Visakhapatnam, also known as Vizag is a port city in the state of Andhra Pradesh. The city is blessed for its natural harbour, attracting a flourishing shipping industry within its borders. In order to further promote the industries, the government has set up special economic zones in the port city, which attracts a lot of business investment, which further inspires CSR investment in Vizag. In FY2022-23, the district was the fourth largest recipient of CSR funds in Andhra Pradesh.
In FY2022-23, Vishakhapatnam received Rs. 119.39 Cr. through various CSR initiatives. The top three areas of focus for the CSR programs were: health, education and environment with total spending of Rs. 45.87 Cr., Rs. 33.08 Cr., and Rs. 26.66 Cr. respectively. The top three CSR spenders in Vizag were Laurus Labs Limited (Rs. 11.89 Cr.), NTPC Limited (Rs. 9.89 Cr.), and Adani Gangavaram Port Limited (Rs. 8.55 Cr.).
Top Companies for CSR in Visakhapatnam
Brandix
Brandix India conducts Eye Camp organised by Brandix Bharat Trust (BBT). Through these camps, Brandix Bharat Trust has brought eye examination services to more than 38,000 needy people in and around the Brandix India Apparel City (BIAC), neighbouring Mandals, and neighbouring districts.
At these camps, members of the community have received eye examinations; nearly 25,000 spectacles have been provided to patients. More than 3,600 people have undergone eye surgery, in partnership with Sankar Foundation Eye Hospital in Visakhapatnam and Srikiran Institute of Ophthalmology in Kakinada.
Brandix Bharat Trust’s Community Healthcare initiative focuses on improving access to eye care for the rural communities surrounding Brandix Apparel City. The medium-term goal is to eradicate vision-related ailments among people in the area. The eye camps have been organised as a flagship programme since 2017 on 2nd and 4th Sundays of every month at Brandix CSR Camp Centre located in Atchuthapuram, Anakapalle district of Andhra Pradesh.
Apart from eye examinations, free spectacles and medicines are also provided to patients; Those with more serious complications are taken to the base hospital in Visakhapatnam so that appropriate eye surgeries can be performed. Transportation facilities from Atchutapuram junction to Camp Centre are provided along with arrangements for food. Everything is free of cost to beneficiaries.
RHI Magnesita India
RHI Magnesita India, the leading manufacturer and supplier of high-grade refractory products, systems and solutions, took up 11 major projects under its Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives during the financial year 2022-23, positively impacted lives of more than 100,000 vulnerable and underprivileged people in different parts of the country with focus on their inclusive growth and empowerment
The Company’s CSR activities are focused in the vicinity of the company operations, particularly Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), Cuttack (Odisha), Bhiwadi (Rajasthan) and Delhi-NCR. The company promotes healthcare, education, infrastructure development and women empowerment in these targeted areas. About 51% of its CSR spend last year was dedicated for the implementation in the priority areas of Education and Health Care.
CSR Initiatives:
In a village near Visakhapatnam, RHI Magnesita supports a local trust in running a health-care centre providing free services to more than 500 patients every month.
700 families are getting safe drinking water supply every day from the two RO water plants at Venkatapuram and Bharinikam villages near Visakhapatnam.
The construction of a hostel building at LV Prasad Eye Institute in Visakhapatnam is being funded to house eye-care trainees who service the underprivileged communities.
RHI Magnesita has regularly been providing free study materials to underprivileged students and supporting the rural schools with quality infrastructure at Venkatapuram Govt. School and T Sirasapalli Anganwadi near Visakhapatnam.
WNS Holdings Limited
WNS (Holdings) Limited, a leading provider of global Business Process Management (BPM) services, through its corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm, WNS Cares Foundation (WCF) launched mobile libraries in various cities including Vizag. With a fleet of eight vans now, WCF will reach out to over 8,000 children through the mobile libraries in underserved areas across Mumbai, Chennai, Nashik, Pune and Vizag.
“Despite all the progress the countryhas made, there are still areas where children are unable to attend school for various reasons. To help these children, we introduced the concept of mobile library in 2014, and I am delighted to see that it is creating a huge impact, and now reaching out to over 8,000 children in 5 cities. At WCF, our mission is to revolutionize the concept of holistic learning across the globe and eliminate the divide that exists,” said Keshav R. Murugesh, Group CEO, WNS.
WCF refurbishes old vans and converts them into ‘libraries on wheels’. Each van is stationed at an underserved location in the city carrying over 2,500 books in different languages. A teacher travels with each mobile library to teach the basic academic concepts to children. The mobile libraries are equipped with a solar inverter, a water dispenser and an umbrella for the kids to spread out. In addition to this, the van also has a computer-supported by a 4G internet dongle with the purpose to expose the children to the world of technology and give access to more reading material. WCF volunteers also travel with the mobile library and conduct other WCF programs for these children.
Asian Paints
Safar is a healthcare initiative directed towards improving health awareness and correcting the lifestyle habits of truckers. They also get medical care facilities that is both consultative and curative in nature. The project uses mass communication techniques like nukkad natak (street plays), games, interpersonal communication sessions and films to spread awareness on various health issues like ergonomic illnesses, skin diseases and gastritis, among others targeting truck drivers. The initiative is running across seven manufacturing locations including Vizag.
Ola
As part of its nationwide CSR initiative, ‘Drive the Driver’ Fund, Ola Foundation, the social arm of Ola, has partnered with Robin Hood Army to deliver over 25 lakh free meals to driver-partners and their families across 20 cities, including Visakhapatnam. The meal distribution drive has so far provided 1 crore meals for this community thereby benefiting thousands of households across the country. A volunteer-based organisation committed to eradicating hunger, the Robin Hood Army will collaborate with Ola for the on-ground implementation of this activity. The non-profit through its self-sustained network of chapters are in charge of distributing the meals to the driver-partner and their families.
