Punjab National Bank (PNB) is not only one of India’s premier public sector banks in terms of business but is also raising the bar when it comes to its social initiatives. In this interview with TheCSRUniverse, Mr. Sanjay Varshneya, the Chief General Manager of the Corporate Communication Division at PNB shares their guiding vision for its social programs, the alignment of these initiatives with the bank’s core values, and the significant contributions made towards sustainable development. He provides insights into PNB’s primary focus areas, resource allocation strategies, flagship projects, key partnerships, and innovative approaches in CSR.
One of the highlights is the PNB Palaash campaign, a flagship sustainability project that includes mass tree planting, staff awareness initiatives, and the promotion of eco-friendly practices. Additionally, we delve into other significant initiatives such as the PNB Farmers' Training Centres, which provide essential agricultural and entrepreneurial training, and the Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs), which empower rural populations through skill development. Another notable project is PNB Prerna, which supports various social investments and green initiatives, further illustrating PNB’s dedication to comprehensive community upliftment.
Join us as we delve into the efforts and challenges of PNB’s journey in driving positive societal change and fostering community development:
Q. Please shed some light on Punjab National Bank’s guiding vision for its social initiatives and how does it align with the bank's core values?
A. As one of the nation's leading public sector banks and as a socially responsible corporate entity, Punjab National Bank (PNB) is aware of the economic, environmental, social, and governance (ESG) responsibilities which are inherent to the nature of its business. This is why corporate social responsibility (CSR) forms an integral part of the Bank’s business strategy and all initiatives are designed to be economically, environmentally, and socially sustainable.
Our guiding vision for the Bank’s social initiatives is deeply rooted in the principle of "Giving back to the society." This vision is more than just a statement; it is a commitment that reflects the Bank’s dedication to driving positive change and fostering societal development.
Under the able leadership of the PNB Board of Directors, we are committed to driving inclusive and sustainable growth by supporting the communities in which we operate. Our early efforts in integrating sustainability into our business goals have helped us nurture relationships, grow responsibly, and strengthen ties with all our stakeholders, including local communities, customers, employees, shareholders, investors, and society as a whole.
In the short term, we remain committed to balancing business priorities and financial inclusion while delivering value to those at the bottom of the social pyramid; and in the long term, we strive to make our business and ecosystem sustainable for future generations.
Q. What are the primary focus areas that PNB is currently focusing its CSR efforts on? Also, what parameters are used to allocate resources among these focus areas and projects?
A. Our CSR efforts are in alignment with Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus areas includeSustainability, Corporate Volunteering, Social Investments, Health, Green Initiatives, Sports, Education, and other CSR Initiatives through PNB Prerna.
To ensure the Bank’s CSR efforts are impactful and sustainable, we use several parameters to allocate resources among these focus areas and projects such as impact assessment of the community and the programme, stakeholder priorities/community needs, feasibility and scalability of the programme, alignment with national goals, employee engagement, among others.
Resource allocation among these focus areas and projects arealso determined by the priorities set by the PNB Board. A dedicated CSR team at PNB's head office coordinates with Zonal and Circle Noble Officers to plan and implement CSR activities across the country. With 22 zones and 138 circles, PNB aims to ensure comprehensive coverage and meaningful impact through its CSR efforts across India.
Additionally, PNB PRERNA, an association comprising of senior women officials of the Bank and the wives of senior Bank officials, have been voluntarily involved in advancing the Bank's CSR efforts.
Q. Could you take us through some of your flagship projects that are going on under each focus area?
A. One of the major flagship projects contributing to India’s goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2070 is the PNB Palaash campaign. This initiative focuses on embracing sustainability within the Bank’s operations and includes several key activities:
- Mass Tree Planting: All employees collectively participated in planting over 100,000 saplings in office and public spaces such as schools and parks.
- Paryavaran Sankalp: Over 90,000 employees took a digital pledge to protect the environment and make eco-friendly choices.
- Staff Awareness Initiatives: Various initiatives like digital podcasts, periodic online quizzes, and courses published on the Bank’s learning portal. Additionally, 116 training sessions were conducted at 14 training centres with over 12,000 participants.
- Digital Library: Introduced for the digital circulation of product and scheme booklets and magazines to conserve paper.
- Sustainable Materials: Replaced plastic folders and FD receipt covers with biodegradable alternatives for customers. Refillable glass bottles are used at executive meetings instead of single-use plastic.
- EV Charging Stations: Installed at the Head Office in Dwarka by General Service Administrative Division (GSAD)
- Recycling Initiatives: Organised a recycling camp for the collection and recycling of plastic waste by GSAD.
- Cycle Parking Zone: Created at the Head Office in Dwarka to motivate employees to use bicycles for short commutes.
- PNB Hockey Team is another flagship programme of the Bank that continues to be a significant initiative for promoting the national sport of the country and providing opportunities for the next generation of athletes to demonstrate their abilities.
Q. Who are PNB’s key partners in executing these social projects, and how do these partnerships enhance the effectiveness of your initiatives?
A. PNB collaborates with various NGOs at the Head Office, Zonal Office, and Circle Office levels to execute CSR projects aligned with the Bank’s focus areas. The Noble Officers provide updates on the specific needs in their regions, and accordingly, PNB partners with NGOs to address those requirements.
These partnerships enhance the effectiveness of PNB's initiatives by enabling the Bank to implement CSR projects in remote locations with full effectiveness, ensuring the empowerment and sustainable living of the communities. The selection of NGO partners is based on their expertise, track record, and alignment with PNB's CSR objectives, ensuring that the Bank's efforts are both strategic and impactful.
For example, PNB organised flood relief camps at several locations to assist flood-affected people in Delhi, provided relief camps in Manipur for internally displaced individuals during the Manipur riots, and distributed clothes to tribal students in Arunachal Pradesh during the winter. These initiatives have been successful due to the NGOs' deep local knowledge and ability to mobilise resources swiftly.Through these collaborations, PNB also ensures its CSR efforts reach those in need and have a meaningful impact.
Q. How does PNB collaborate with government agencies to further its social initiatives, and what are some successful examples of these collaborations?
A. PNB collaborates with government agencies to further its social initiatives, making significant contributions through various programmes such as Farmers Training Centres, Rural Self Employment & Training Institutes, Financial Literacy & Credit Counselling Centres, PNB Prerna, and more. These initiatives are aimed at helping underprivileged communities overcome unemployment and poverty and shape their future through education and skill development programmes, which are regarded as social investments.
- Farmers’ Training Centres (FTCs): PNB has established 12 Farmers’ Training Centres under the PNB Farmers Welfare Trust. These centres provide free training on agriculture and allied activities, computers, tailoring/embroidery, and other entrepreneurship development programmes. As of 31 March 2024, FTCs have imparted training to 1,828,024 individuals through 61,555 training programmes. Additionally, these centres are equipped with mobile vans offering soil testing facilities and audio-visual displays of informative video clips for farmers.
- Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs): PNB operates 76 RSETIs (under the aegis of the Ministry of Rural Development) and 2 Rural Development Centres (PNB initiatives) across India, providing skill upgradation training to rural populations for self-employment ventures. In FY24, 60,721 individuals were trained at these centres, including 47,911 from BPL families and 47,899 women. Since its inception, RSETIs has trained 604,793 individuals, of which 404,491 were women, 190,592 were from SC categories, and 36,568 were from ST categories. Notably, 393,989 individuals have become self-employed after receiving training from these institutions.
- PNB Vikas Yojana: Under the PNB Vikas Yojana scheme, the bank has adopted 305 villages for holistic development through various welfare and developmental activities.
Through these collaborations with government agencies, PNB effectively implements its social initiatives, significantly impacting the lives of individuals and communities across the country.
Q. How do you assess the impact of such large-scale initiatives- could you provide some examples of measurable outcomes or success stories?
A. To assess the impact of our large-scale initiatives, PNB employs several methodologies, including quantitative metrics, beneficiary feedback, and regular impact assessments. This systematic approach ensures our initiatives deliver measurable and meaningful outcomes.
One of our notable large-scale initiatives is PNB Palaash which has garnered significant recognition in the industry. For this campaign, we were awarded the Green Ribbons Champions Award by Network 18 media house and the 23rd Annual Greentech Environment Award 2023 by Greentech Foundation. Building on the success of PNB Palaash, we launched PNB Palaash 2.0 this year to intensify our efforts towards sustainability.
Q. How does PNB engage with local communities to identify their needs and empower them to take ownership along the process?
A. Empowering communities starts with understanding their needs and working hand-in-hand to foster development from within. At PNB, we apply this principle through a structured approach involving our dedicated teams at Head Office, Circle Offices, and Zonal Offices. Additionally, PNB has over 10,000+ branches, creating a vast network that allows us to reach rural areas effectively. This helps in understanding and addressing the specific needs of local areas, ensuring that our initiatives are both relevant and impactful.
For example, when a school in a remote village lacks essential facilities, our Zonal and Circle Offices step in to identify these needs. By leveraging local insights, we can provide targeted support, including infrastructural improvements and necessary resources, to enhance the educational environment.
This approach not only ensures the effectiveness of our CSR efforts but also empowers local communities to take ownership of their development. We are committed to working closely with community leaders and stakeholders to create sustainable and meaningful impact.Through these engagements, PNB strives to drive positive change, build stronger communities, and promote long-term sustainability.
Q. In what ways is PNB incorporating innovative approaches or technologies in its social responsibility efforts, and how do these innovations contribute to more effective outcomes?
A. PNB is committed to incorporating innovative approaches and technologies into its social responsibility efforts to enhance effectiveness and drive positive outcomes. Key innovations include:
- PNB Palaash Deposit: Funds from this deposit are exclusively invested in green projects, supporting sustainable development and environmental initiatives.
- PNB Palaash Debit Card: This new debit card is made from recycled PVC plastic (rPVC), promoting recycling and reducing plastic waste.
- PNB One App: The launch of the PNB One App encourages digital banking and reduces paper usage. The app features cardless withdrawals, online loans, fund transfers, and investment options, facilitating a more efficient and environment-friendly banking experience.
- Promotion of Electric Vehicles: To support green transportation, PNB offers electric vehicle loans at reduced interest rates compared to traditional vehicle loans, encouraging the adoption of eco-friendly vehicles.
- PNB Vikas Yojana: Under this initiative, solar streetlights have been established in adopted villages, promoting solar energy and improving infrastructure in rural areas.
To evaluate the effectiveness of our CSR initiatives, we conduct annual impact analyses. This assessment helps us measure the outcomes of our projects and refine our focus areas for future efforts.
Q. What are some of the most persistent challenges that you have come across in your social endeavours and what learnings emerged while navigating them?
A. Some of the most persistent challenges we have encountered in our social endeavours include implementing activities at the ground level in remote and tribal areas where resources and NGOs are limited.
In many remote areas, basic infrastructure such as roads, electricity, and internet connectivity are lacking, making it difficult to execute projects efficiently. To navigate this, PNB has relied on its local branches and partnered with local government authorities to facilitate infrastructure improvements where possible.The Branch Heads in these remote locations also play a vital role in successfully implementing activities, leveraging their local knowledge and connections.
Another significant challenge is ensuring that the needs of diverse communities are accurately understood and addressed. We have learned that continuous engagement with local communities and regular feedback mechanisms are essential to tailor our initiatives effectively.
Through these experiences, PNB has learned the importance of adaptability, local engagement, and continuous evaluation. By addressing these challenges head-on and learning from each experience, PNB strives to make its social initiatives more effective and sustainable, ultimately driving positive change in the communities it serves.
Q. How do you see PNB's social initiatives evolving from here in terms of scale, focus and/or approach?
A. PNB’s social initiatives will expand in scale, focus, and approach, aiming for greater impact in healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and sustainable energy. Some of the initiatives include:
- Healthcare and Education Infrastructure: PNB will enhance healthcare and education by improving medical facilities, providing essential equipment, and supporting schools, especially in rural areas. This aims to make quality healthcare and education accessible to all.
- Women’s Empowerment: Empowering women is key to our CSR strategy. We provide scholarships to girls in rural villages and run women skilling programs in our Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). We aim to expand these efforts, offering more scholarships and support to help women achieve their full potential.
- Sustainable Energy and Green Vehicles: PNB is committed to sustainability. We will expand support for solar energy projects, including solar streetlights and home solar panels, and promote electric vehicles by offering competitive loan rates. These efforts aim to reduce our carbon footprint and promote a cleaner environment.
- Promoting Sports: We plan to expand our support for sports by training more players in our hockey academy. This will nurture talent, promote physical fitness, and encourage teamwork and perseverance among young athletes.
- Innovative Approaches and Technologies: We will continue using new approaches and technologies, such as digital platforms for outreach and impact analysis for better decision-making, to make our initiatives more effective.
- Scaling Up and Expanding Reach: We will focus on reaching more communities across India, using our network of over 10,000+ branches to identify and address the unique needs of different regions. This growth will involve local engagement and capacity building, helping communities take ownership of their development.
In summary, PNB’s social initiatives will evolve with a greater emphasis on healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, and sustainability. By scaling up our efforts and using innovative approaches, we are committed to creating a lasting positive impact on the communities we serve.
