Every successful brand has a story—but only a few become part of a nation’s growth story. Over the last five decades, RSPL Group has evolved from a single detergent brand in Kanpur into one of India's leading FMCG conglomerates, building trusted consumer brands while contributing to the country's journey of self-reliance and inclusive development.
As RSPL celebrates its 50th anniversary, this exclusive interview with Ms. Mamta Malik, Group Head – CSR and Corporate Communications, RSPL Group, looks back at the company's remarkable journey and the vision shaping its future. She shares how the "Made in India, for India" philosophy has guided RSPL's growth, its expansion into diverse business sectors, and its continued investment in innovation, sustainability, and manufacturing excellence. The conversation also highlights the company's community development initiatives through the RSPL Welfare Foundation, its commitment to education, healthcare, sanitation, women's empowerment, and environmental conservation, as well as the priorities that will define the next chapter of RSPL's growth and social impact.
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Q. As RSPL Group marks its 50th anniversary, what is the core vision behind this milestone, and what key long-term objectives are you prioritizing next?
A. As we celebrate 50 years of RSPL's journey, our focus remains firmly on purpose-led growth—building on a legacy that began with Ghadi Detergent in Kanpur and evolved into one of India's leading diversified FMCG conglomerates.
Looking ahead, we are committed to accelerating innovation-led growth through advanced R&D, sustainable manufacturing, and a relentless focus on quality. We also aim to expand our portfolio across emerging categories such as lifestyle, hygiene, and food & beverages, while strengthening our presence across India and international markets.
Equally important is our commitment to inclusive growth. Through the RSPL Welfare Foundation and the Laxmi Devi Dayal Das Charitable Trust, we are actively empowering communities across multiple states—improving access to quality education, clean water, healthcare, and sanitation, while fostering greater participation of women across our operations. Together, these priorities will guide RSPL's next phase of growth and contribution to India's development story.
Q. Looking back at your growth from a single detergent brand in Kanpur to a large conglomerate, what were the turning points for the Group?
A. For us, the journey from a single detergent brand in Kanpur to a diversified conglomerate has been shaped by several defining milestones. The first was the launch of Ghadi Detergent in 1976 by our founders, Shri Muralidhar Gyanchandani and Shri Bimal Kumar Gyanchandani, which laid the foundation of RSPL. Another key turning point was our successful diversification beyond household care into categories such as hygiene, personal care, dairy, lifestyle, and agricultural products, enabling us to serve a wider spectrum of consumer needs.
Our entry into chemical manufacturing through the establishment of the SOKA Soda Ash plant in Gujarat marked a significant step towards industrial integration and strengthening our manufacturing capabilities.
Finally, expanding our footprint beyond India into markets such as Nepal, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Dubai transformed RSPL from a domestic success story into a growing global enterprise. Together, these milestones have been instrumental in shaping the Group's growth trajectory over the last five decades.
Q. How has the "Made in India" philosophy guided your business choices and expansion over the years?
A. Our growth journey has been deeply rooted in the philosophy of being "Made in India, for India." This belief has guided our business decisions, manufacturing strategy, and expansion plans over the years. Instead of relying on imports, we have focused on building domestic manufacturing capabilities, establishing more than 24 manufacturing facilities pan India
We have also prioritized local sourcing and value creation by setting up operations in regional India, ensuring that raw materials, employment opportunities, and infrastructure development remain closely linked to local communities. Through this approach, we have not only strengthened our own business but have also contributed to regional economic growth and India's broader vision of self-reliance.
Q. You now operate in very different sectors, from dairy to renewable energy. How do you manage this diversification without losing consumer trust?
A. We have been able to diversify across sectors while retaining consumer trust by staying anchored to a few core principles. First, consumer centricity remains at the heart of everything we do—whether it is household care, dairy, lifestyle products, or any other business, our focus is on delivering high-quality, affordable products that add value to consumers' everyday lives.
Second, we invest consistently in R&D, innovation, and modern manufacturing capabilities to ensure that every product and business meets the highest quality standards. Finally, the trust we have built over decades through our flagship brands is reinforced by our commitment to transparency, responsible business practices, environmental stewardship, and strong corporate governance. These shared values create a consistent consumer experience across all our businesses and help extend that trust to newer ventures.
Q. With 24 manufacturing plants and over 24,000 employees, how does RSPL support local economies and job creation?
A. RSPL's contribution to local economies extends far beyond manufacturing. As one of India's leading employers, we provide direct livelihood opportunities to over 24,000–25,000 individuals across the country, creating meaningful employment at scale. Our manufacturing facilities also act as catalysts for regional development by driving infrastructure improvements in surrounding communities.
Through the RSPL Welfare Foundation, our community engagements span multiple states and address a wide spectrum of community welfare needs. In the area of water and sanitation, the Foundation has facilitated drinking water access for thousands of households and constructed over 2,000 toilets—with a particular focus on improving hygiene and sanitation for women and girls. In education, the Foundation supports school enrolment drives, digital learning infrastructure, and upgrades to school facilities to reduce dropout rates and improve learning outcomes.
Our SOKA operations in Gujarat have complemented these efforts locally, infrastructure upgradation in the communities where we work, access to clean drinking water, construction of toilets, augmenting the needs of schools students to ensure continuity of education etc, with . Together, these collective efforts ensure that our presence benefits and creates lasting value for the communities around us.
Additionally, our operations support a wider ecosystem of distributors, local vendors, transport partners, and agricultural communities, including dairy farmers and cattle owners.
Q. How does your growth contribute to India's goals of self-reliance and inclusive development?
A. Our growth journey is closely aligned with India's vision of self-reliance and inclusive development. From a self-reliance perspective, we have consistently invested in building world-class manufacturing capabilities within India, including advanced industrial facilities such as our greenfield Soda Ash plant in Gujarat. These investments strengthen domestic supply chains, reduce dependence on imports, and contribute to the nation's industrial competitiveness.
At the same time, we believe that growth must be inclusive. The RSPL Welfare Foundation leads our community development agenda across multiple states, with programs focused on clean water access, girl-child education, digital literacy, healthcare outreach, and hygiene promotion in underserved communities. The Foundation works in close coordination with local Panchayats, government bodies, and civil society organizations to ensure that our interventions are both relevant and sustainable.
Complementing this, the Laxmi Devi Dayal Das Charitable Trust focuses on enabling access to quality education and building community infrastructure. By combining industrial growth with structured community development, we strive to ensure that economic progress creates meaningful and lasting benefits for society at large.
Q. What major investments or innovations will drive your next stage of growth?
A. Our next phase of growth will be driven by a strong focus on innovation, sustainability, and future-ready infrastructure. We are focussing our efforts on research and development to create advanced, eco-friendly formulations. At the same time, we are expanding our presence in renewable energy and other clean technology initiatives as part of our commitment to reducing our carbon footprint and building a more sustainable future.
Beyond business growth, the RSPL Welfare Foundation continues to invest in long-term social infrastructure. This includes supporting educational initiatives across our operational geographies—improving school facilities, promoting digital learning, and driving awareness campaigns for school enrolment and retention. The Laxmi Devi Dayal Das Charitable Trust has established a state-of-the-art, English-medium Laxmi Devi Dayal Das Academy (LDA) in Bhatiya Village (established in 2024) and has also created "Smart Anganwadis" equipped with modern teaching-learning materials, LED TVs, and educational aids—ensuring that children in rural communities receive quality early childhood education. These investments in human capital are as critical to our long-term vision as our industrial and product innovations.
Q. How is the new generation of leadership balancing the company's traditional values with modern market trends?
A. The new generation of leadership is focused on preserving the values that have defined RSPL's success for the past five decades while embracing the opportunities of a rapidly changing marketplace. Our foundational principles of trust, humility, and delivering value to consumers remain unchanged, but they are being complemented by a stronger emphasis on innovation, agility, and modernization.
This is evident in our investments in advanced hygiene solutions, digital-first marketing approaches, and sustainable manufacturing practices. At the same time, our leadership is committed to building a more inclusive organization—promoting greater participation and empowerment of women across both our business operations and through the community development programs of the RSPL Welfare Foundation, which actively focuses on women's health, education, and economic participation.
Q. RSPL works in education, healthcare, and the environment. How have your partnerships helped expand the reach of these social initiatives?
A. Partnerships play a critical role in expanding the reach and impact of our social initiatives, and this collaborative approach is central to how both the RSPL Welfare Foundation and our plant-level CSR programs operate.
In education and community development, we work closely with government bodies, local Panchayats, and district administrations to implement programs at the ground level and of national importance.
SOKA / RSPL Welfare Foundation – CSR Initiatives Summary
The RSPL Welfare Foundation, through its Hardik Sewa programme, has undertaken a wide range of CSR initiatives focused on improving the quality of life in and around Kuranga, Gujarat. Its efforts are centered on education, healthcare, sanitation, community development, women’s empowerment, and environmental sustainability.
Education & Child Development
The Foundation has strengthened educational infrastructure by supporting government schools with furniture, drinking water facilities, sanitation upgrades, and educational resources. It has also modernized Anganwadis through the Smart Anganwadi initiative, distributed educational kits to young students, and established the Laxmi Devi Dayal Das Academy, an English-medium school aimed at providing quality education in rural areas.
Healthcare & Well-being
Healthcare interventions include organizing multi-speciality medical camps, cancer screening programmes, blood donation drives, maternal nutrition support, and strengthening rural healthcare infrastructure through ambulances, clinics, and an ICU-on-Wheels. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Foundation played a significant role by supporting oxygen infrastructure, distributing relief kits, and contributing to state relief efforts.
Water, Sanitation & Hygiene
The Foundation has improved access to sanitation through the construction of approximately 1,600 household toilets, public sanitation facilities, and school hygiene infrastructure. It has also enhanced access to safe drinking water by installing RO plants, water coolers, and developing village water supply infrastructure.
Community Infrastructure Development
Several projects have focused on creating and upgrading community assets, including community halls, roads, crematorium facilities, drinking water pipelines, and public amenities at key religious and community locations. These initiatives have helped improve basic infrastructure and overall living conditions in rural communities.
Women Empowerment & Inclusion
The Foundation promotes livelihood generation and self-reliance among women through sewing and handicraft training programmes. It has also supported differently-abled individuals by providing vocational training equipment and educational resources.
Environment & Sustainability
Environmental conservation remains a key focus area, with initiatives such as mangrove plantation across 50 hectares and plastic waste collection and recycling drives aimed at promoting ecological restoration and responsible waste management.
Overall, SOKA’s CSR efforts reflect a holistic rural development approach, creating long-term social impact through investments in education, health, infrastructure, livelihoods, and environmental stewardship.
We engage global firms to conduct rigorous Community Need Assessments and programmatic reviews, ensuring that all our interventions—whether delivered through the RSPL Welfare Foundation or through plant-level CSR—are relevant, evidence-based, and create measurable, long-term impact.
Q. What are the top priorities and impact goals that will define RSPL over the next few decades?
A. Over the coming decades, RSPL's impact will be guided by three key priorities, delivered through the sustained efforts of the RSPL Welfare Foundation and in alignment with our broader group values.
First, we aim to strengthen our community-centric approach by expanding a participatory development model that places local consultation and stakeholder engagement at the heart of every initiative. The RSPL Welfare Foundation will continue to work in close partnership with communities, Panchayats, and local governments to ensure that people remain active partners in their own progress—not passive beneficiaries.
Second, we will deepen our focus on holistic education and hygiene upliftment. This includes supporting school enrolment, reducing dropout rates, expanding digital learning infrastructure, and upgrading educational facilities across our operational geographies. On the hygiene front, the Foundation will continue to expand access to sanitation infrastructure—building on the 1,600+ toilets already constructed—with a particular emphasis on facilities for women and girls.
Third, environmental stewardship will remain a major focus area. Through the RSPL Welfare Foundation and our plant-level sustainability programs, we will scale up efforts in water conservation, waste management, ecosystem restoration, and clean energy—ensuring that our growth leaves a positive, lasting impact on the environment and the communities that depend on it.
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