New Delhi, 23 September 2020: One of the largest manufacturers of lead-acid batteries, Amara Raja Batteries Ltd (ARBL) exceeded its prescribed Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) budget, though marginally. The company spent 2.17% of the profit on education and skill development.
The company headquartered in Hyderabad had an average net profit of Rs 7,14.99 crores for the past three financial years and therefore, was supposed to spend 2% of this amount, calculated as Rs 14.30 crores on its CSR activities. However, the company went a step ahead and spent Rs 14.35 crores on its CSR activities in the financial year 2019-20.
Health, education, environment and rural development, continue to be the main focus of the company’s CSR policy. The various initiatives taken in these areas have had a positive impact on the stakeholders surrounding the communities where such programmes were undertaken by the Company.
The company, through Rajanna Trust undertakes its various CSR initiatives, which are monitored by a dedicated internal team of the company at periodic intervals. Also, an extensive assessment of the company’s CSR activities and its impact in the community was carried out by a team from IIM Bangalore, claims the company.
Dr Ramachandra N Galla is the Chairman of its CSR committee.
Sectors where the company’s CSR budget was spent in 2019-20
"CSR has been an integral part of your Company’s culture. The Company has associated itself through Rajanna Trust in philanthropic activities in the field of Education, Health, Environment and Rural Development", says the company.
Few important work done by the company in past
Education
Rajanna Trust provides financial and operational support to three schools in villages close to the Company’s operating units.
- Mangal Vidyalayam, Pettamitta, a CBSE-affiliated senior secondary school, imparting education to more than 2,200 students.
- Amara Raja Vidyalayam, Karakambadi, a CBSE-affiliated secondary school near Tirupati, imparting education to about 900 students.
- Amara Raja Vidyalayam, Diguvamagham, a CBSE-affiliated school located near Chittoor, was founded in 2016 and is now imparting education to over 1000 students, up to class VII. The schools are being expanded into a secondary school with additional infrastructure.
Skill Development
This skill development program, carried out with a mission - Skilling Rural India to Make in India - is an 18-month residential course comprising a prudent mix of on-job training at various plants of Amara Raja Group and class-room training. The ARSDC complex houses well-equipped classrooms, laboratories, workshops and hostel facilities for boys and girls. The entire course, inclusive of food, accommodation, uniforms and study material, is free for the students. The students are also paid a stipend as recognition for their efforts. More than 945 students have cleared the course so far. Most of these students have been inducted into various companies in the Amara Raja Group. In 2019-20, 197 students passed out, across two batches.
Health
The Trust financially and operationally supports a 30-bed primary health center in Chittoor district. Qualified staff and experienced doctors provide preventive and primary healthcare to more than 50,000 people living in 81 neighboring villages. The Trust continued to organise health camps with specialists from India and abroad for people from 86 villages across 12 Panchayats. At these health camps, patients are provided free consultation and medicines.
Water Conservation
The Trust built 23 check dams and desilted three tanks under Rajanna Jalasayamu Program in Chittoor district. Around 60 villages, covered under 12 panchayats, continue to benefit from this project.
Environment
Amara Raja adopted a 250-hectare plot on a hillock in Pemmagutta, in Chittoor district, to develop a plantation. In addition, it purchased and donated a 30-acre adjoining plot to the government. The plantation project provided livelihood to about 40 tribal families. More than 60,000 saplings were planted in and around the hillock. Under the Blue Sky CSR initiative, the Rajanna Trust enjoyed assistance from the communities, school children and its employees.
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