By Vipin Thapliyal, Vijay Sehgal and S.R. Mishra

CSR & Sustainability has acquired a central theme on the agenda of Business Organizations at Global Level today, but have not been able to acquire a centre stage in the realm of corporate strategy. There has been a definite lack of perceptive significance of the concept of CSR and Competitiveness. Embedding of CSR & Sustainability in the business process leads to innovation and ultimately results in competitiveness. Integrating CSR in the strategic management process helps in developing a simple and consistent long term organisational goal and enhances relationships with key stakeholders.

1.0 VISION & MISSION STATEMENT

THDCIL’S CSR Vision and Mission statements are true reflections of its commitment towards the society and environment with human face and transparency.

CSR VISION

Socially responsible corporate, continuously enhancing value creation in society and community and promoting sustainable development.

CSR MISSION

To build sustainable value based relationship with the key stakeholders through ongoing two way communication.
To undertake CSR programmes with a human face.
To transparently share the CSR & Sustainability initiatives with the stakeholders.
To ensure increased commitment at all levels in the organization to operate its business in an economically, socially and environmentally sustainable manner.
To directly or indirectly take up CSR programmes that benefit the communities in and around its work centers and over a time result in enhancing the quality of life and economic well being of the local populace.
To promote inclusive growth and address the basic needs of the deprived, underprivileged, neglected and weaker sections of the society.
To generate through CSR initiatives, goodwill and pride for THDCIL among stakeholders and help reinforce a positive and socially responsible image of THDCIL as corporate entity.

2.0 CHANGES DUE TO CONSTRUCTION OF TEHRI HYDRO POWER COMPLEX

In general, construction of any infrastructural Project including Hydro Power Project, prima facie affects the ecology, economy and socio cultural aspects in immediate surroundings, which creates new relationships and opportunities for inhabitants. It cannot be presumed that all such changes would be beneficial for local communities or indeed, be perceived positively by them.

To ensure that local communities, who have had to bear considerable costs in terms of socio-economic sacrifices in the course of development of such Projects, also become one of its principal stakeholders. Therefore, an extensive assessment of their expectations, developmental needs and aspirations was necessarily required. In this context, a group of experts conducted a field visit to the affected villages, located around the Project in Pratapnagar Block, Distt. Tehri Garhwal. Baseline survey / need assessment study of the area was carried out through experts of Delhi University & HNB Garhwal University.

3.0 IMPLEMENTATION MECHANISM

It was experienced that in normal Govt. Organizational set up, it is difficult to achieve the desired progress in time bound manner. Agencies / NGO’s engaged for CSR & Sustainability projects are not acquainted with the tendering/ competitive bidding process. There were hardly any NGO/ agencies interested in implementing CSR & Sustainability projects through existing competitive bidding system in time bound manner. Formation of Company Sponsored NGOs have helped THDC in carrying out the CSR works faster & helped in ensuring that the benefit should reach the lowest level.

3.1 THDCIL’s NGO “SEWA-THDC”

Considering all the facts and importance of long term effects, it was felt necessary to evolve an innovative mechanism through which the CSR & Sustainability Projects could be implemented and desired progress be achieved in a time bound /cost effective manner.

For implementation of CSR & Sustainability activities of the Company, THDCIL has formed a company sponsored society namely, “SEWA-THDC” under Society Registration Act, 1860, in March, 2009. Aims and objectives of the society are charitable and non-profitable. The Managing Committee has 07 members nominated by THDCIL’s Board of Directors. CMD THDCIL is the ex- officio Patron of the society.

3.2 THDCIL’s NGO “THDC EDUCATION SOCIETY (TES)”

TES is formed in 1992 to impart education to the children of Project affected population as well as marginalised and under privileged society in the backward district Tehri and Rishikesh.

At present, the society is running three schools under the auspices of TES at Bhagirathipuram, Tehri offering education from 6^th to 12^th standards, at Pragatipuram, Rishikesh offering education from 1^st to 10^th and at Koteshwer offering education from 1^st to 8^th standards respectively. Main beneficiaries of above schools are nearby children belonging to economically weaker sections including backward and SC/ST categories.

4.0 SELECTION OF CSR PROGRAMMES

Thrust of THDCIL’s CSR & Sustainability activities are on capacity building, empowerment of communities, inclusive of socio-economic growth, environment protection, promotion of green and energy efficient technologies, development of backward regions and upliftment of the marginalized and under privileged sections of the society.

Selection of CSR programmes are related to the activities as specified in Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013. The activities are being identified after series of stakeholder meets, baseline & Need Assessment.

Focus areas are as under:

THDC Utthan – Rural Development

THDC Niramaya – Nutrition, Health and Sanitation and Drinking Water Projects

THDC Prakriti – Environment protection initiatives

THDC Jagriti – Education initiatives

THDC Daksh – Livelihood Generation and Skill development initiatives

THDC Samarth – Empowerment initiatives

THDC Saksham – Care of the aged and differently abled