83rd Year | 2021-22 | Integrated Annual Report
Our business success is interwoven with the welfare and prosperity of the communities within which we operate. Driven by our commitment to social responsibility, we have set up self-sustaining enterprises for community development programmes aligned with UN SDGs and underpinned by the Tata ethos. These enterprises are enriching the quality of community life and making a lasting positive impact on economic and social indicators.
Social Enterprises: Tata Chemicals Society for Rural Development (TCSRD); Okhai Centre for Empowerment (Okhai); and Ncourage Social Enterprise Foundation (Ncourage)
Centres of Excellence: Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Agriculture & Farm Excellence (C-SAFE); and Centre for Sustainable Conservation Action for Protection of Ecosystems of the Seas (C-SCAPES)
We supported 11,193 farmers in FY 2021-22 with measures that led to a higher income. We provided them capacity-building trainings, field demonstrations, support on livestock management, supply of seeds and agriculture equipment to drive farm productivity. We expanded the operations of Okhamandal Farmer Producer Company Limited (OFPCL), which mobilises farmers into groups and works to enhance their productivity and profitability through government linkages and grants. C-SAFE also developed programmes for augmenting value, ensuring safe environment and safe food, especially among small and marginal farmers and farmer-producer organisations.
Gainful self-employment/ entrepreneurship is essential for a nation’s development as well as for communities to become self-sustaining. Towards this goal, we engage with the youth in rural communities and support multiple programmes.
Our skill development programmes across fashion technology, welder, fitter, domestic electrician, beauty and wellness are creating employment and entrepreneurship opportunities for the youth. These programmes were undertaken digitally and physically at Mithapur, Dhasai, Cuddalore and Mambattu during the pandemic. In FY 2021-22, we associated with the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) to train the youth in new trades. Additionally, we support skill development institutions like Tata Strive Centre at Aligarh, ITI at Dwarka and Vaghra, Leslie Sawhney Centre and Akola Girls ITI and also partner with other organisations. At our operations in Magadi, Kenya, we onboarded 24 interns under Community Skill Upgrading Programme.
We have empowered 27,830 rural women artisans by connecting them to pan-India customers through Okhai marketplace. Ncourage Social Enterprise Foundation, our subsidiary has worked with cattle owners through its brand Samuday, which focusses on animal nutrition. TCSRD is providing entrepreneurial training to women members of self-help groups (SHGs). It has helped to form six clusters or group enterprises in Mithapur, where products in bandhani (tie-and-dye), rexine and leather, bead work, jute, block print and coconut fibre are made. These are sold through Okhai and two retail outlets.
We run biodiversity conservation programmes relating to coral reef, whale sharks, mangroves and indigenous flora and fauna, along with environmental education initiatives at Mithapur through C-SCAPES. These are aided by our partnership with eco-clubs in local schools. Our ‘Save the Whale Shark’ project includes studies of its habitat, migratory pattern and breeding biology. We have also promoted greening in Mithapur and Sundarbans by planting 1.7 lakh mangroves.
We undertook land development and Jal Dhan (water management and conservation) programmes in Gujarat and Maharashtra that are focussed on groundwater recharging, harvesting by building check dams and revival of community ponds. In Magadi, we successfully desilted main and temporary intakes. In Mithapur, TCSRD-formed SHGs operate the dry waste processing plant.
We regularly organise health and nutrition camps under our ‘Holistic Nutrition’ project in Amravati and Barwani. This project targets child health enhancement in the first 1,000 days. We have covered 10,270 women and children in our health and nutrition programme across locations. In Kenya, we support Magadi Hospital in extending healthcare services to the local community. TCE helped to raise money for St. Luke’s Hospice through fundraising activities organised by volunteers.
Our educational programmes aim to improve the quality of education and ensure zero school dropouts. In FY 2021-22, we supported 55,792 children through physical and online classes, digital lessons, scholarships, videos, and WhatsApp groups to ensure continuity of education. Our Learning & Migration programme has helped 9,035 children with enhancing their learning capability, alongside strengthening the community school management system.
We provided scholarships to 54 students in Kenya from secondary schools and colleges and commissioned a computer laboratory to encourage digital education. Our USA entity supported local schools and colleges in organising a science fair and a math contest to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths).
Our Swachh Tarang project facilitated access to clean water for 11,770 households in FY 2021-22. We are also working to improve rural sanitation through behavioural change programmes, Swachh Bharat Mission Cleanliness Drives and construction of toilets and sanitation units.
We are undertaking programmes to support Women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. Under the Tata Affirmative Action programme, we are working with tribals to create Model Tribal Villages. Okhai facilitates sustainable livelihoods for artisans, and Ncourage promotes animal health and nutrition, and access to safe drinking water. Our USA entity undertakes social programmes to support single mothers, senior citizens and children in need. In Kenya, we engage with the youth through sports.
We have proactively supported local communities and the government during the entire COVID-19 pandemic through FY 2021-22 with medical infrastructure, vaccination drives, and awareness campaigns. We provided relief to disaster-hit people in Maharashtra and Gujarat. Ample opportunities (through both digital and physical modes) were provided to employees and their family members to volunteer for social causes.