Bosch, the German multinational engineering and technology company, has spent a sum of Rs. 22.46 crores on various Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives in the financial year 2021-22. The average net profit of the company as per Section 135(5) for the year was Rs. 1,079 crores and its CSR budget calculated as 2% of the average profit of last three years stood at Rs. 21.58 crores.
Thus, the company spent an excess amount of Rs. 88 lakhs on its CSR activities in the financial year 2021-22.
Bosch CSR - Focus areas
As part of its CSR activities, Bosch focused on specific social and community issues with its following key initiatives --
BRIDGE (Bosch’s Response to India’s Development & Growth through Employability Enhancement):
Under the programme, classroom training is provided to underprivileged youth on soft skills such as life skills, communication, self-presentation, and industry-specific skills. It also offers on-the-job training and community development opportunities. The students get a Bosch learner kit, job placement support, and Bosch certification. The program is being provided to lesser-privileged youth across India through BRIDGE centers operating in ITIs, pre-university colleges/higher secondary schools, colleges offering Masters in Social Work, universities, and private vocational institutes.
Nearly 50,000 less-educated youth have been trained through BRIDGE and supported in entry-level jobs through 725 BRIDGE centers in over 500 districts. Further, the Management, Entrepreneurship, and Professional Skills Council gives joint certification with Bosch. Bosch has also partnered with Tata Steel and Sleepwell to share best practices and create a broader impact.
Paramedics Training program
The program trained paramedics in two significant trades, viz. General Duty Assistant and Pharmacy Assistant (FY 2020-21) & Caregivers (FY 2021-22), in immediate response to the current healthcare needs arising from the COVID-19 pandemic. The three-month short-term training program comprising two months of classroom training and one month of “On the Job Training” (OJT) was offered in collaboration with Apollo Medskills in 2020-2021 and received assessment & certification by HSSC. In 2021-2022, it was implemented directly through BRIDGE centers and nursing colleges. Bosch provided assessment & certification to caregivers.
The company also undertook projects related to combatting COVID-19, contributions to Government approved funds and other projects. According to the annual report of the company, its local CSR activities centred on the plant’s immediate neighbourhood, with an emphasis on modernizing the water infrastructure. “Over the past three years alone, maintenance and renovation work on weirs and water storage facilities have ensured water supplies for more than 200 families. In addition, more than 100 farmers now benefit from reliable crop irrigation and higher yields as a result,” the report stated.
Bosch CSR 2021-22: Key projects and their respective budget
|
S.No.
|
Project
|
Budget spent (in INR crores)
|
|
1
|
BRIDGE program
|
4.10
|
|
2
|
Upskilling of paramedics staff
|
3.39
|
|
3
|
Immunity enhancement through Ayurveda in the rural areas
|
1.04
|
|
4
|
Providing medical equipment in dispensaries
|
5.25
|
|
5
|
Supply of COVID-19 masks to hospitals, COVID-19 warriors, and other needy people in society
|
2.90
|
|
6
|
Infrastructure development for vocational training in the technical institutes
|
1.86
|
|
7
|
Check dams (water conservation in drought prone regions)
|
1.29
|
|
8
|
Providing cooked meals & dry ration to the migrant & needy families
|
1.16
|
|
9
|
Supporting migrant workers in finding livelihood opportunities & re-employment
|
1.69
|
|
10
|
Medicines, livelihood, and educational support for COVID-19 affected needy families
|
1.24
|
According to the company, all its CSR projects are aimed at the holistic development of the individuals and society.
Bosch CSR committee
The CSR committee at Bosch comprises Mr. Bhaskar Bhat (Independent Director) as its Chairman and Ms. Hema Ravichandar (Independent Director), Mr. S.V. Ranganath (Independent Director), Dr. Gopichand Katragadda (Independent Director), Mr. Soumitra Bhattacharya (Managing Director), and Dr. Pawan Kumar Goenka (Independent Director) as its members.
