR Initiatives in Mumbai

Shopping mall clears garbage from waterbody in Mumbai

Growel’s 101, a prominent Mumbai-based mall has initiated a significant environmental project to clean a nearby waterway. The mall has successfully removed approximately 3 tons of garbage from the stream which passes by its periphery, which has been causing issues such as water pollution, Reduced soil quality, spread of diseases and unhygienic environment. The waterway around the vicinity was heavily polluted with plastic and other non-biodegradable waste. This waste often flows into larger bodies of water, eventually reaching the oceans and seas, contributing to severe pollution. Such pollution adversely affects marine life, human health, and the overall environmental balance.

By initiating this cleanup drive, Growel’s 101 aims to mitigate the detrimental effects of water pollution. The cleanup activities involve removing non-biodegradable waste and sending it for recycling, thereby reducing the environmental footprint and promoting sustainability. The recycling of these materials ensures that they are repurposed, which further benefits the natural ecosystem. The employees of Growel’s 101 Mall play an active role in this initiative.

Scholarship for meritorious underprivileged students across Mumbai Metropolitan Region

Kotak Education Foundation (KEF) – the CSR implementing agency of Kotak Mahindra Group, announced 1,000 scholarships under the Kotak Junior Scholarship programme to support further education of Class 10th + meritorious students from economically disadvantaged section across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region in May this year. Along with a financial aid of Rs 73,500 for a period of 21 months, this programme offers each scholar a strong support system at the grass-root level for the future youth of the country.

This programme, spanning an initial term of 2 years for 10 + students from SSC, CBSE, and ICSE board, involves robust engagement activities beyond financial support such as one-to-one mentoring, career guidance sessions, entrance exam preparation support, exposure visits, and home visits.
Eligibility criteria for the Kotak Junior Scholarship are as follows:
– Scored more than 85% in the SSC/CBSE/ICSE Examination and secured admission for Class 11 in Colleges in Mumbai
– Family income is less than Rs.3,20,000/- per annum
– Within MMR (Mumbai Metropolitan Region)

Child Protection Committee launched in Mumbai

Society for Nutrition, Education and Health Action (SNEHA) along with the District Women and Child Development Office and 2 other NGOs recently launched a Ward Level Child Protection Committee (WLCPC) in Mumbai. Located in Ward No. 135 of Mumbai i.e. M-East Ward, the committee will be covering the communities of Indira Nagar and Janta Nagar in Mandala, Mankhurd. The committee has been formed in collaboration with the District Child Protection Unit under the guidance of the District Women and Child Development Officer, Mumbai Suburban District. The NGO and the Maharashtra government are also planning to replicate this model across all 15 wards in Mumbai in the coming years.

Aligning with the Government of Maharashtra Resolution (2014), the Child Protection Committee will enhance child safety and well-being by setting clear objectives. This includes preventing abuse, ensuring timely interventions, and fostering a supportive ecosystem for children in need within the community.

Desks made from recycled cartons for Mumbai’s Municipal Schools

As part of its CSR and sustainability initiative, Rajarshi Shahu Nagar Municipal School in Mahim east, Mumbai received brand-new desks, crafted from recycled materials in August this year. The donation is part of the Go Green with Tetra Pak program, launched in 2010 by Tetra Pak in partnership with Reliance Retail, and executed on ground by RUR Greenlife. The program is an ambitious and impactful initiative aimed at collecting over one million used Tetra Pak cartons every year and transforming them into furniture for lesser privileged schools.

Smart Classrooms in Mumbai schools – CSR of Fortis Healthcare

Fortis Healthcare’s CSR has empowered 10 civic-run schools in Mumbai with ‘Smart Classroom’ set-ups. The CSR initiative is aimed at enhancing the quality of education and improving students’ learning outcomes. The classrooms have been specifically designed to make the students’ learning process more engaging. Each Smart Classroom includes a Smartboard, Technical Toolkit, Large Screen Display Device, CPU, Speakers, and Whiteboard.

The Smart Classrooms have been set up at Vani Vidyalaya School & Junior College (Mulund), Nutan Marathi Vidyalaya (Mulund), Mithagar Marg MPS School (Mulund), Dayanand Vedik Vidyalaya (Mulund), Smt. Nalinibai Gajanan Purandare High School (Mulund), Deendayal Upadhyay MPS School (Mulund), MPS CBSE Mithanagar School (Mulund), Pandurang Vidyalay (Mulund), Airoli Madhyamik Vidyalaya (Navi Mumbai) and SBM Padwal Vidyalay (Thane).

Toilet at Ghatkopar Station – CSR of DMart

An airport standard toilet was inaugurated at Central Railway’s Ghatkopar station in September last year as part of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts of DMart Foundation.  The toilet located at platform number four has been constructed to benefit daily commuters and it is completely free of cost. The D-Mart Foundation will maintain the newly upgraded toilet block for an initial period of 2 years, which can be extended up to 3 more years.

Earlier, this platform had a urinal block for men with four urinals. The upgraded toilet block now boasts two toilets and six urinals for men, along with three toilets for women. There are plans to extend the efforts to upgrade the toilet block on platforms 2/3 of Ghatkopar and subsequently platform number one.

Ghatkopar station is the fourth busiest station in Central Railway’s Mumbai division, having on average daily footfalls of nearly 3.20 lakh passengers . At Ghatkopar, 740 local trains ( up and down) are being handled daily basis.

CSR of Central Railway and Union Bank Social Foundation Trust

Central Railway, in collaboration with the Union Bank Social Foundation Trust has donated a state-of-the-art Double Balloon Enteroscopy to the Department of Surgery at Bharatratna Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial Hospital in Byculla. The equipment valued at Rs 50 lakh, is aimed to provide advanced medical care to patients in need.

CSR of ICICI Bank for cancer care

In June 2023, ICICI Bank announced a contribution of Rs 1,200 crore towards Tata Memorial Centre (TMC), a premier institution that runs cancer treatment and research centres across the country.

ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth (ICICI Foundation), the CSR arm of ICICI Bank, is implementing the initiative, which is likely to be completed by 2027. With modern equipment and specialised multidisciplinary teams, these new centres of excellence in oncology treatment will provide advanced and evidence based therapies to nearly 25,000 new patients a year, doubling the present capacity and providing a significant boost to the country’s cancer treatment infrastructure, as per an announcement made by the bank.

ICICI Foundation will set up an ‘ICICI Radiation Oncology Block’ at TMC’s Advanced Centre for Treatment, Research & Education in Cancer (ACTREC) at Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra. This block will be equipped with state-of-the-art radiology facilities including CT scanner and MRT, new facility for outdoor patients, laboratories and radiotherapy facility for in-patients.

CSR of Bharat Petroleum for cleaner air

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL) recently announced the implementation of an innovative air purification project aimed at addressing air pollution in Mumbai. In collaboration with the Maharashtra Pollution Control Board (MPCB) and M/s APRO Greentech, BPCL has installed air purifier units on 100 BEST buses in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR), marking a significant milestone in the journey towards cleaner air.

APRO Greentech, the technology and equipment supplier for the project has pledged to offer maintenance services for a period of five years. The project is backed by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds of BPCL. The project initiated last year is a step forward by Maharashtra Government with respect to the deteriorating air quality in Mumbai.

CSR of Shapoorji Pallonji Group: Home for cancer patients

KARO, a public charitable trust dedicated to supporting cancer patients, inaugurated their second accommodation home in Kurla in January this year. The Shapoorji Pallonji Group has provided financial support to the project.

Catering specifically to male teenage and young adult patients from lower-income backgrounds, the facility offers free-of-cost living, thus alleviating the burden of housing expenses in Mumbai during their treatment.

The cancer patients’ home at Kurla has 21 available beds—each room accommodates two caregivers along with the patient and includes a fully functional kitchen plus essential rations for residents to prepare home-cooked meals. The home also has an expansive terrace and recreational area to foster a sense of community. Committed to a clean, safe, and hygienic living space, the home offers various counselling and therapy sessions, contributing to the patients’ overall well-being. Sessions include arts and crafts, music, dance, and personal one-on-one counselling. Patients are also offered free transportation to and from the hospitals to ensure no appointments or treatments are missed, as per an announcement.

KARO Trust initiated its first accommodation centre for female patients at Sion, in 2019, which was also financially backed by the Shapoorji Pallonji Group.

Reliance Foundation and Akshaya Chaitanya Tackling Hunger

One of the standout CSR initiatives making a profound impact on the social landscape of Mumbai is the collaboration between Akshaya Chaitanya and Reliance Foundation. Together, they have embarked on a mission to combat hunger and vulnerability in the city, focusing on two key areas: providing nutritious meals to children in municipal schools and extending support to families of patients in public hospitals.

This transformative initiative addresses a critical issue facing underprivileged children in Mumbai – the lack of adequate nutrition during their formative years. By offering wholesome meals, it not only nourishes the bodies but also nurtures the aspirations of these young minds, breaking down the barriers to education and brighter futures.

Moreover, the initiative extends its reach to the families of patients from vulnerable sections of society who often struggle to access hygienically prepared food in government hospitals. By making these meals readily available, it eases the burdens carried by these families during times of distress.

Meals are being served across 19 government hospitals and 102 municipal schools in Mumbai. Akshaya Chaitanya’s ambitious vision for 2025 is to serve 1 lakh vulnerable adults and children every day in Mumbai.

PNB Housing Finance’s Mobile Medical Units

Another standout CSR project in Mumbai is spearheaded by PNB Housing Finance, a prominent player in India’s housing finance sector, in collaboration with their CSR arm, Pehel Foundation. This noteworthy endeavour is none other than the ‘Mobile Medical Units’ initiative, implemented in partnership with the Wockhardt Foundation. The mission is to bring accessible primary healthcare services to the doorsteps of those who often go underserved – construction labourers and their families in bustling metropolises like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Kolkata.

PNB Housing Finance and Pehel Foundation share a steadfast commitment to uplifting society through a multitude of initiatives spanning healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and environmental conservation. However, it is the ‘Mobile Medical Units’ program that has emerged as a beacon of hope for the unsung heroes of the real estate industry – the construction workers. Despite being the backbone of the construction sector, these labourers frequently face insurmountable challenges in accessing essential medical facilities.

Each Mobile Medical Unit is a self-contained healthcare facility, equipped with essential medical equipment and staffed by a dedicated team comprising a registered doctor, trained pharmacist, and licensed van driver. These units serve as a lifeline to beneficiaries, offering immediate treatment for a range of ailments, from common colds and skin infections to more serious conditions like hypertension and diabetes. Furthermore, patients requiring specialized treatment are referred to hospitals for advanced care. In addition to providing medical aid, the initiative also focuses on educating and sensitizing individuals on crucial aspects of health, hygiene, and sanitation.