HGS CSR Framework focuses on four areas – Education, Healthcare, Skill Development and Empowering Differently-abled
A research study by Glassdoor reveals that about 69% employees decline jobs from employers with bad reputation while 84% are ready to leave the current organization for reputed employers. Developing into an employer of choice today not only requires an employer to have a great work environment, but also have a socially responsible, trustworthy and ethical corporate culture. Employees want to work for companies that care for them and value their willingness to participate in issues and social causes that matter to them.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reflects an organization’s business values and aims at both mutual development of the organization and the community simultaneously. HGS’ CSR strategy is inspired by the pioneering thoughts of Late Parmanand Deepchand Hinduja, Founder, Hinduja Group, “My dharma (duty) is to work so that I can give.”
HGS’ CSR framework primarily focuses on four areas – Education, Healthcare, Skill Development and Empowering Differently-abled – that HGS believes will impact India’s future growth and prosperity. We have partnered with several renowned NGOs with different philosophies and work areas in the past few years, who share a similar vision to achieve a positive impact on society holistically.
Education: HGS funds education for underprivileged students to help them complete their education and earn a living. Our CSR activities with a partner NGO are designed to engage more than 5,000 children in sports-based development programs to bring about a positive change in the attitude and behavior related to health, gender and education. We are also taking active steps in addressing malnutrition to eradicate hunger by providing nutritious meals every day. These mid-day meals delivered, in partnership with one of India’s largest non-profit organizations, help children concentrate more on studies, decrease the rate of school drop outs and increase school enrolment.
We believe in gender equality and run programs to spread awareness in rural areas about equal rights, especially for women, and promote education for girl child. We have offered scholarships and state-of-the-art technology (Technology Enabled Learning Program) at a Hosur-based school to ensure quality education and instill confidence in students to complete their education and become contributing members of the community.
Healthcare: HGS is relentlessly striving to provide essential and superior healthcare services to local communities. The organization has provided holistic tuberculosis (TB) care to the underprivileged by rapidly diagnosing drug resistant TB patients with the help of state-of-the-art medical procedures and offer treatment accordingly. HGS Operate Advanced Mobile Health Units (AMHU) for tribal population in Maharashtra to provide affordable healthcare, and ensure improved quality of life index of India through better prevention and awareness about hygiene practices. For family welfare, HGS has set up water plants to provide access to safe and clean drinking water to underprivileged communities in Bengaluru, resulting in reduction in water-borne disease illnesses and women drudgery, and increased awareness in WASH (Water, Sanitation and Hygiene) goals in the community.
Skill Development: HGS is working to improve employability of more than 1,800 youths across Mysuru in Karnataka, Guntur in Andhra Pradesh and Siliguri in West Bengal. The program includes setting up skill development centers and vocational courses to create livelihood opportunities, offering soft skill training to rural youth and enhancing access to employment opportunity by providing special skills training in IT enabled services and BPM services. We also support technical vocational training institutions for overall self-development and capacity building of the youth.
The Youth Livelihood Projects use an innovative end-to-end delivery model that identifies and meets youth’s employability and life skill needs. These projects are targeted towards empowering under-served youth with right training and support to help them become responsible members of the community.
Empowering Differently-abled People: HGS has partnered to empower differently abled people by setting up a capacity center model to train 100 differently-abled youth and help them earn a livelihood. This program will also aid in sensitizing and training potential recruiter companies to hire and manage differently-abled candidates.
CSR is more like an invisible culture – an unwritten contract with the community. Organizations today consider CSR not only as a business engagement but also a way to turn employees into their treasured assets. At HGS, we have been driving strategically planned CSR programs and clubs which engage employees in different activities for pre-decided work hours. Although voluntary, we have seen a major number of employees participate in these programs as and when they are planned. The HGS CSR Clubs induct employees on the various programs, post which their commitment towards the CSR activities for certain work hours are recorded. Our CSR programs, the activities and updates are available digitally for employees to track and update themselves.
It is always important to allow employees to align themselves with the company culture, get involved in committees, take active interest in CSR initiatives and ultimately drive the company to become an Employer of Choice.
Smita Gaikwad
Senior VP-Corporate Comm. and CSR
Hinduja Global Solutions
