Havells India spent over Rs 20 crore on CSR activities in the year 2019-20. The company has been focussing on sustainable CSR projects especially focussed on ‘development and well-being of children’.
In this interview with TheCSRUniverse, Anil Sharma, Vice-President and CSR Head of the FMEG (Fast moving electrical goods) and consumer durable company shares the evolution of CSR activities at Havells over last one-and-a-half decade.
Sharma, who also heads company’s Corporate Communication wing, elaborates the COVID relief measures that company took amid the challenges COVID scenario. He also shares his suggestions towards making CSR implementation more effective and speaks on collaboration among corporates to amplify the CSR impact.
Interview Highlights
- Challenge:Due to COVID, our projects like mid-day meal, building of bio-toilets, distribution of re-usable sanitary pads to girls have been halted completely.
- CSR Budget: Havells CSR budget for Financial Year 2020-21 is Rs 20.97 Crore
- CSR policy suggestion: Government needs to step up efforts in sensitizing MSMEs towards spending on CSR
- Suggestion for CSR colleagues:Long-term CSR approach, Projects should be backed by proper research, Knowledge sharing among peers
Scroll down to read full interview.
Interview with Anil Sharma, Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications, CSR and Sustainability
Q: What has been the impact of COVID pandemic on your CSR implementation?
A: Most of our CSR initiatives are directed towards the growth and well-being of children and hence schools are the epicentre of our CSR initiatives. Since beginning of the academic year, all schools are closed due to COVID-19, our efforts have also been impacted. Projects like mid-day meal, building of bio-toilets, distribution of re-usable sanitary pads to girls have been halted completely. Unavailability of manpower also impacted some other projects.
Q: What relief measures did Havells take while adhering to the COVID protocols?
A: Due to pandemic our mid-day meal kitchen was closed. With the permission of district administration, we started cooking food and distributed to poor and needy. All necessary safety protocols issued by the central and state governments were implemented and adhered to, keeping in mind the safety of our cooks and support staff. Since then, we have supplied over 4 lakh meals to people in need.
Q: What is the budget outlay for your CSR activities in the financial year 2020-21?
A: Our CSR budget for Financial Year 2020-21 is Rs 20.97 Crore.
Q: How your company’s focus area for CSR has evolved over the last 4-5 years?
A: We have been doing CSR since 2005, long before it was made mandatory by the Government of India. Our focus areas had always been development and well-being of children and we have still maintained the same philosophy. We have expanded our focus area and have included other life stages of children as part of the CSR philosophy. Our eight pillars of CSR focus on different life stages of children:
- Health & nutrition – We provide hygienic and nutritious mid-day meal to 60000 school children across 693 schools in Alwar district of Rajasthan which infact is one of the prime reasons for them to come to school.
- Sanitation – We believe that WaSH (Water, Health and Sanitation) are critical for ensuring overall development of children and their families. Through our Sanitation initiative, we build bio-toilets and distribute re-usable sanitary napkins thereby keeping them healthy.
- Education – Along with the nutritious food and sanitation, we also provide tables and benches to government schools which helps making studies enjoyable for children. We have also partnered with couple of foundations to provide financial help to the needy students.
- Environment – With an aim to provide a clean environment to the society we plant over 5 lakh trees per year
- Skill development – Once the students passes out from school, we help them in enhancing their skills by providing support to ITIs in terms of infrastructure, lab equipment etc.
- Heritage conservation – We want the students to know and feel proud about our history, therefore we also help in conserving the rich heritage of India. Under this initiative, we are conserving 15th century monument Subz Burj in Delhi and also helping in constructing India’s first underground heritage museum beneath UNESCO world Heritage site- Humayun’s Tomb in Delhi.
- Healthcare – Under this, we provide complete medical aid to needy Thalassemic children
- Humanitarian causes – We as an organization have always stepped up during the time of national crisis and extend our support in all possible manner whether be it Kerala floods, Bihar floods, Tsunami, Kargil War etc.
Q: The CSR in India has evolved after it was made mandatory by Companies Act 2013. What are your thoughts on CSR laws in India?
A:The CSR law in India is gradually becoming stringent and has helped organisations become more responsible and transparent. Corporates are accountable for the CSR spends and their actual impact on the society. I believe government through its revised laws has put the onus on organisations to spend their CSR budget judiciously. At the same time, the government needs to step up efforts in sensitizing MSMEs towards spending on CSR, especially on areas that are critical to the growth of the nation and constantly monitoring its impact.
Q: What other changes can help corporates in being more effective in their CSR implementation?
A:The CSR law in India can become more business focused so that the organisations spending on CSR can also create a business case for themselves. This will provide them extra motivation to spend money in a better and responsible way.
Q: What is the CSR outlook for your company for the next 2-3 years?
A: Our philosophy is to undertake initiatives which are long term in nature that will have a lasting impact on the society. We will continue to expand on our current programs to more cities across the country. We intend to expand our mid-day meal kitchen, build more bio-toilets, provide re-usable sanitary pads to more and more girls and develop Skill Development centres for our youth to be more employable. We will also continue planting trees with an objective of providing livelihood to villagers, contribute in developing forests and also become wood and paper negative company.
Q: What are your suggestions and message to your corporate colleagues on building a strong CSR environment in the country?
A: My message would be:
- To do things passionately and with a long-term approach.
- We should have a clear mission and vision for the individual projects and it should be backed by proper research.
- Share learnings so that people could learn from each other experiences.
- Constantly measure the impact so as to refine projects as per emerging needs of the society
