A Study and Report on Corporate Social Responsibility

Energize Involve Enable

Submitted by:
BISWAJEET BHATTA
ROLLNO.-77
 TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Executive Summary

2. About ACF

3. Company Profile

4. Offices

5. Revenue Model

6. Balance Sheet

7. CSR Initiative by ACF, Roorkie

 Agro-Based Livelihood
 Comprehensive Healthcare
 Supporting Education
 Women Empowerment
 SEDI

8. Summary

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Executive Summary

Ambuja Cement Foundation(ACF) has completed 2 decades in “building capacity

within the community to take charge of its own development”. ACF has been
steadily expanding its reach, working with communities neighbouring Ambuja
Cements’ Plants in India, impacting the lives of millions of farmers, youth, women
and children.
The initiative towards community work and welfare began in a small way in
Ambujanagar. Since then ACF’s involvement with people, primarily farmers, has
spread across India, combining the best scientific inputs with sustainable practices
to reap profits. The Better Cotton Initiative for cotton-growing farmers in Punjab,
Maharashtra, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh, has helped reduce the use of
pesticides and raised yields and profits through sustainable methods.
The Krishi Vigyan Kendra at Kodinar is reaching out to hundreds of villages,
imparting training and practical demonstrations to farmers. New partnerships with
corporates and other organizations have added to the effectiveness of ACF’s Skill
and Entrepreneurship Development Institutes (SEDI), positively impacting the
lives and productivity of young men and women.
ACF ensures community participation and contribution in the programmes it
undertakes in order to enable individuals to become self-supporting and realize
their own potential. It also undertakes programmes on educating people on HIV
and AIDS, especially the young migrant population which is more susceptible to
the disease. Sanitation campaigns, health camps, blood donation camps form part
of its drive towards a healthier and happier community.
Sustainability – the focus of the organization – is promoted through the use of
agro-waste as an alternative fuel for Ambuja Cement Limited, thus helping to bring
down the company’s carbon footprint, helping farmers as well as the environment.
ACF undertakes groundwater –recharging initiatives in focus states like Gujarat,
Rajasthan, Uttarakhand by constructing reservoirs and channelizing rainwater to
canals and rivers so as to reduce wastage.
ACF incessantly strives to achieve its vision through its team of dedicated
members and change leaders across India.
Members of the Board include, among others:

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Mr. Suresh Neotia
Co-founder and Chairman Emiritus of Ambuja Cements Ltd, reputed industrialist,
social figure and a Padma Bhushan.
Mr. Narotam Sekhsaria
Founder of Ambuja Cements Ltd, and Chairman of Ambuja Cements and ACC.
Mr. B.L. Taparia
A Company Secretary and Corporate Sustainability Officer at Ambuja Cement Ltd.
Ms. Pearl Tiwari
A graduate from the prestigious Tata institute of Social Sciences and currently
Joint President (CSR) in Ambuja Cement Ltd., she has been associated with the
development sector in India over the past 25years.

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About the organization
Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF), established in 1993, is the social development
arm of Ambuja Cements Ltd., working exclusively with rural communities on
issues related to Water Resource Management, Agro & Skill-based Livelihood
Generation, Health, Education, Women’s Empowerment and Rural Infrastructure.
ACF’s community development work is based on its mission and underscores their
belief in communities and in their role as catalysts to bring in change. ACF
undertakes projects and schemes for promoting the social and economic
development for communities in and around the manufacturing locations of
Ambuja Cement Ltd. These development initiatives are in line with the needs of
people, in partnership with them and in close collaborations with likeminded
NGOs and the Government. A team of 426 dedicated professionals implement its
projects and programmes. ACF’s work currently extends to 21 locations in 12
states across India, reaching out to more than 15 lakh people through projects with
annual expenditure of Rs. 5330.30 lakhs.

Company Profile
ACF was formally registered in 1993 under section 25 of the Companies Act,1956
after two years of interaction and engagement with rural communities, with the
mission to "energise, involve and enable communities to realize their potential".
ACF takes its values from its parent company ACL and with its “I CAN” spirit,
aims at making people prosperous at the place they live.

Head Office
Ambuja Cement Foundation Head Office is at Mumbai, whereas Ambuja Cement
Limited Registered Office is located at Kolkata.

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Revenue Model
ACF is funded by Ambuja Cement Limited and also receives donations from like-
minded companies and institutions. The other sources of revenue generation are
community where they are working and also State Governments.

Assisted Project Funds:

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Balance Sheet as at 31st March, 2012

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 CSR INITIATIVES BY ACF,
ROORKEE

ACF works in 16 villages in the Bhagwanpur block of Haridwar district

of Uttarakhand. Our work focuses on agro based livelihoods, education
and health. As Mother NGO (MNGO) in Haridwar and the District
ASHA Resource Centre (DARC), ACF conducts regular training
sessions with the ASHAs. Our comprehensive healthcare intervention is
further supported by the sakhis. The SEDI at Roorkee has trained 259
youths in trades like welding, wiring, driving, computer hardware and
software and beauty treatment.

Agro-based Livelihood
Agriculture is one of the main livelihoods in Roorkee. Crops like
sugarcane, paddy, legumes, wheat, mustard and vegetables are grown in
the region. Despite heavy dependence on farming, most farming
methods bring in low yields. ACF’s work involves introducing
technologies that suit the region and building capacity among farmers
through regular training on scientific methods of farming.
Training, exposure visits, demonstrations and farmerscientistinteractions
are organised in partnership with the Pant Nagar Agricultural University,
KrishiVigyan Kendra, and the Agriculture Department of the
Government of Uttarakhand.

More than 330 farmers participated in training programmes organized by

ACF in 2012. Teams of farmers also visited Morarka Foundation,
Jaipur; IARI, New Delhi; and Centre for Bee Development, Wardha, to
understand organic farming, bee keeping, vegetable cultivation,
horticulture and animal husbandry. Expanding their farming activities,
farmers have begun to procure good quality seeds from theAgriculture

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Department to grow vegetables in their fields. They have begun the SRI
system of paddy cultivation, and reaped an increase of 30%-40% in
paddy production as compared to traditional farming. They were trained
before transplanting and followed upon after transplanting, during the
kharif season.

ACF promotes organic farming on more than 150 acres of land with the
participation of 136 farmers. In 2012, ACF helped facilitate a farmers’
meeting with Apof Organic Certification Agency (AOCA), Bengaluru.

AOCA registered the farmers after a 2ndinspection. Eighty farmers were

awarded 2nd year convergence certificates, and 56 were awarded 1st
year convergence certificates. ACF has also collected information on
buyers and sellers of organic produce and facilitates effective marketing.
A Federation of Organic Farmers has been established at the location to
sustain the programme.

Vermi-composting techniques are now used to create organic and farm

yard manure. This has improved the water retention capacity of the soil.
Twenty five NADEP pits have been constructed with support from the
Agriculture Department, to produce good quality manure. The manure is
used during both the rabi and kharif seasons and has resulted in
improvement in soil fertility. ACF also undertook plantation drives and
was able to plant more than 16000 trees. ACF also promotes
horticultural practices among farmers and homemakers, in collaboration
with the Horticulture Department. Our intervention includes
procurement of seeds; technical training to farmers before sowing, and
follow-up; anddemonstration of farming techniques for better crop
management. We also work closely with homemakers to set up kitchen
gardens to meet domestic needs and generate income.

During the year, ACF distributed 100 kitchen gardening kits procured
from the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of

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India (NAFED), that included seeds of seasonal vegetables. ACF
initiated 14 farmers’ clubs with support from NABARD, through which
members
receive training on modern cultivation techniques to ensure better
agricultural productivity. ACF has collaborated with the National Bee
Board and the Government of Uttarakhand to register beekeepers with
the Board for a period of three years. A revolving fund ofRs. 4 lakh
provided by ACF has helped farmers start a cooperative society for
collective marketing, and receive inputs through regular training. ACF
organised six health camps in collaboration with the Animal Husbandry
Department, in which more than 1800 cattle were vaccinated and
treated.

Comprehensive Healthcare
ACF functions as the MNGO and DARC for Haridwar district and
conducts training for ASHAs and ASHA facilitators. The Uttarakhand
Health and Family Welfare Society (UKHFWS) has selected ACF-
Roorkee
as a partner NGO to implement the ARSH-UDDAN programme in two
blocks of Haridwar district. The programme aims to increase access to
health information amongst adolescents. They are provided with life
skills and taught about anaemia and improved hygiene practices.

ACF’s 14 sakhis work in seven villages around Roorkee and provide

support during immunization camps, institutional deliveries, pulse polio
rounds, general health camps and sanitation drives. They also conduct
khelwadis for young children, imparting information on health and
hygiene. They work closely with the community to promote toilet
construction and sanitation in villages.

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ACF raises awareness about the Rashtriya Swasthya Bima Yojana
(RSBY) in Haridwar district. Health camps are organized and village
meetings conducted by the ASHA facilitators to promote this
government-run insurance scheme.
A grant of Rs.3 lakh was provided to ACF to lead this programme.
Project staff and activities for four FNGOs have been identified and
initiated to implement the programme in 30 villages of eight sub
centresin Bhagwanpur block. Our other activities include mobile
dispensary services in 16 villages, and mobile health camps service to 10
villages on a fortnightly basis. This year ACF organized 158 general
camps, where 6827 patients were treated. ACF also organized specialty
camps on gynaecology, ophthalmology andanaemia; and school health
camps for students of 11 schools. ACF supports the National Polio
Surveillance Project (NPSP) through its work in 104 polio booths in
27 high-risk villages of the Bhagwanpur Block. ACF also implements
the Composite Targeted Intervention Programme in Roorkee, funded by
the Uttarakhand State AIDS Control Society (UKSACS). The
programme targets 10000 male migrant workers; conducts awareness
sessions on HIV and AIDS; improves access to condoms; and provides
STI treatment referrals. In 2012 we reached out to 10000 workers
through individual discussions, group meetings and counselling sessions.
Three drop-in counselling centers were established. Sessions were also
held with drivers and cleaners from the large truckers’ group working in
and around the Bhagwanpur Industrial region. ACF works in partnership
with UKHFWS to reduce infant and maternal mortality rates.

Supporting Education
ACF runs NFE-cum-skill building centers in nine villages, reaching out
to 205 adolescent girls. These centers have been able to promote basic
reading and writing knowledge along with skills like embroidery,

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mehandi design, craft, cutting and tailoring. Forty-eight students from
these classes appeared for the standard VIII examination; another 68
students will appear for the standard V exam in the next academic year.
Sports kits have been provided to the schools situated in the project area.

Women Empowerment
To date, 54 self-help groups (SHGs) comprising 599 village women has
been established in the Bhagwanpur region. The SHGs are involved in
various income-generating activities like selling cosmetics, bangles,
groceries and spices.

SEDI
The ACF-run Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI)
is one of THE important livelihood intervention programmes for village
youth. Run in 14 different locations in 10 states of India, these institutes
build capacities of the youth; empowering them with skills to become
economically independent. The short, intensive courses in various trades
and soft skills are based on local demand. With a 74%
placement record, SEDIs facilitate the entry of a skilled workforce into
industry, creating a healthy employment rate in the rural areas.

SUMMARY
Our project was carried out under the supervision of Mr. Rajan Kapoor,
Programme Manager (Roorkie) with the help of other members like Mr.
Tajendra Singh, Mr. Rakhvinder Singh and others. The 5-day tour from
13th to 17th January, 2013 consisted of field trips, intensive learning and
interaction with farmers, sakhis, young participants of self-help groups,
volunteers, ACF employees and SEDI teachers and students. The tour
was concluded with an interaction and feedback session with ACF
Programme Manager and ACL Finance Head and HR Manager.

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