India’s largest energy conglomerate NTPC spent a whopping Rs 305 Cr on different CSR activities. By doing so, it exceeded the prescribed CSR budget by more than 20%. It has been consistently exceeding its CSR target over the last 5 years.
In this interview with TheCSRUniverse, G Sridhar who is AGM (CSR) at NTPC speaks on the building blocks of the strong CSR culture at the Public Sector Unit. He also talks on various COVID relief initiatives that his CSR team took over the last few months. He also shares suggestions for implementation partners on corporates towards creating strong social impact through CSR activities.
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Interview Highlights:
- The true intent of the CSR laws is that the issues facing the country should challenge Corporates to think in new and innovative ways. Corporates should come up with transformative solutions, which after successful implementation at one location, can be scaled up.
- On CSR Law: Without pushing companies towards mere compliance, the law should be designed to encourage bringing about the needed change in society.
- NGOs themselves should develop an accreditation system, which will help corporates choose the right partners for their CSR work.
- Businesses can start by integrating social and environmental considerations into the real work of business: supply chains, manufacturing processes and distribution channels.
- NTPC is mandated to spend Rs 278.57 Crore in FY 2020-21.
Interview with G Sridhar, AGM (CSR), NTPC
Q: NTPC has been among the companies leading CSR activities in India. It, in fact, exceeded the mandatory CSR limit by more than 20%. What is the CSR driving force at NTPC?
A: NTPC believes that business should add value to the community and society on a sustainable basis through dedicated policies, institutional setup and engagement process that will expand opportunities for and protect the poorest and the most vulnerable.
Despite the slowing down in the growth rate of the economy, India is still one of the fastest growing economies in the world. This growth has been accompanied by certain aberrations like social and economic inequity, lagging human development indicators, environmental degradation etc.
NTPC’s endeavour is sustainable socio-economic development, reduction in disparity and promotion of inclusive growth and makes the marginalized and downtrodden sections of the society a part of India’s growth story.
Adapting the Quote on Leadership by Eleanor Roosevelt (who was the longest serving First Lady of the United States of America), for NTPC a "Good CSR initiative is one which inspires people to have confidence in CSR. A great CSR initiative is one which inspires people to have confidence in them".
Q: What are your ongoing key CSR activities?
A: NTPC takes up CSR activities primarily in the villages in the vicinity of its power plants. These power plants are usually located in remote rural and backward areas. NTPC also takes up CSR activities anywhere in India based on Government priorities and strategic needs.
The marginalized and downtrodden sections of society not only battle poverty, unemployment and ill health but also poor social and civic infrastructure. Because of this, their ability to lead a life of dignity and safety is constantly challenged and compromised.
NTPC takes up the construction of a wide variety of rural infrastructure and activities in the areas of education, health, skills development for livelihood improvement, women empowerment, water & sanitation amongst others to improve the quality of life and access to economic opportunities for the people living in the villages.
NTPC also supplements the Government of India’s efforts to maximise value for the intended beneficiaries and avoid duplication of effort.
Q: How has your CSR programme implementation been impacted due to COVID pandemic?
A: Most of the ongoing CSR initiatives had come to a standstill due to the nationwide lockdown. With the phased relaxation of lockdown norms, these initiatives are now being revived. However, NTPC has during this pandemic, taken up numerous initiatives for fighting the epidemic. For this a budget of over 12 Crore has been allocated for in the current year. This is in addition to the contributions made to the PM-Cares fund.
Q: What are the new measures and initiatives you are taking to continue your CSR activities while adhering to the COVID protocols?
A: During the pandemic period, NTPC has taken up a slew of initiatives to strengthen India’s war against the epidemic.
NTPC has contributed Rs 250 Crore to the PM-Cares fund to support the Government of India for combating, containment and relief efforts against the Coronavirus outbreak. NTPC’s employees also contributed one-day salary amounting to Rs 7.5 Crore to the PM-Cares fund.
We ran various awareness campaigns to dispel misinformation about the Coronavirus and promote preventive measures like frequent hand washing, wearing masks, social distancing etc. We also distributed grocery kits with essential food items to the rural poor and migrant labourers.
Over the last several years, NTPC has been conducting tailoring classes for women and distributing sewing machines to women completing the tailoring classes successfully. Facing a surge in demand for face masks amid the outbreak of COVID-19, NTPC encouraged these women to form self-help groups for stitching the face masks. The earnings from these is the source of livelihood for many rural families.
Further, to prepare for the surge in COVID-19 patients needing hospital care, NTPC has helped in the establishment of a 200 bed Covid Care Center at Sundergarh Medical College and a 120 bed COVID Care Center at Salandi Hospital.
Q: What is the budget outlay for your CSR activities in the financial year 2020-21?
A: As per provisions of the Companies Act, 2013, NTPC is mandated to spend Rs 278.57 Crore in FY 2020-21. NTPC has been consistently spending more than the mandated expenditure during the last 5 years.
Q: The CSR has fundamentally changed after the CSR was made mandatory by Companies Act 2013. What are your thoughts on CSR laws in India?
A: India faces a myriad of social, economic and environmental challenges, beyond the capacity for governments alone to address. The true intent of the CSR laws is that the issues facing the country should challenge Corporates to think in new and innovative ways.
Corporates should come up with transformative solutions, which after successful implementation at one location, can be scaled up.
Q: What can be the changes in the current CSR law/ provisions that can help corporates in being more productive and effective in implementation of their CSR activities?
A: The current law encourages companies to focus on meeting the mandatory spending requirement to the exclusion of incorporating social impact into CSR projects.
Without pushing companies towards mere compliance, the law should be designed to encourage bringing about the needed change in society.
Q: What are your expectations from your CSR implementation agencies/ partners in today’s changing scenario?
A: CSR and NGOs go hand-in-hand. That said, NGOs continue to struggle to make such concepts as "community participation" and "local empowerment" a reality in their interventions.
NGOs themselves should develop an accreditation system, which will help corporates choose the right partners for their CSR work.
Q: What are your suggestions and message to your corporate colleagues on building a strong CSR environment in the country?
A: Employees should be made aware that CSR is not just about ‘doing good’. The most successful CSR initiatives tell a company’s story, implement stakeholder feedback, and position a company as a leader on social issues.
Volunteering provides employees the opportunity for personal discovery and reflection and to develop leadership competencies. Volunteers go back to their companies as stronger leaders who can drive change.
The world is now facing some of the most daunting challenges ever encountered: climate change, poverty, hunger, water scarcity, income inequality, lack of healthcare, inadequate sanitation etc. which are threatening the stability and even long-term habitability of earth.
According to "Global Justice Now" 157 of top 200 economic entities by revenue are corporations not countries. No wonder, society is increasingly holding big businesses accountable as the only institutions strong enough to meet the huge long-term challenges facing our planet.
Given the scale of the societal challenges around the world, it is increasingly difficult for business to ignore its obligation to participate meaningfully in advancing solutions to global problems. Businesses can start by integrating social and environmental considerations into the real work of business: supply chains, manufacturing processes and distribution channels.
By taking a networked approach to global problem solving, businesses have a significant role to play and can make vital contributions to designing our collective future.
