NEW DELHI (India CSR): Bajaj Auto is dedicated to building competence around selected areas to create a large-scale impact through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The company’s 17th Annual Report for 2023-24 highlights several key programs aimed at skilling and education, reflecting Bajaj Auto’s commitment to fostering sustainable development and empowering communities.
Skilling Initiatives
A. Bajaj Engineering Skills Training (BEST)
In collaboration with top NIRF-ranked universities and engineering colleges, this initiative aims to make youth competent and employable. The objective is to establish state-of-the-art centers with laboratories equipped with world-class tools for hands-on training of engineers and diploma holders. The first BEST center, recently inaugurated at the Symbiosis Institute of Technology, accommodates 120 students, with plans to expand to 15 additional universities.
B. Bajaj Manufacturing Systems (BMS) Certification Program
This program imparts industry knowledge to ITI and polytechnic students through a user-friendly Learning Management System. By partnering with technical institutions, the program exposes students to nine modules based on TPM practices implemented at Bajaj Auto. Over 3,000 students from government and private ITI institutes have been certified, and there are plans to introduce the program to six more states.
C. Lighthouse Communities Foundation
A non-profit organization focused on building inclusive communities, the Lighthouse Communities Foundation enhances employment opportunities through vocational skilling, counseling, and training for setting up mini enterprises. A center operationalized at the Janta Vasahat slum in Pune has empowered over 1,000 youth.
Education Programs in Local Areas
A. Scholarships for Higher Education
The ‘Rupa Rahul Bajaj Scholarship Program’ aids students from underprivileged backgrounds in pursuing higher education at esteemed universities and colleges. With a meticulous selection process, 11 students received scholarship/financial assistance for four years in FY2024.
B. Bharatiya Yuva Shakti Trust (BYST-Youth Entrepreneurship Development Program)
This program assists underprivileged young entrepreneurs by providing supplementary financing, voluntary assessments, and personalized guidance from mentors in similar industries. Bajaj Auto has pledged to mentor 1,500 young individuals through BYST, aiding them in building their enterprises and fostering sustainable growth.
C. Youth Organization for Joining Action and Knowledge (YOJAK)
YOJAK offers a platform tailored to the needs of disadvantaged students, particularly girls, empowering them with essential skills and support for pursuing careers in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). With 12 learning centers in Pune, YOJAK delivers academic excellence through subject-specific remedial classes, experiential learning, and social support, benefiting over 2,000 students from grades 8 to 12 in FY2024.
D. Foundation of Advancing Science and Technology (FAST)
FAST engages and inspires Indian civil society with the wonders of scientific exploration, focusing on youth considering or pursuing science as a career. FAST aims to impact over 8,000 youth by cultivating a vibrant science culture, amplifying awareness of science and technology, advocating for inclusivity within the scientific community, and bridging the gap between science practitioners and the wider community.
(India CSR)
