As the social development arm of the JSW Group, the JSW Foundation has emerged as a leading force in driving holistic and inclusive community transformation across India. With interventions spanning education, skill development, women’s empowerment, healthcare, livelihoods, environmental sustainability, and heritage conservation, the Foundation adopts a deeply localized yet system-driven approach to social change. Under the leadership of R Pavithra Kumar, the Foundation has strengthened its commitment to aligning community needs with national priorities—evident through impactful collaborations such as the Skill Impact Bond with NSDC and global partners.
Beyond contemporary development challenges, the Foundation also plays a pivotal role in preserving India’s cultural heritage through award-winning restoration projects across the country. Guided by a vision of long-term, community-owned change, JSW Foundation’s initiatives have touched over 3.5 million lives annually, fostering empowerment and resilience in some of India’s most underserved regions. In this conversation, Mr. Kumar shares insights on how the Foundation identifies priorities, builds partnerships, sustains impact, and balances urgent community needs with future-oriented, systemic change.
Read the full interview for deeper insights:
Q. JSW Foundation works across a wide spectrum—education, women’s empowerment, healthcare, livelihoods, environment, and more. Could you share how the Foundation prioritizes its focus areas and identifies the most pressing challenges to address?
A. At JSW Foundation, we focus on identifying and addressing the most pressing challenges faced by communities living in and around JSW plants across the country. Our efforts are concentrated on these local communities to create meaningful and sustainable impact. Additionally, JSW Foundation’s work aligns with national priorities, such as collaborating with NSDC for the Skill Impact Bond.
To implement our projects effectively, we collaborate closely with local NGOs, government bodies, and other key stakeholders. We begin by conducting thorough community needs assessments to understand their most urgent issues. Our approach is firmly rooted in a commitment to sustainable development and inclusive growth.
We integrate community insights with state and national government priorities to ensure our initiatives are well aligned and impactful.
In addition to community development, JSW Foundation has been a dedicated custodian of India’s cultural heritage. Over the past decades, JSW Foundation has supported numerous award-winning conservation and restoration projects, earning multiple UNESCO Asia Pacific Awards. JSW Foundation identifies at-risk architectural heritage—monuments, historic buildings, and sites—and deploys resources, expertise, and technical support for their preservation. Noteworthy projects include the restoration of the Chandramouleshwar Temple in Hampi, Kenneth Eliyahoo Synagogue in Mumbai, Kuldhara Village in Jaisalmer, and SNDT Kanyapathshala in Mumbai. Recently, the Foundation contributed to restoring the Kedarnath Temple, David Sassoon Library, and Shalimar Bagh in Kashmir, thereby playing a crucial role in safeguarding India’s rich cultural legacy for future generations.
Q. The Foundation’s model emphasizes long-term systemic change rather than short-term philanthropy. How do you ensure that interventions remain sustainable and continue to create impact even after project completion?
A. At JSW Foundation, our approach to development goes beyond short-term philanthropy; we focus on creating long-term, systemic transformation that endures well beyond the lifespan of individual projects. To ensure sustainability and lasting impact, we adopt several key strategies:
i. Community Ownership: We actively involve community members, local government bodies – Gram panchayats and Zilla Parishads throughout the project lifecycle from needs assessment to planning, implementation, and monitoring. This fosters a strong sense of ownership and empowers communities to sustain initiatives independently.
ii. Capacity Building: We invest in building the skills and capabilities of local NGOs, government partners, and community-based organizations. By strengthening local institutions, we ensure that they can continue delivering services and driving development.
iii. Collaborative Partnerships: Our projects are designed in close alignment with government programs and policies, as well as other stakeholders’ efforts. This integration helps scale interventions and embed them within existing systems, enhancing their longevity.
iv. Data-Driven Monitoring and Adaptation: We establish robust monitoring mechanisms that provide real-time insights into project outcomes. This enables timely course corrections and continuous improvement; ensuring interventions remain relevant and effective.
v. Sustainable Resource Models: Wherever possible, we promote models that generate ongoing resources—be it through social enterprises, community contributions, or government funding—thereby reducing dependency on external aid.
By combining these elements, JSW Foundation ensures that our interventions are not just temporary fixes, but catalysts for enduring positive change that communities can sustain and build upon for years to come.
Q. Skill-building and education form a cornerstone of your initiatives. What has been the most significant impact of these programs on women and youth in rural India, both at the individual and community level?
A. Skill building and education are fundamental pillars of JSW Foundation’s efforts to empower rural communities, particularly women and youth. Through targeted programs, we aim to equip individuals with the skills, knowledge, and confidence they need to transform their own lives and contribute meaningfully to their communities.
At the individual level, our initiatives have enabled women and youth to access new livelihood opportunities, gain financial independence, and enhance their self-esteem. Many beneficiaries have successfully transitioned into sustainable employment or entrepreneurship, breaking cycles of poverty and dependence.
At the community level, these empowered individuals become catalysts for broader social change. Women, in particular, often emerge as leaders and role models, promoting education, health, and economic activities within their families and neighbourhoods. This ripple effect strengthens social cohesion and accelerates inclusive development.
At the community level, the ripple effects are equally profound. Economically empowered individuals contribute to local economies, challenge gender norms, and champion education and development within their communities. The cumulative impact helps build more resilient, equitable, and self-sufficient rural ecosystems.
A great example of this vision is JSW Foundation’s involvement in the Skill Impact Bond (SIB) — India’s first and largest impact bond for skill development. This program, launched with the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) and a group of global partners like the British Asian Trust, Michael & Susan Dell Foundation, HSBC India, and others, has a fund of US$14.4 million. Over four years, it aims to train 50,000 young people in India, with 60% of them being women and girls.
The initiative focuses on skilling youth in key sectors such as retail, healthcare, logistics, and apparel, aiming to connect them to sustainable wage employment. As an outcome funder, JSW Foundation brings a deep understanding of community needs and on-ground realities, ensuring that the program remains rooted in relevance and real impact.Beyond employment, the SIB also aims to strengthen the broader skilling ecosystem in India through knowledge exchange, capacity building, and the promotion of evidence-based practices—further amplifying its long-term value.
JSW Foundation established the OP Jindal College of Nursing in 2012 at Torangallu, Bellary district, with the objective of empowering girls from modest rural backgrounds to achieve a brighter future. The institute focuses on training highly skilled nursing professionals to meet the needs of hospitals of various scales.
Recently, JSW Foundation launched the Futuristic Skilling and Language Programme for nursing students, as part of its Skill Elevate Programme. This initiative has been formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with two reputed organizations that provide German language training to facilitate placements in European hospitals and advanced English language training. Through this partnership, students are equipped with global communication and professional skills, enabling them to access attractive career opportunities in international healthcare institutions.
With such initiatives, JSW Foundation continues to drive meaningful, measurable change and build pathways to prosperity for individuals while uplifting entire communities.
Q. With operations spread across diverse geographies, what strategies have helped JSW Foundation replicate success while adapting to the unique needs of local communities?
A. JSW Foundation strategically implements a community-centric approach that respects and integrates the unique socio-economic, cultural, and environmental contexts of each region. Key strategies include:
- Deep Local Engagement: JSW Foundation prioritizes active engagement with local stakeholders—community members, local leaders, and government bodies—to understand specific needs, challenges, and opportunities. This participatory approach ensures interventions are relevant and embraced by the community. Also mention that we have our own teams present at locations and we closely collaborate with grass-root organisations so that there is joint commitment and delivery of our interventions
- Contextual Customization: While leveraging proven frameworks and best practices, JSW Foundation customizes program design and implementation to reflect local realities, such as language, customs, and existing infrastructure. This flexibility enables meaningful impact.
- Integrated Development Models:JSW Foundation combines multiple focus areas—education, health, livelihood, and environment—into integrated models that address interlinked challenges holistically, aligning with the specific priorities of each community.
By balancing replicable success frameworks with localized customization and strong community ownership, JSW Foundation has been able to scale its social impact effectively while honouring the distinct character of each community it serves.
JSW Foundation’s initiatives such as Tamanna School, Project Sakhi, and Bunkai collectively aim to empower rural communities through education, skill development, and livelihood enhancement. Tamana School for Specially Abled Children was established in 2008 by Mrs. Sangita Jindal, Chairperson of JSW Foundation. It was her vision to create a dedicated institution that provides quality education and comprehensive services tailored to the needs of specially abled children. Project Sakhi by JSW Foundation in Vijayanagar empowers women from vulnerable communities by providing dignified livelihoods through transforming hard-to-recycle plastic waste, like multi-layered packaging, into handcrafted products. This locally rooted initiative addresses both environmental and social challenges inclusively.
Q. Could you tell us about your approach to building partnerships- with governments, NGOs, or industry- and how these collaborations enhance the reach and impact of your work?
A. At JSW Foundation, we believe that meaningful and sustainable social impact is best achieved through collaborative partnerships. Our approach to building partnerships is rooted in mutual respect, shared goals, and a deep understanding of local contexts. Whether working with governments, NGOs, or industry partners, we prioritize alignment of values and a clear commitment to community-centric outcomes.
Collaborations with government bodies enable us to scale programs efficiently and ensure alignment with public policies and developmental priorities. Partnering with NGOs brings grassroots expertise and community trust, enriching the design and delivery of our initiatives. Engagement with industry partners allows us to leverage technological innovation, resources, and market linkages, particularly for skill development and livelihood programs.
A notable example is our collaboration with CII Foundation to launch an industry-led skilling program at the Chhindwara Centre, which empowers professionals through specialized training and skill development. This partnership exemplifies how multi-sector collaboration can enhance reach and create sustainable impact.
These multi-sector partnerships expand our reach, deepen our impact, and create ecosystems of support that drive lasting change. By working together, we are able to address complex social challenges more holistically and foster inclusive growth across the communities we serve.
Q. Community engagement and ownership are critical for sustainable impact. How does the Foundation involve local stakeholders in the design and execution of projects?
A. JSW Foundation ensures community engagement and ownership by involving local stakeholders from the very beginning of a project, from its design to its execution. JSW Foundation conducts detailed, on-the-ground needs assessments and engages in a prolonged dialogue with community members, leaders, and local governing bodies like Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs). Waste management in Dolvi in Pen Taluka of Raigad district in Maharashtra with local grampanchayats
Communities do not just receive changes—they are co-creators of change. We include local groups such as self-help groups, farmer producer organizations and school committees in our activities at every stage, from planning to implementation. For example, in a waste management project, the foundation held "prolonged dialogue with the community" before persuading them to participate in waste segregation. This dialogue helped to ensure that the project was not just a corporate initiative but a community-led one.
Q. From women’s empowerment to environmental sustainability, your work spans immediate needs and long-term systemic issues. How do you balance addressing urgent community concerns with driving large-scale, future-oriented change?
A. JSW Foundation’s programs for women and youth are a clear example of this balanced approach. For women, the foundation addresses immediate economic needs by providing skill-building programs and creating jobs, such as through rural BPO centers. This provides them with an immediate source of income.
JSW Foundation’s interventions are oriented towards achieving better outcomes in the local context by adopting SAMMS approach - Strategic, Aligned, Multi-stakeholder, Measurable, Sustainable.
Q. Having reached over 3.5 million people annually, what key lessons or insights stand out from JSW Foundation’s journey so far—and how do these shape your vision for the future?
A. We are committed to empowering citizens with better health, education, skill enhancement and employment opportunities. Our initiatives are aimed at encouraging sustainable development in the areas of agriculture, environment, conservation of heritage sites and art and promotion of sports.
JSW Foundation’s efforts in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) have been integral to the group’s overall contribution to nation-building. The foundation’s CSR initiatives span rural development, healthcare, education, and environmental conservation.
JSW is committed to promote integrated responsible behaviour and value for social and environmental well-being.
