Divi’s Laboratories: Balancing Impact and Strategy in CSR Spending
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Divi’s Laboratories Limited, a global leader in Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), continues to set a high standard for corporate social responsibility (CSR) by integrating societal and environmental goals into its core operations. The company’s 35th Annual Report for FY 2024-25 provides a comprehensive overview of its CSR initiatives, showcasing a robust commitment of Rs 54.24 crores toward fostering sustainable development. A key highlight of this report is the strategic management of Rs 6.21 crores in unspent funds, which underscores Divi’s forward-thinking approach to ensuring long-term impact over short-term spending targets. This article delves into how Divi’s balances impactful expenditure with prudent financial stewardship, aligning with its ethos of “Innovating Today, Shaping Tomorrow.”
Key Facts Table: Divi’s Laboratories CSR Report FY 2025
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Divi’s Laboratories Limited |
| Report Year | 35th Annual Report, FY 2024–25 |
| CSR Obligation (FY25) | Rs 55.40 crore (incl. Rs 1.16 crore surplus) |
| Total Commitment | Rs 54.24 crore |
| Total CSR Spend | Rs 49.19 crore |
| Breakdown of Spend | Rs 48.10 crore – CSR projects; Rs 1.00 crore – admin overheads; Rs 0.09 crore – impact assessments |
| Unspent CSR Amount | Rs 6.21 crore (transferred to Unspent CSR Account for multi-year projects) |
| Cumulative Unspent Funds | Rs 19.73 crore (includes Rs 8.36 crore FY24 & Rs 5.16 crore FY23) |
| Education Initiatives | 977 schools upgraded; 82,201 students benefited; infra support with classrooms, labs, libraries, drinking water, playgrounds, bicycles, and nutrition supplements |
| Community Development | 1,02,480 beneficiaries across 75 villages; cement concrete & blacktop roads; 1,33,803 reached under Swachh Bharat in 72 villages |
| Healthcare Initiatives | 1,08,953 beneficiaries across 66 villages; mobile clinics, eye camps, maternal & child health, health awareness, medical equipment |
| Environmental Sustainability | Project Jalaprasadam – 112 RO plants at temple premises; 2,76,793 litres/day clean water; avoided 5,200 MT plastic & 22,500 MT CO₂ annually |
| Other Environmental Gains | 34,870 GJ energy saved; 92,130 KL water conserved; 6,350 TCO₂e emissions reduced; 35 MT plastic waste cut |
| CSR Governance | CSR Committee: Dr. Ramesh B.V. Nimmagadda (Chairman), Dr. Murali K. Divi (MD), Ms. Nilima Prasad Divi (Whole-time Director – Commercial) |
| Employee Welfare & Safety | 38 million safe man-hours; skill development in tailoring, beautician, hospitality, IT; retention rate ~90% |
| Geographical Focus | Andhra Pradesh & Telangana (esp. aspirational districts Visakhapatnam & Vizianagaram) |
A Robust Financial Commitment to CSR
In FY 2024-25, Divi’s Laboratories allocated Rs 54.24 crores for CSR activities, part of a total obligation of Rs 55.40 crores, which includes a Rs 1.16 crores surplus carried forward from previous years. Of this commitment, the company expended Rs 49.19 crores, demonstrating a significant investment in transformative projects. This expenditure breaks down as follows:
- Rs 48.10 crores directly funded CSR initiatives, focusing on education, community development, healthcare, and environmental sustainability.
- Rs 1.00 crore covered administrative overheads, ensuring efficient program management.
- Rs 0.09 crore was dedicated to impact assessments, reinforcing accountability and transparency.
The unspent amount of Rs 6.21 crores was not a lapse in commitment but a deliberate strategy to support ongoing, multi-year projects. These funds have been transferred to a dedicated Unspent CSR Account in compliance with Section 135(6) of the Companies Act, 2013, ensuring they are reserved for their intended purposes. Additionally, unspent funds from prior years—Rs 8.36 crores from FY 2023-24 and Rs 5.16 crores from FY 2022-23—remain allocated for future initiatives, reflecting Divi’s meticulous approach to financial stewardship. This strategy prioritizes sustainable, long-term development over merely meeting annual spending quotas, ensuring that every rupee is directed toward meaningful outcomes.
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Transformative CSR Initiatives
Divi’s CSR efforts are deeply rooted in the communities surrounding its manufacturing facilities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The company focuses on four key pillars: education, community development, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, each designed to create lasting impact.
1. Empowering Through Education
Education is a cornerstone of Divi’s CSR strategy, recognizing its role in driving societal progress. In FY 2024-25, Divi’s invested in upgrading infrastructure across 977 schools, benefiting approximately 82,000 students. Initiatives included constructing classrooms, science laboratories, and libraries, as well as providing essential resources such as drinking water facilities and playground equipment. These efforts have significantly enhanced the learning environment for students in underserved regions, laying the foundation for a brighter future.
2. Strengthening Communities
Divi’s commitment to community development is evident in its rural infrastructure projects, which improved the quality of life for 1,02,000 people across 75 villages. Key initiatives included laying cement concrete (CC) and blacktop (BT) roads to enhance connectivity and accessibility in rural areas. Additionally, Divi’s actively participated in Swachh Bharat cleanliness drives, reaching 1,30,000 beneficiaries across 72 villages. These efforts underscore the company’s dedication to fostering inclusive growth and improving living standards in the regions it serves.
3. Advancing Public Health
Healthcare initiatives are a critical focus for Divi’s, addressing gaps in medical access in remote areas. In FY 2024-25, the company supported 1,08,953 beneficiaries across 66 villages through programs such as eye screening camps, mobile clinics, health education, and the provision of medical equipment. These initiatives have bridged critical healthcare gaps, ensuring that underserved communities have access to essential services.
4. Championing Environmental Sustainability
Divi’s environmental efforts are both innovative and impactful, with Project Jalaprasadam standing out as a flagship initiative. By installing 112 Reverse Osmosis (RO) plants at temple premises, Divi’s provides 2,76,793 litres of clean water daily to devotees. This initiative not only ensures access to safe drinking water but also prevents the use of 2,76,793 one-litre PET bottles daily, reducing approximately 5,200 metric tonnes of plastic waste and 22,500 metric tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Beyond this, Divi’s achieved significant environmental milestones, including:
- Conserving 34,870 gigajoules (GJ) of energy through efficient equipment and processes.
- Reducing 6,350 tonnes of CO2 equivalent (TCO2e) in greenhouse gas emissions.
- Saving 92,130 kiloliters (KL) of water through optimized utility usage.
- Cutting 35 metric tonnes (MT) of plastic waste through dedicated solvent recovery stations and other initiatives.
These efforts highlight Divi’s commitment to environmental stewardship, aligning industrial growth with ecological responsibility.
Oversight and Accountability
Divi’s CSR programs are overseen by a dedicated CSR Committee, comprising Dr. Ramesh B.V. Nimmagadda (Chairman), Dr. Murali K. Divi (Managing Director), and Nilima Prasad Divi (Whole-time Director – Commercial). The committee ensures that all initiatives align with the company’s CSR policy and deliver measurable impact. Internal assessments are conducted for all projects, while independent agencies perform impact assessments for select initiatives, ensuring transparency and effectiveness.
You Learn: A Vision for Sustainable Impact
Divi’s Laboratories’ FY 2024-25 CSR report reflects a balanced approach to corporate responsibility, combining significant expenditure of Rs 49.19 crores with the strategic allocation of Rs 6.21 crores in unspent funds for ongoing projects. By prioritizing education, community welfare, healthcare, and environmental sustainability, Divi’s is not only addressing immediate needs but also building a foundation for long-term societal and environmental progress. The company’s thoughtful management of unspent funds ensures that its CSR initiatives will continue to deliver transformative outcomes in the years ahead.
As Divi’s continues to innovate in the pharmaceutical industry, its CSR efforts demonstrate that corporate success and social responsibility can go hand in hand. By weaving purpose into its operations, Divi’s Laboratories is shaping a sustainable future, enriching lives, and preserving the planet for generations to come.
(India CSR)
