Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited (Chola), the financial services arm of the Murugappa Group, is steadfast in its commitment to prioritize the welfare of over 500 villagers in Cuttack District. Through the CSR project 'Swaccha Odisha Gram Vikas Phase VI,' Chola addresses challenges in areas like Ekdal, HarijanSahi, and Bhaliadihi villages, focusing on limited access to basic infrastructure and services. This initiative aims to enhance health and sanitation facilities, offering significant benefits to the local community.
The project involves the construction of individual household toilets connected to overhead water tanks, ensuring improved sanitation and water supply. Additionally, solar panels will be installed to power borewells and provide electricity to each house, addressing the issue of continuous power cuts in the region. The commitment aligns with promoting sustainable living environments and fostering awareness on safe drinking water, sanitation, and health in remote areas. To complement the infrastructure development, Chola Finance conducts awareness sessions on safety, hygiene, and healthy toilet practices, along with training programs on minimal repair and maintenance of solar units, ensuring the smooth operation of the water supply system and promoting sustainable livelihoods.
In an interview conducted by TheCSRUniverse, Mr. Ravindra Kundu, Executive Director, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited, sheds light on various aspects of the project, including its mission, impact on the well-being of villagers, sustainability measures, and Chola's role in contributing to India's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Scroll down to read the full interview.
Q&A
Q.What is the overarching mission and objective of the "Swaccha Odisha Gram Vikas Phase VI" initiative undertaken by Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company Limited in Cuttack? Which key areas does this initiative focus on?
A. As the name itself suggests, the mission and objective of the programme is to not only build capacity of the people in the use of safe drinking Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) but also to provide the required infrastructure needed for the people to follow and benefit.
Q. Can you elaborate on the specific needs that prompted the initiation of this project in the communities of Ekdala, HarijanSahi, and Bhaliadihi? How does the initiative align with Chola’s broader commitment to sustainable living environments?
A. As has been evident for millennia, water is the source of life and sustainability. Thus, by providing sufficient water resources and infrastructure to the villagers of the villages mentioned, a purpose of sustainable providing is being served.
Q. What impact does the construction of individual household toilets and the installation of solar panels have on the health and well-being of the villagers?
A. The first impact is reducing open defecation that leads to safety and improving health. Installing solar panels serve the dual purposes of ensuring reliable power supply at all times, reducing the power expenses and providing green energy. The power also improves attendance in schools because adolescents need not waste their time in fetching and ferrying water from a distant place or wait till the power comes and with it the much-required water. Similarly, the people need not lose their livelihood time by waiting for power
Q. While providing basic infrastructure is crucial, how does Chola's project address ingrained societal behaviours surrounding sanitation and hygiene?
A. Before extending interventions, Chola always insists on a need assessment. While assessing the needs, Chola’s Implementing Partnering Agencies (In this case WEE) addresses the villagers, and impart the knowledge on the what, why and how, of the intervention, it’s purpose and the adherence from the people is sought! Post intervention, village water and sanitation committees are formed with villagers as bearers who will be empowered to address and monitor the societal behaviours.
Q. How is the project designed to ensure long-term maintenance and prevent over-reliance on external support? Has the community been involved in the planning and implementation?
A. Most of the project components are planned and designed to be sustainable and self-governed by the village committees, so that, once the inauguration of a particular project intervention takes place, the entire intervention in a particular village is taken care by the village committee.
Chola however, periodically monitors the projects through its Intensive Implementing Monitoring and Programme (IIMP) and an end-of-the-project assessment, evaluation and learning study.
Q. Are there plans to foster local entrepreneurship around solar energy and sanitation management in the future?
A. Chola is not averse to such fostering of local entrepreneurship. However, product quality, sustainability and service as per conditions and standards laid down by law would be important criteria to be considered, before such plans/decisions are made.
Q. Is Chola partnering with other organizations or government agencies to amplify the project's reach and sustainability, especially in regions facing infrastructure challenges? Please elaborate.
A. At this point Chola has not done it yet. However, if any government agencies approach us, we may consider the same on merits.
Q. How does Chola Finance plan to measure the success and effectiveness of its initiatives in Odisha, particularly in terms of improving sanitation, water supply, and overall community well-being?
A. Standard health indicators and the six evaluation criteria of Relevance, Coherence, Effectiveness, Efficiency, Impact and Sustainability, recommended by The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development-Development Assistance Committee (OECD_DAC Criteria) are rigourously applied, to ensure a structured and as near as possible scientific measurement of the intervention/programme/project.
Q. Beyond Cuttack, are there plans to replicate this model in other remote areas facing similar challenges? What are the key factors in choosing future project locations?
A. Chola believes in supporting where necessary and to the extent possible. Need has always been a determining factor. Thus, if we have budgets and a need exists, Chola may consider other areas beyond Cuttack too.
Q. Could you shed light on the role of Chola's CSR projects in contributing to India's Sustainable Development Goals, and how this aligns with the company's vision for nation-building?
A. Chola’s efforts, even before CSR was mandated in 2014, have been towards helping the people in the society to “Enter a Better Life” and thus build a nation of people of strength. In line with that, all Chola’s interventions converge with 17 of the 17 sustainable Development Goals, mostly directly and some indirectly.
