Vraj Iron and Steel Limited CSR Report 2025 Highlights Purpose-Driven Community Investment
NEW DELHI (India CSR): In India’s industrial heartland of Chhattisgarh, steel plants shape skylines and economies alike. Yet, beyond blast furnaces and power units, the true measure of corporate strength increasingly lies in social contribution. For communities living around Raipur, Bilaspur, and Bastar, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives translate industrial success into tangible social progress.
Reflecting this ethos, Vraj Iron and Steel Limited—formerly Phil Ispat Private Limited—has disclosed a CSR expenditure of Rs 90.22 Lakh for the financial year 2024–25. Detailed in its 21st Annual Report, the company’s CSR strategy underscores its commitment to inclusive development, focusing on education, healthcare, rural upliftment, and sports development across Chhattisgarh.
CSR Obligation and Actual Spending in FY 2025
As mandated under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, companies meeting prescribed profitability thresholds must allocate 2 percent of their average net profits toward CSR initiatives.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Company | Vraj Iron and Steel Limited (formerly Phil Ispat Private Limited) |
| Reporting Period | FY 2024–25 (Year ended March 31, 2025) |
| Source Document | 21st Annual Report (FY 2024–25) |
| Average Net Profit (basis for CSR) | Rs 59.61 Crore |
| CSR Obligation (2% of avg. net profit) | Rs 1.19 Crore |
| Total CSR Spent in FY 2025 | Rs 90.22 Lakh |
| Unspent CSR Amount | Rs 29 Lakh |
| Unspent Amount Treatment | To be transferred to a government-specified fund / as per CSR rules by September 30, 2025 |
| Top CSR Focus Area | Education & Skill Development |
| Education Spend | Rs 61.90 Lakh |
| Education Implementation Split | Rs 50 Lakh via implementing agencies; Rs 11.90 Lakh direct |
| Healthcare & Medical Research Spend | Rs 3 Lakh (direct) |
| Rural Sports Promotion Spend | Rs 11 Lakh (via implementing agency; Bastar, Chhattisgarh) |
| Rural Development Spend | Rs 14.30 Lakh (direct; Bilaspur & Raipur) |
| Primary Geographies | Bilaspur, Raipur, Bastar (Chhattisgarh) + other locations (education initiatives) |
| CSR Governance | CSR Committee oversight; compliance with Section 135 of Companies Act, 2013 |
| CSR Committee Meeting Dates (FY 2025) | February 12, 2025; March 17, 2025 |
| New CSR Implementing Entity | Vraj Foundation |
| Vraj Foundation Approval Date | March 17, 2025 |
| CSR Committee Chair | Mr. Vijay Anand Jhanwar |
| CSR Committee Members | Mr. Praveen Somani; Mrs. Sanjeeta Mohta |
| Workforce Mentioned in Report | 768 employees and workers |
| Plants Commissioned (mentioned) | Sponge Iron and Power plants (late 2024 / early 2025) |
While the company could not fully deploy the mandated amount due to limited availability of suitable projects within the reporting period, it has confirmed that the unspent Rs 29 Lakh will be transferred to a government-designated fund, including options such as the PM CARES Fund, before September 30, 2025, in line with statutory requirements.
Education Takes Centre Stage in CSR Allocation
Education emerged as the largest focus area in Vraj Iron and Steel Limited’s CSR portfolio for 2025. The company allocated Rs 61.90 Lakh toward initiatives aimed at improving access to education and skill development.
Key Education Initiatives
- Geographic coverage across Bilaspur, Raipur, and other parts of India
- Focus on underprivileged and differently-abled beneficiaries
- Blend of direct implementation and partnerships with professional agencies
Funding Breakdown:
- Through implementing agencies: Rs 50 Lakh
- Directly by the company: Rs 11.90 Lakh
These programmes aim to enhance literacy, financial awareness, and employability, equipping beneficiaries with practical knowledge for long-term economic independence.
Healthcare Support and Medical Research Contributions
Recognising health as a foundational pillar of sustainable development, the company invested Rs 3 Lakh in hospital and medical research support during FY 2025.
Though modest in scale, this direct contribution to healthcare infrastructure in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, reinforces the company’s intent to improve access to medical facilities in regions influenced by industrial activity.
Promoting Rural Sports and Unlocking Athletic Potential
In a notable intervention beyond traditional CSR sectors, Vraj Iron and Steel Limited dedicated Rs 11 Lakh toward the promotion of rural sports in Bastar, Chhattisgarh.
By partnering with an athletics association, the company supported young talent from socially and economically disadvantaged backgrounds, offering them exposure, training, and opportunities to compete beyond their local environments. This initiative reflects an understanding that sports can be a powerful tool for social inclusion and confidence building.
Rural Development Projects Near Operational Areas
Strengthening its local footprint, the company spent Rs 14.30 Lakh on rural development projects in and around Bilaspur and Raipur.
These projects focus on:
- Improving basic infrastructure
- Enhancing quality of life in villages near manufacturing facilities
- Creating shared value between industry and local communities
By prioritising neighbouring regions, the company ensures that industrial growth contributes directly to regional prosperity.
Institutionalising Impact: Formation of Vraj Foundation
A major strategic development in FY 2025 was the Board’s approval on March 17, 2025, for the creation of a dedicated CSR implementing body—the Vraj Foundation.
Role of Vraj Foundation
- Centralised CSR execution for Vraj Iron and Steel Limited
- Coverage extended to holding and associate companies
- Focus on long-term, scalable social programmes
The foundation will work under the guidance of the CSR Committee, chaired by Mr. Vijay Anand Jhanwar, with Mr. Praveen Somani and Mrs. Sanjeeta Mohta as members.
CSR Governance, Oversight, and Transparency
The CSR Committee met twice during the financial year—on February 12 and March 17, 2025—to review progress, approve initiatives, and ensure compliance with legal frameworks.
The company has maintained transparency regarding:
- Project selection
- Fund utilisation
- Treatment of unspent CSR amounts
Such governance practices strengthen stakeholder trust and reinforce accountability.
Balancing Industrial Growth with Social Responsibility
With the commissioning of its Sponge Iron and Power Plants in late 2024 and early 2025, and a growing workforce of 768 employees, Vraj Iron and Steel Limited continues to expand its industrial footprint. Simultaneously, its CSR investments highlight a commitment to shared growth.
The Rs 90.22 Lakh CSR spending in 2025 reflects more than regulatory compliance—it signals a belief that sustainable business success is inseparable from community well-being.
You Learn: Turning Steel Profits into Social Progress
Vraj Iron and Steel Limited’s CSR Spending Report 2025 illustrates how industrial enterprises can transform profits into purpose. By investing in education, healthcare, rural development, and sports, the company is helping shape a future where economic growth and human development move forward together.
In a sector defined by strength and endurance, Vraj Iron and Steel Limited demonstrates that the strongest foundations are built not only with steel—but with social responsibility.
(India CSR)
