CSR Dashboard

Category: Education

  • Aries Agro CSR initiatives empower rural girls, disabled Indians with tech

    Aries Agro CSR initiatives empower rural girls, disabled Indians with tech

    Aries Agro Limited, a specialty plant nutrition company, said on Sunday it is expanding its Aries Agro CSR initiatives in 2026 through two technology-driven programmes designed to empower underserved communities in education and healthcare.

    The company said the initiatives would directly reach more than 2,000 rural students, 55 visually impaired individuals and 90 upper-limb amputees across India, combining digital infrastructure, assistive devices and rehabilitation support.

    Rural Education Push

    Under the first programme, Aries Agro is setting up computer labs with laptops across eight rural schools in Rajasthan where digital access previously did not exist. Working with IndiVillage Foundation, the company said the initiative will empower 600 girls aged 6 to 16 with training in coding, artificial intelligence, software design and game development, while 1,500 additional students will receive foundational digital literacy training.

    Company officials said the goal is to close the rural digital and gender divide and build workforce-ready skills among young girls in technology fields.

    Assistive Technology for Disabled

    The second programme, according to the company, will empower 55 visually impaired college students and professionals in Lucknow and Ahmedabad with AI-powered smart glasses that convert printed text to audio in 20 languages and support object, currency and sign recognition.

    Separately, Aries Agro is distributing electronically functional prosthetic hands, capable of lifting up to 10 kg, to 90 farmers and daily wage workers in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Maharashtra who lost limbs in workplace accidents. The programme includes physiotherapy and counselling to help beneficiaries adapt long-term.

    Key partners include Dr. Shakuntala Misra National Rehabilitation University in Lucknow, Torchit Foundation and Inali Foundation, the company said.

    Aries Agro said its broader CSR strategy aims to build lasting capability and infrastructure rather than provide one-time assistance, reinforcing its Aries Agro CSR initiatives as a long-term model for inclusive development.

  • Sportz Village Foundation launches #SportForChange campaign to engage a million girls

    Sportz Village Foundation launches #SportForChange campaign to engage a million girls

    Sportz Village Foundation, the nonprofit arm of Sportz Village, India’s leading sports education organisation, on Thursday convened the #SportForChange Roundtable in Bengaluru under the theme “Truly Grassroots Global – Building a Global Coalition for India’s #SportForChange Movement.”

    The roundtable was organised with ISCA (International Sport and Culture Association) as knowledge partner and The International Platform on Sport and Development (sportanddev) as global communications partner. It brought together global and Indian voices to discuss how grassroots sport can tackle youth physical inactivity and drive development outcomes for children.

    Among those present were Mogens Kirkeby, President, ISCA, and Parminder Gill, Co-founder & Head of Foundation, Sportz Village, along with dignitaries and representatives from India’s corporate, state and development sectors.

    The discussions at the #SportForChange roundtable centred on finding actionable ways for state bodies, CSR leaders, foundations and sports organisations to come together and build sustainable, accessible sports ecosystems at the grassroots level.

    While participants acknowledged that medal-focused programmes remain important, they noted that grassroots sport’s real impact lies in scale — through improved health, education and inclusion outcomes for children. The conversation gained urgency in the context of a global physical inactivity crisis among young people, with India’s youthful population seen as a major opportunity to demonstrate impact at scale.

    A major highlight of the event was the launch of the ‘Girls in Sport’ campaign, a joint initiative between Sportz Village Foundation and ISCA aimed at advancing gender equity and widening opportunities for girls to take part in sport across the country. The campaign aims to engage over one million girls in sport over the next five years.

    The roundtable also saw an exchange of global knowledge and best practices in grassroots and community sport, with a focus on adapting international models to India’s local context.

    Speaking at the event, Mr. Parminder Gill, Co-founder & Head of Foundation, Sportz Village, said, “Medals are an important measure of sporting excellence, but the foundation for those achievements is built much earlier, at the grassroots level. By giving children access to quality physical education, exposure to different sports and the right opportunities to develop their potential, we can create a stronger pipeline of athletes while also ensuring that sport contributes to their overall development. With India’s young population, expanding these opportunities, particularly for girls, can help build a more inclusive and sustainable sporting ecosystem.”

    Mogens Kirkeby, President, ISCA, said, “Physical inactivity among young people is a global challenge, and movement through sport is one of the most accessible solutions we have. India, with its young population, is positioned to demonstrate what that looks like at scale. Bringing global experience into this conversation lets us exchange what’s working across countries and adapt it to India’s context — that kind of collaboration is how grassroots sport moves from isolated efforts to real, lasting impact.”

    As India strengthens its presence in the global Sport for Change movement, initiatives like the #SportForChange roundtable and the Girls in Sport campaign underline a shared commitment to using sport as a tool for lasting change in the lives of children.

  • SOS Children’s villages launches mobile digital learning bus

    SOS Children’s villages launches mobile digital learning bus

    SOS Children’s Villages India has launched its second Mobile Digital Learning Centre in the capital, in partnership with Informa Exhibitions India Pvt Ltd, part of Informa Markets in India, as part of efforts to expand digital literacy in underserved neighbourhoods.

    Children from a vulnerable community in North-West Delhi boarded the bus, fitted with desktops and a projector screen, at the inauguration of the new Mobile Digital Learning Centre.

    The initiative currently operates in three cities — Delhi, Pune and Raipur — reaching more than 800 beneficiaries, including 152 children. With the new centre, Delhi alone is targeting over 800 additional beneficiaries in the coming year.

    The Mobile Digital Learning Centre programme provides free digital skills training, job-readiness support and confidence-building for youth and women from marginalised communities.

    “Digital inclusion is a necessity for education, employability, and social mobility,” said Sumanta Kar, CEO of SOS Children’s Villages India.

    “Through our Mobile Digital Learning Centres, we are taking technology directly to their neighbourhoods, ensuring that learning is not limited by geography or economic circumstances.”

    Yogesh Mudras, Managing Director of Informa Markets in India, said the company’s continued partnership with SOS Children’s Villages India was helping expand access to digital learning and future-ready skills for children from vulnerable communities.

    North-West Delhi was selected for the second Mobile Digital Learning Centre as the area is home to a large share of the capital’s estimated 60,000 street children, spread across roughly three lakh slum households in 675 clusters.

    Officials said 45% of government school students in the area lack access to smartphones or stable internet, while 77% of youth in the area had no prior exposure to digital literacy.

    The centre offers training across five areas: digital literacy, cyber safety, financial literacy, life skills and certified assessments. In its first year, the programme helped five beneficiaries secure job placements, enabled eight children to re-enrol in school, and facilitated 28 scholarship links and 32 links to higher studies.

    The Mobile Digital Learning Centre initiative is part of a broader network run by SOS Children’s Villages India across seven states and eight cities, encompassing mobile units, standalone vocational training centres for ages 18-27, and after-school centres for ages 14-17. More than 2,610 young people participate in the programme annually.

  • Tata Chemicals launches school support programme in Gujarat

    Tata Chemicals launches school support programme in Gujarat

    Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD), the CSR arm of Tata Chemicals Limited, has launched a School Support Programme in Okhamandal in partnership with the Coastal Salinity Prevention Cell (CSPC), to address teacher shortages in government schools and strengthen education quality across the block.

    While the Right to Education (RTE) Act mandates quality education for children from Classes 1 to 8, several government schools in Okhamandal require additional academic support to ensure continuity in classroom learning. To bridge this gap, TCSRD and CSPC have recruited and trained 120 local education volunteers who will provide academic support across primary and secondary schools.

    The School Support Programme includes:

    • 40 Primary School Volunteers to support government primary schools facing teacher shortages
    • 44 Remedial Education Volunteers to strengthen foundational literacy and numeracy
    • 16 High School Educators to provide Mathematics and Science support for Classes 9 and 10
    • 13 Re-enrolment and NIOS Instructors to help out-of-school children and youth continue their education through the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS)
    • 7 Academic Enhancement Educators to strengthen the overall learning environment across villages

    The programme was formally launched on August 4, 2026, at Sabras Bhavan, Mithapur, in the presence of Pabubha Virambha Manek, Member of the Legislative Assembly, Devbhumi Dwarka; Madhuben Bhatt, District Primary Education Officer; R. V. Odedra, Taluka Development Officer, Devbhumi Dwarka; Bharatbhai Karmata, Vice President, Dwarka Taluka Panchayat; Bhurabha Jadiya, Block Resource Centre Coordinator; Aashaben Parmar, Taluka Education Coordinator; and Rino Raj, Vice President Manufacturing, India, Tata Chemicals Ltd.

    “At Tata Chemicals, we believe quality education is fundamental to long-term community development. Through this partnership, we aim to ensure that students continue to receive uninterrupted learning support while creating opportunities for local youth to contribute to the education ecosystem,” Raj said, adding that the initiative is expected to strengthen schools and encourage more children to stay connected with education.

    The School Support Programme reflects TCSRD’s continued focus on improving access to quality education through collaborative, community-led interventions, the company said, adding that the initiative aims to build a stronger learning ecosystem for children across Okhamandal by working closely with local institutions and government schools.

    CSPC is a specialized resource organization focused on mitigating coastal salinity, supporting land and water resource management, and enhancing rural livelihoods across coastal Gujarat.

    TCSRD is the social development arm of Tata Chemicals, working on livelihoods, women’s empowerment, education, healthcare and sustainability to build resilient rural communities across India.

    Tata Chemicals Limited, part of the over USD 180 billion Tata Group, is a leading supplier to the glass, detergent, industrial and chemical sectors, with a strong position in crop protection through subsidiary Rallis India Limited.

  • HCLFoundation’s Sports for Change National Finals empower 600 athletes

    HCLFoundation’s Sports for Change National Finals empower 600 athletes

    HCLFoundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCLTech, on Tuesday said it hosted the eighth edition of the Sports for Change National Finals 2026 at Gautam Buddha University, bringing together 600 young athletes from 15 states over three days.

    The Sports for Change National Finals empower grassroots talent by giving underserved children a platform to compete at the national level, the foundation said in a statement.

    The three-day event featured 300 boys and 300 girls who had qualified through district, state and zonal competitions in football, kabaddi, volleyball, kho kho, archery, badminton and table tennis.

    Participants represented states and union territories including Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim and Nagaland, the foundation said.

    “At HCLFoundation, we believe every child, regardless of their socio-economic background, deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and pursue their aspirations,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President, Global CSR at HCLTech and Director of HCLFoundation.

    “By nurturing grassroots talent and fostering an environment where young athletes are encouraged to dream bigger, build resilience and strive for excellence, we hope the National Finals inspire every participant to realize that their circumstances need not define their future.”

    The Sports for Change programme has reached more than 74,000 children and youth across India since inception, including 474 para-athletes, the foundation said.

    More than 12,000 young athletes took part in this year’s competitions, and over 30 sports scholarships covering coaching, equipment, nutrition and training access will be awarded to top performers.

    The initiative has enabled more than 490 athletes to advance to national-level competitions, with 38 going on to represent India internationally, the foundation said.

    Notable alumni include badminton player Jerlin Anika, sprinter Preeti Pal, rugby player Akshaya, powerlifter Rajkumari and chess player Kanishri.

    HCLFoundation said it has positively impacted more than 8.5 million lives to date through programmes focused on education, grassroots sports, health, sanitation, skill development, livelihood and environmental initiatives.

    HCLTech, its parent company, employs more than 223,000 people across 60 countries and reported consolidated revenues of USD 14.8 billion for the 12 months ended June 2026.

  • VISL skilling initiatives transform 1 lakh lives in India

    VISL skilling initiatives transform 1 lakh lives in India

    Vedanta Iron and Steel Limited (VISL) said on World Youth Skills Day that its skilling programmes have reached more than 100,000 people across India, as part of a broader push to build a future-ready workforce through technical education, digital learning, entrepreneurship and sports development.

    The VISL Skilling Initiatives, aligned with this year’s World Youth Skills Day theme of “Skills for a Shared Future,” span operations in Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha, the company said.

    In Goa, the Sesa Technical School has trained more than 2,100 youth over three decades with a near 100% placement record, the company said, adding that the programme places particular emphasis on encouraging girls to pursue technical training. In Bokaro, the Vedanta ESL Skill School has trained over 700 youth since 2022 in trades including solar photovoltaic installation and home appliance repair, with more than 400 placed in formal sector jobs.

    The company also operates 25 Vedanta Computer Centres and Computer Labs across Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, alongside learning hubs under Project AAS Vidyalaya in rural Jharkhand. Combined, the digital literacy initiatives have benefited more than 80,000 students and young people, the company said.

    “The youth of our Nation are the driving force behind India’s growth story, and investing in their skills is an investment in the nation’s future,” said Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of VISL.

    “At VISL, our approach to skilling goes beyond employment by enabling aspiration, nurturing potential and creating pathways to long-term socio-economic progress,” he said in a statement.

    Sports development remains a core pillar of the company’s youth outreach. The Sesa Football Academy in Goa has produced over 230 graduates through its residential training programme, including 14 international players, while engaging more than 8,000 young footballers through grassroots initiatives.

    Its men’s and women’s teams compete in national leagues including I-League3 and the Indian Women’s League. Separately, the Vedanta ESL Archery Academy in Bokaro has trained more than 50 young archers who have collectively won over 200 medals at district, state and national competitions.

    On women’s economic empowerment, the company’s Project JIVIKA has supported more than 280 self-help groups and benefited nearly 4,000 women across five states through vocational training in tailoring, handicrafts, mushroom farming and footwear manufacturing.

    VISL operates iron ore and steelmaking assets across India and Liberia, including Sesa Iron Ore, ESL Steel Limited and Western Cluster Limited, alongside associated industrial businesses.

  • TCSRD boosts Shala Praveshotsav 2026 in Gujarat with school kits and volunteering

    TCSRD boosts Shala Praveshotsav 2026 in Gujarat with school kits and volunteering

    Reinforcing its commitment to education and community development, Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD) is supporting Shala Praveshotsav 2026 across Okhamandal from June 23 to 25.

    The annual enrolment drive, organised by the Government of Gujarat and District Administration, welcomes children into Class 1, Balvatika, and Anganwadi centres.

    TCSRD will distribute school bags and educational kits to newly enrolled students in government schools across the Okhamandal block. The initiative is expected to benefit 2,534 students.

    Employees from over 20 Tata Chemicals departments will volunteer, contributing more than 350 hours to engage with students and parents and build excitement for learning.

    The programme brings together state government representatives, district officials, village leaders, parents and corporate volunteers in a collaborative effort to promote education, especially for girls, and ensure every child gets access to quality early education.

    “The first day of school is a special milestone in every child’s life. Through our support to Shala Praveshotsav, we aim to warmly welcome young learners with encouragement and enthusiasm,” Rino Raj, Vice President and Site Head, Mithapur, said in a statement.

    “Together with schools, parents and the community, we remain committed to strengthening access to quality education and building a strong foundation for every child’s future success.”

  • HCLFoundation, Pearson launch ‘Discovery Science Center’ in Bengaluru to empower students in STEM

    HCLFoundation, Pearson launch ‘Discovery Science Center’ in Bengaluru to empower students in STEM

    HCLFoundation, the CSR arm of global technology company HCLTech, and Pearson on Wednesday launched the Discovery Science Center in Bengaluru, a state-of-the-art STEM lab designed to empower underprivileged students through hands-on science, technology, engineering, and mathematics learning.

    The Discovery Science Center will equip underserved students with critical thinking, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving skills via immersive, application-based experiences. Supported by year-round STEM clubs, competitions, and workshops, the initiative aims to reach more than 1,500 students annually, fostering curiosity and early innovation capabilities.

    This launch strengthens the strategic partnership between HCLTech and Pearson to advance skills development using AI-powered technology. It builds on the success of a similar center in Noida that has already delivered impactful hands-on STEM learning to underserved communities, the Foundation said in a statement.

    “Every student should have the opportunity to explore science and technology through hands-on learning. This Discovery Science Center gives students in underserved communities a place to explore, build skills and unlock their potential,” said Vishaal Gupta, India Chair and President, Enterprise Learning & Skills at Pearson.

    “This partnership demonstrates what is possible when technology expertise, the science of learning and grassroots execution come together. By strengthening digital learning ecosystems and embedding inclusion at the core, we are building pathways for the most underserved learners to access quality education,” said Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President and Global Head, CSR at HCLTech.

    Earlier this year, HCLFoundation and Pearson supported 400 students in underserved areas by establishing smart classrooms with smart boards and laptops, along with tailored assistive devices for children with special needs, including visual impairments.

  • Maruti Suzuki signs Gujarat MoU for five ITI labs

    Maruti Suzuki signs Gujarat MoU for five ITI labs

    Maruti Suzuki India Limited has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Directorate of Employment and Training (DET), Government of Gujarat, to establish Advanced Manufacturing Labs (AMLs) at Industrial Training Institutes in Palanpur, Bhavnagar, Surendranagar, Godhra, and Dahod, the company announced.

    The initiative, developed under Maruti Suzuki’s Corporate Social Responsibility program, is aligned with the Government of India’s Skill India mission and aims to build a future-ready automotive workforce across the state.

    The Advanced Manufacturing Labs replicate real-world shop-floor conditions and provide hands-on training in assembly, welding, painting, machining, mechatronics, and industrial safety — areas directly relevant to modern automotive manufacturing.

    EXPANDING MANUFACTURING FOOTPRINT

    The Skill India push in Gujarat coincides with a significant expansion of Maruti Suzuki’s manufacturing operations in the state. The company is set to commission a fourth production line at its Hansalpur facility this year, raising total annual capacity there from 750,000 units to 1 million units.

    In addition, Maruti Suzuki is constructing a new plant at Sanand with a capacity of 1 million units annually. Once operational, the company’s combined annual production capacity in Gujarat will reach 2 million units.

    EXECUTIVES SPEAK

    Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer, Corporate Affairs, Maruti Suzuki India Limited, said the company’s Skill India alignment was central to creating livelihood opportunities for young people.

    “Through Advanced Manufacturing Labs, we are equipping students with experiential learning and confidence in modern equipment, nurturing professionals who can seamlessly integrate into the evolving automotive ecosystem,” Bharti said.

    He added that each manufacturing expansion brought with it a demand for skilled, job-ready talent, and that the AMLs were designed to meet that need directly.

    Ms. Stuti Charan, IAS, Director, DET, Government of Gujarat, said the initiative bridges a longstanding gap between classroom instruction and industry expectations.

    “This initiative will empower our youth and strengthen Gujarat’s position as a hub for the automotive sector, in line with the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat and the Chief Minister’s guidance toward Viksit Gujarat 2047,” Charan said.

    NATIONAL SCALE

    Maruti Suzuki currently supports 31 ITIs across India in manufacturing-related trades. The company has established 18 AMLs nationwide to date. With the five new Gujarat labs, the total will rise to 23 AMLs operating across seven states and union territories — Gujarat, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Punjab, and Chandigarh.

    The company also operates four Japan-India Institutes for Manufacturing in Gujarat, at Mehsana and Gandhinagar, and in Haryana, at Manesar and Sonipat. The institutes were established as a bilateral initiative between the Governments of India and Japan to develop a skilled manufacturing workforce.

  • SOS Children’s Villages India holds are workshop 50 vulnerable children at Kiran Nadar museum

    SOS Children’s Villages India holds are workshop 50 vulnerable children at Kiran Nadar museum

    SOS Children’s Villages India on Friday organised an immersive art workshop for 50 children from vulnerable communities, held at the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in New Delhi in a bid to encourage creativity, emotional expression and holistic development.

    The one-day workshop, led by the KNMA Education team, brought together children aged 8 to 15 from SOS Children’s Village Greenfields, Faridabad, and the surrounding local community, offering participants a transformative experience in an interactive art gallery setting.

    The two-hour session opened with a guided tour of the museum, where children were introduced to the significance and stories behind artworks on display. Guided activities and creative exercises followed, designed to encourage imagination, storytelling and emotional expression. Through painting and hands-on engagement, participants were encouraged to interpret what they observed and explore their own ideas and perspectives.

    “At SOS India, we believe every child deserves opportunities that help them discover their potential and express themselves freely,” said Sumanta Kar, Chief Executive Officer, SOS Children’s Villages India. “The art workshop with KNMA created a joyful and enriching space where children could explore their creativity, communicate their emotions and build confidence in their abilities.”

    Kar added that such experiences play an important role in supporting the holistic development and well-being of children.

    The workshop provided children with an opportunity to engage with art beyond conventional classroom settings. SOS Children’s Villages India said the initiative reflects its commitment to creating inclusive spaces that promote creativity and emotional well-being while empowering children to express themselves and thrive.