Since its inception in 2015, the Eaton India Foundation has been at the forefront of driving impactful, community-centric change through education, sustainability, and inclusive development. Rooted in Eaton’s global commitment to responsible citizenship, the foundation has evolved into a dynamic force addressing pressing societal challenges—from bridging the education-employment gap and empowering young women, to fostering innovation and creating sustainable livelihoods for youth with disabilities.
In this exclusive interview with TheCSRUniverse, Ashish Kapoor, Director, HR - India, Eaton, sheds light on the foundation’s mission, its evolution over the past decade, and the measurable impact of its flagship programs such as ‘Adopt a School,’ ‘Vidya Vikas Scholarship,’ and the ‘Ignited Innovators of India.’ He also discusses Eaton’s integrated approach to sustainability, digital enablement, and inclusive volunteering, while outlining the foundation’s vision for scaling up its efforts across India. With a strong focus on long-term impact, collaboration, and employee engagement, Eaton India Foundation continues to set benchmarks in CSR excellence and community empowerment.
Q&A
Q. What was the inspiration behind establishing the Eaton India Foundation, and how has its mission evolved since 2015?
A. The Eaton India Foundation was established in July 2015 as part of Eaton’s commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainable community development. The foundation was inspired by Eaton’s global vision of empowering communities through education, health, and environmental sustainability. Over the years, its mission has evolved to address critical societal challenges, particularly in bridging educational gaps, driving sustainability initiatives, and supporting underprivileged and differently abled individuals. By continuously adapting its programs, the foundation has been able to expand its reach and deepen its impact on the communities it serves.
Q. What are some of the most impactful success stories that highlight the foundation’s contributions to community development?
A. Through our education programs we are supporting 12,000 students annually. Some of our major programs in this area are ‘Adopt a School Program (5,870 students), Vidya Vikas Scholarship (304 youth), and partnership such as Udayan Shalini Fellowship for women (100), Teach for India Fellowship (15 fellows) and supporting differently abled children (51) and youth(150+).
Through our partnerships with agencies like WoTR and Krushi Vikas, we have supported 5 villages in drought prone districts of Ahmednagar to create water conservation structures to facilitate ground water recharge of rainwater and create water storage structures to facilitate availability of water during summer months. Our partnership with Green Thumb organization in Pune enables desilting of Khadakwasala dam, thus increasing its water storage capacity. Eaton’s volunteering initiatives engaged nearly 1500 volunteers contributing 7000 hours towards Eaton’s community development programs.
The ‘Adopt a School’ program has significantly improved access to quality education by enhancing school infrastructure, providing remedial learning support, and creating a safer learning environment. The partnership with iTeach Schools in Pune has strengthened secondary education, ensuring students receive quality instruction through experienced teachers and innovative methodologies. Through scholarship initiatives like ‘Pratibha Scholarships’ and the ‘Udayan Shalini Fellowship’, young women have been able to pursue higher education and professional aspirations.These initiatives have not only improved access to education but have also empowered students with the necessary skills to succeed in their careers.
Q. What are some of the key challenges in bridging the education-employment gap, and how does Eaton India Foundation address them?
A. Bridging the education-employment gap remains a challenge due to limited access to quality education, inadequate exposure to professional environments, and a lack of soft skills training. Eaton India Foundation tackles these issues through dedicated skill development programs like ‘Garnishing Talent’ and ‘Changing Gears’ to prepare students with communication, personality development, and corporate readiness skills to navigate the professional world. Scholarship initiatives, including Pratibha, ensure that financial constraints do not prevent talented students from pursuing higher education. Corporate exposure and upskilling sessions introduce students to real-world business environments, helping them develop industry-relevant competencies. Programs like ‘College to Career’ by iTeach Schools help students complete their education and prepare for employment opportunities in various industries. By integrating education with hands-on training and mentorship, the foundation ensures students are better prepared to transition into meaningful careers. Long term programs like ‘Udayan Shalini Fellowship offers 5-year mentorship to build career competencies alongside completing their education. Organizations like Krushi Vikas offers skilling programs in animal husbandry, poultry and horticulture, which coupled with increased availability of water in the rural areas enable youth to pursue farming and livelihood opportunities within the village and prevent migration to cities in search of jobs.
Q. How do programs like the Ignited Innovators of India foster entrepreneurship and innovation among students? What measurable outcomes have you observed?
A. The Ignited Innovators of India (I2I) program fosters entrepreneurship by providing mentorship, resources, and a structured platform for students to develop innovative projects. Eaton professionals mentor students, offering guidance in refining ideas and turning them into viable solutions. The program encourages a problem-solving mindset and has engaged over 3,000 college students across Maharashtra, cultivating a culture of creativity and entrepreneurship. Some of the projects developed under I2I have been successfully implemented in local communities, addressing social and environmental challenges. The program has enabled young minds to develop sustainable solutions while also building critical thinking and leadership skills.
Q. What specific interventions have been most effective in creating sustainable livelihood opportunities for youth with disabilities?
A. The Eaton India Foundation, in collaboration with organizations like the Deaf Enabled Foundation and Sristi Foundation, has designed interventions that focus on skill development, inclusive employment, soft skills and awareness-building. Tailored training programs help differently abled individuals develop technical and vocational skills, enhancing their employability. The foundation works closely with businesses to create inclusive workplaces and facilitate job placements, ensuring long-term career opportunities for individuals with disabilities. Postplacement support to candidates and employer sensitization programs further addresses emerging challenges and promote workplace inclusivity. These efforts have successfully placed many differently abled individuals into sustainable career paths, empowering them with financial independence and social inclusion.
Q. How have programs like the Pratibha and Udayan Shalini Scholarships impacted young women’s educational and career aspirations?
A. Eaton’s partnership with ‘Udayan Shalini Fellowship’,provides young women from low-incomecommunities’financial assistance, mentorshipby industry volunteers, career guidance, self-awareness and management sessions to support career readiness alongside educational achievements.
The Pratibha scholarships for young women engineering students offers scholarship to meritorious students. These initiatives have enabled female students to pursue higher education, removing societal barriers that often limit their aspirations. The programs have also encouraged women to take on leadership roles within their communities and workplaces, inspiring future generations of female students to aim higher. Many beneficiaries have successfully transitioned into professional careers, becoming role models in their respective fields.
Q. How does the foundation integrate sustainability into its CSR projects and are there any new green initiatives on the horizon?
A. Environmental sustainability is a key priority for the Eaton India Foundation, and its CSR projects incorporate various eco-friendly initiatives. The foundation actively engages in tree plantation drives, dam desilting, seed bombing activities, and river clean-up programs, promoting environmental conservation across different regions. Going ahead, the foundation is planning to expand the impact of its green initiatives to new drought prone villages. Through these initiatives, the foundation continues to contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.
Q. How does the foundation leverage technology and digital tools to enhance the effectiveness of its CSR programs?
A. As a technology-driven organization, Eaton integrates digital solutions into its CSR initiatives to enhance learning outcomes and improve program efficiency. The foundation has promotedcomputer literacy in the education programs targeted towards underprivileged students, enabling them to learn beyond traditional classroom settings. Data analytics and digital tools are used to track program impact, measure effectiveness, and optimize future initiatives. Additionally, technology-driven skill development programs provide students, including differently abled students, with IT and digital literacy training, ensuring they are well-equipped for modern workplaces. By leveraging technology, the foundation ensures its CSR initiatives remain scalable, data-driven, and impactful.
Q. How does the foundation measure the long-term impact of its CSR interventions? What key learnings have emerged?
A. Program reviews with program implementing partners is an ongoing element of our programs. These reviews incorporate the vision, strategies, outcomes, and emerging learnings of programs that informs future program design. Insights from field visits and analysis of quarterly reports, beneficiary testimonials and quantitative data from project partners inform future strategy building.Stakeholder feedback from students, educators, and corporate partners is collected to gain insights into program outcomes and areas for improvement. Key learnings from these assessments highlight the importance of sustained engagement, structured mentorship, and adaptive strategies that evolve with changing societal needs.
Q. How does the foundation encourage and sustain employee volunteering? What role does corporate engagement play in amplifying social impact?
A. Employee volunteering is a fundamental aspect of Eaton’s CSR strategy, and the foundation actively encourages participation through structured initiatives. Nearly 1500 Eaton employees contributed 7000 hours of volunteering in 2025, which was a 25% increase from the previous year. Employees engage in activities such as blood donation, tree plantation, river cleaning, fund raising, teaching students, and mentorship programs, directly impacting the communities around them. Eaton provides flexibility at work for volunteering, allowing them to contribute to CSR activities. To sustain engagement, the company recognizes and celebrates employee contributions to community service, reinforcing a culture of giving back. Corporate engagement plays a crucial role in amplifying social impact by leveraging Eaton’s resources, expertise, and network to drive large-scale, sustainable change.
Q. What are the foundation’s key priorities for the medium term, and how do you envision scaling its impact across India?
A. In the coming years, the Eaton India Foundation aims to deepenits reach and impact across key focus areas. Strengthening education initiatives remains a top priority, with plans to support more students through scholarships, and mentorship programs. Empowering larger number of disabled youths through our existing partners is another goal. Our programs to support vulnerable students till their high school education will be expanded till they are completing vocational or education programs. This is to ensure that the students complete their education and can get into sustainable livelihoods.
Sustainability efforts will be further enhanced, with tree plantation projects, and environmental awareness campaigns. By forging stronger partnerships with NGOs, educational institutions, and corporate allies, the foundation seeks to amplify its impact and create lasting, meaningful change across India.
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