Digital for all

Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability

At , we believe that doing business Bharti Foundation responsibly and sustainably is crucial for building long-term growth and stakeholder Imparting quality education to rural disadvantaged children has been the value. As the digital landscape is fast expanding primary focus of the Foundation ever since its inception. The Foundation is globally and touching lives in different ways, committed to help underprivileged we are aligning our sustainability strategy with children and young people of our country realise their potential. our innovations in the digital sphere. The Satya Bharti School Program is the flagship initiative of Bharti Foundation. It aims to provide free Our sustainability strategy revolves around quality education to underprivileged two key imperatives: children in rural India, with a special focus on the girl child. The model A) Community wellbeing and empowerment ensures that children are provided through multiple initiatives and innovation; quality education absolutely free of cost through well trained teachers, selected B) Environment protection through green through a well formulated process, initiatives and judicious resource management. from the surrounding communities. It supports students in our schools with free uniforms, education materials, From small yet significant efforts to large- nutritious mid-day meals, among other facilities, in addition to charging scale community and environmental initiatives, absolutely no fees. our objective is consistent. To ensure a better In close partnership with ‘Educate quality of life for all and partner the global a Child’, a global initiative, Bharti movement to combat environmental hazards Foundation implements the Satya Bharti Learning Centres Program. and climate change. The program aims to bridge the education gap of out-of-school children and mainstream them into regular India government schools in villages. Under its Quality Support Program, Bharti A. Community Wellbeing & Empowerment Foundation is also collaborating with government schools to improve the At Bharti Airttel, we are partnering the government’s initiative to empower overall quality of schools. It does so disadvantageed communities thhrouugh need-bbasa ed intervention in the realm by bringing in its learnings from the of education, employment genneeration, sanittation, healthcare, disaster Satya Bharti School Program and managementt and environment prrotection, amom ng others. Working for enabling the leadership and teachers communities, and considering them key stakeeholders in our progress, is of rural government schools to initiate helping us emmerge as an agent of positivity and change for an aspiring nation. their schools on the path of constant improvement.

The Foundation has recently announced ‘Satya Bharti Abhiyan’, an initiative to improve sanitation facilities in rural Ludhiana. In addition ` Mn to rural household sanitation, it will SSppent oonn CSSRR innittiattivves in also improve sanitation facilities in FFYY 2001144-155 government schools in rural Ludhiana

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by building toilets for girls, where no Find innovative solutions, such facilities exist. through its primary, elementary and senior secondary schools to I. Satya Bharti School Program create replicable and scalable Number of Satya Bharti The Satya Bharti School Program components in the program Schools was introduced in 2006. This to facilitate delivery of quality rural education initiative has the education. following objectives:

Provide free and quality education Number of states to underprivileged children, with a special focus on the girl child, in rural parts of the country.

Transform students into educated, Building Tomorrow’s Talent Number of students confident, responsible and self- In FY 2014-15, the first batch of reliant employable citizens of 40 students from Satya Bharti the country with a deep sense of Adarsh Senior Secondary School, commitment to their society. Chogawan, Amritsar appeared % for the CBSE Class X board Percentage of girls Encourage active involvement of exams. All the students passed the community, parents and like- the exam; 10 students scored a minded organisations. CGPA of 9 and above. Eight of these 10 students are girls.* Make a lasting and sustainable % impact on the community where * While the financial year ends on Percentage of children schools are present. March 31, 2015, these results were from SC/ST/OBC declared in the month of May 2015. communities

Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability 27 Digital for all

Confident Face of Change

II. Satya Bharti Learning Centres 5. Remedial Strategy: Based on the In its pursuit to accelerate the results of the baseline survey, enrolment of out-of-school children undergo three/six/nine/ children, Bharti Foundation twelve months of remedial courses initiated the Satya Bharti Learning to develop age-appropriate Centres Program, in partnership learning competencies. with ‘Educate a Child’ (EAC). This is a global initiative to reduce 6. Training of Education Volunteers: the number of out-of-school The Education Volunteers are children across the world and imparted pedagogical training Bharti Foundation is a strategic before they teach. partner to this global campaign. The Satya Bharti Learning Centres III. Quality Support Program (Remedial/Bridge Centres) are The program partners with set up to enrol out-of-school government schools and works children back into schools and along with its leadership and provide remedial education to teachers to support them in their Anjali Puri, Class VIII, Satya Bharti develop age appropriate learning journey towards excellence. The School, Balial, Sangrur, Punjab competencies. program facilitates the desired change in rural government Anjali is one of five children in her Program Approach schools through two channels of family, including four girls and one 1. Classrooms: Government schools engagement. It optimises on the boy. Her father is a rural hawker, with provide the classroom(s) for existing strengths and it provides no stable income source. But that did setting up centres in villages. catalytic support to bridge gaps not prevent young Anjali from going identified by the schools’ own to school regularly. She is so fond of 2. Teaching Resource: An Education leadership team. This approach books that she reads even during Volunteer is appointed by the ensures that the schools can recess and while she waits for her Bharti Foundation to conduct succeed on the strength of their ride back home. academic and non-academic own capabilities and motivation. initiatives. She took inspiration from her Program Approach teachers and conducted awareness 3. Identification and Enrolment: Optimise use Support school campaigns in the village to sensitise Education Volunteers conduct of existing leaders to her parents and the community on household surveys for resources, achieve higher the importance of educating girls. As identification and enrolment of policies and goals and bridge a result, a lot of other girls (including out-of-school children. systems. existing gaps. Anjali’s elder sister) now go to school. Anjali epitomises the Foundation’s 4. Baseline Assessment: A baseline Collaborate Facilitate, credo of leadership through holistic survey is conducted to identify the with school support and leadership and enhance school development of children through learning gaps of children. staff to maximise resources, quality education. usage. processes and efforts.

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partnership with the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy, Tufts University (USA) at the Indian School of Business in Mohali. In addition, exceptionally talented students are awarded Bursaries to pursue studies at the University of Cambridge, UK through the Manmohan Singh Bursary Fund.

IV. Satya Bharti Abhiyan V. Other Programmes Airtel Connect Bharti Foundation has undertaken The Bharti School of a new initiative – ‘Satya Bharti Telecommunication Technology Abhiyan’ - to improve sanitation and Management, IIT Delhi Airtel Delhi Half Marathon facilities in rural Ludhiana. helps develop telecom leaders Airtel Delhi Half Marathon has Inspired by the Hon’ble Prime through excellence in education created a robust platform to generate Minister’s call to the corporate and research offering MTech, awareness about various initiatives sector during his speech on MBA, MS(R) and PhD at IIT, of Bharti Foundation as well as Independence Day (2014), to Delhi. In addition, the Airtel IIT many other NGOs. Organisations strengthen Government’s initiative Delhi Centre of Excellence in and individuals from all walks of life on this score, the Foundation has Telecommunications (AICET) was participated with enthusiasm. Corporate adopted Ludhiana district (rural) set up under a public-private teams ran for Bharti Foundation under as its focus area for improvement partnership mode, functioning as the theme – Making a Difference of sanitation. As part of this an integral part of Bharti School Together. program, the Foundation will of Telecommunication Technology construct Individual HouseHold and Management at IIT Delhi. Young Leader Program Latrines (IHHLs) in houses In FY 2014-15, 120 students Young Leader Program is a two-week without such amenities, in over were supported through various corporate induction initiative. It 900 villages across the district, facilities of the Bharti School encourages new joinees of Bharti Airtel over the next three years. Satya to pursue courses in associated to participate in various initiatives of Bharti Abhiyan is also investing fields. the Foundation. This year 29 Young in the improvement of sanitation Leaders volunteered for 21 Satya facilities in government schools We also have Bharti Centre for Bharti Schools in Punjab, Haryana, in rural Ludhiana by building new Communication in partnership Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. They toilets for girls, where no such with IIT Bombay and the Bharti assisted the teachers in classrooms, facilities exist. Institute of Public Policy in trained students in various skills, such as communication and leadership and interacted with communities, during their stint with Bharti Foundation.

ACT (A Caring Touch) A Caring Touch (ACT) is an employee payroll giving programme for Bharti Group of companies. The programme encourages employees to give back to the society in terms of money, time, skills or knowledge. Contributions are matched by the Company as per policy.

Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability 29 Digital for all

Initiatives by Circle Offices

In Good Times and Bad At Bharti Airtel, community remains our partners in progress. We believe in being with the community, whatever may be the purpose. We participate in community festivities and provide critical help and support to those in need during emergencies. This is part of our sustainability agenda to create value for all.

Celebrating Navaratri: Airtel’s Gujarat Circle celebrated the festival of Navaratri with mentally and physically challenged kids. They enjoyed dinner with the team and received a token of appreciation. asked the school kids what they wished Reaching Out The Circle also helped visually impaired for. The wishes of the children varied In Kolkata, a team led by the CEO girls to put up a kiosk at the office and from school bags to crayons. A wish and accompanied by other ECs visited encouraged employees to buy products tree was created in the Jaipur office ‘PARIVAAR’, a house for disadvantaged that were displayed bearing fruits, containing the various children, with some gifts this Diwali. by them. wishes of children like pencil box The team distributed stationeries and chocolates, among others. Some (crayons, pencils, pencil boxes, sketch The Circle participated in the Clean employees even committed to fulfil pens, notebook, drawing book) and Bharat Campaign and the awareness such wishes of children. chocolates. walk organised by the State Municipal Corporation. Christmas Celebration: Bihar and Community Awareness Jharkhand circle celebrated Christmas Airtel Zonal Team at Ludhiana, with the Rejoicing Children’s Day: On the eve with differently-abled students at help of Bharti Foundation’s regional of ‘Children’s Day’, Rajasthan Circle a school in Darbhanga. The team team, adopted five villages in Ludhiana organised a three-day online auction of distributed sweets and snacks to to build community awareness for over 50 laptops; the proceeds of which students, along with note books, personal hygiene and household were handed over to Bharti Foundation. instrument boxes, pencils, pens, sanitation. erasers, sharpeners, among others. Protecting the Environment: Under On request, a DTH connection was The Swachhta Pracharaks chose the ‘Go Green’ campaign initiative, installed in the school, which will get Republic Day to announce the launch the Rajasthan Circle organised a tree recharged by Airtel every month. plantation campaign in Jaipur. Airtel employees participated enthusiastically Blood Donation in the plantation campaign and planted Celebrating the 68th year of the Indian saplings in large numbers. Independence and remembering the heroes who sacrificed their lives for the Team UPU also contributed in nation, Airtel WBO organised a voluntary environment conservation. Over 250 blood donation camp at its premise. employees participated in the event and Due to acute scarcity of blood for saving each person pledged to plant a sapling. lives, this initiative received much appreciation. Joy of Giving Week: The week provided the Rajasthan team with another Gujarat circle also organised a blood opportunity to show their commitment. donation camp at their circle office and The team visited two Satya Bharti Rajkot zone. Around 100 units were Schools in Amber, Jaipur district and donated by employees.

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of a campaign titled ‘Swachh Raho Sanitation Week community kitchen in Srinagar to Swasth Raho’. It aimed to increase Ludhiana Zone employees participated provide food and water. awareness against the hazards of open during the inaugural session of the defecation and the lack of personal sanitation week, where employees The Company offered free-calling hygiene through various initiatives. picked up brooms and waste disposal facility for 60 minutes per day for five bags, along with Bharti Foundation days to each of its subscribers. It also The team promoted the campaign Team and Satya Bharti School Students, set up five VSAT terminals at critical through various activities, including to strengthen the message on hygiene areas and relief camps to create public marching with banners and placards, and cleanliness. In addition to the Wi-Fi hotspots, thus enabling free staging role-plays and door-to-door community, students from other local data services. Airtel also distributed activities. The month-long initiative government schools also joined the blankets and eatables at Yateem Khana, witnessed door-to-door campaigning programme. Batmaloo. with over 600 households. It also sensitised communities against the Disaster Relief APO circle associated with the NGO contamination of water bodies and Bharti Airtel promptly responded to Goonj organised a three-week drive the subsequent spread of water- the emergency situations arising due to to collect wearable old cloth for flood borne diseases like diarrhoea and floods in Jammu & Kashmir. The Circle victims. The drive helped in collecting cholera. This consequently helped joined hands with the local government more than six cartons full of wearable the community members to cultivate authorities to conduct relief work. Its clothes and shoes. healthier habits for improved health. channel partners organised a day-long Airtel NESA in Support of Flood Victims In response to a severe natural disaster in Meghalaya, Airtel NESA launched a flood relief campaign in the region. The team volunteered to help victims. The team distributed dry food items like rice, lentils, salt, glucose biscuit and drinking water to over 2,000 families affected by the flood.

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Paving Pathways to Progress B. Environmental Protection IFFCO Kisan Sanchar Limited (IKSL) Empowerment of farmers is a critical Morre people ini thee coming implementing green (battery, solar, priority for us. In line with that decaades are likely to be exposed hybrid, Li-ion and biomass) solutions at objective, Bharti Airtel touched millions to floods, drroughtss, heat its owned sites. Airtel has about 2,800 of farmers through its partner IKSL. wavves and eexxttreme weather owned BTS sites in Hexacom Rajasthan A major achievement of the year was assoociated with climate change, and the North East. Over 250 sites have the successful implementation of the if buusinesses aand ggovernments do installed hybrid solutions to cut down fisheries project with the Government not intensify ggreen initiatives. We diesel consumption. This step aims to of Odisha. IKSL added 2 Lakh fishermen are aalready experieencing globally reduce carbon emissions by 6,000 tons to the network in Odisha to provide the eearly siggnns of exxtreme annually. information on fisheries. The lifesaving weaather conndditionss. alerts provided during cyclones have Trial on New Energy Solutions been widely acclaimed. At Bharti Airrteel, wee acknowledge The Company had a successful pilot the rreality aannd continue to focus of DC Aircon Micro-cooling solution at on green sollutionss with renewed owned sites. This will help switch off 18 Lakhs+ vigoour. We are adooptp ing new Aircon sites, where critical transmission Farmers enrolled in techhnologies and best industry equipment is installed. The Company 2014-15 across 18 states, pracctices to sttrengthen our green has conducted trial on natural cooling who start their day with voice commmitmenntt. unit for Aircon elimination and thermo- information from IKSL. electric cooling for 3G sites have been tested. Energy on the Horizon 80,000+ Green Power Wheeling for Data Number of farmers are Centres and MSCs expected to benefit from Rooftop Solar Energy at Main To further enhance the energy the joint initiative of Andhra Bank and IKSL. The bank Switching Centres (MSC) efficiency, Airtel has been implementing helps farmers who had Bharti Airtel has installed six more solar the renewable sources of energy like taken loans with critical plants in FY 2014-15, taking the total solar, wind and hydro. In FY 2014-15, information on agriculture, capacity to about 0.74 MWp, installed at Green Power Wheeling agreements banking operations, schemes, 12 MSC locations. These on-grid solar for the procurement of green energy, loan disbursement, financial plants are expected to generate green under open access of 45 Mn units per inclusion and crop insurance. energy of 1.1 Mn units, reducing emission annum, have been made for three Data of 900 tons annually. Centres at Chennai (Wheeling through Wind Power), Bangalore (Wheeling Social Entrepreneurship Solar and Battery Hybrid Solutions through Hydro Power) and Noida (Roof- The Government of India has awarded As a part of the Company’s top Solar Power Plant) and one MSC IKSL for managing the prestigious corporate mandate to help protect location at Pune. ‘Kisan Call Centre’ Services of the environment, it is aggressively Government of India. Apart from empowering with information, farmers and their children are also enrolled as ‘Kisan Mitras’ to spread the IKSL programme among other farmers.

IKSL received the prestigious A 100 KWp solar power plant is installed at the Airtel Campus ‘Economic Times – Telecom Award’ at Manesar. The solar plant, the first-of-its-kind in India as well under the category ‘Use of telecom for Social good’. Besides, IKSL bagged the as in the telecom industry, has a raised structure. It utilises the ‘CSI award for excellence in IT during car parking space for generating green energy. The Company the year. will continue to endeavour in this area.

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Resource Management

E-waste The increasing volume of waste generated by the telecommunication sector has been a matter of grave concern. Airtel, as one of the leading companies of telecommunication sector, manages both physical and e-waste, generated from its premises. The Company has adopted a proactive approach by ensuring end-to-end traceability and recycling of waste. Airtel continuously monitors the waste generation at each stage, and track the procedure of waste disposal.

The Company ensures that all electrical and electronic components and even highly inflammable fuels are handled and disposed of responsibly, by registered and licensed recyclers. In FY 2014-15, over 1,700 tons of e-waste Green Network Partnering for Greener Network was recycled as per Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) norms.

Conversion of Indoor Sites to Outdooor Green Projects with During the year, Airtel partnered with Bharti Infratel (Infratel) has been E-bills its tower companies, which helped working closely with Airtel for removing Airtel deploys the best-in-class digital convert indoor sites to outdoor sites. Aircon from sites. This year, over 3,600 assets throughout its services. The Over 12,500 sites have been converted sites were converted to outdoor, using Company aims to reduce paper usage to outdoor, thus reducing the energy FCU and micro-cooling solution, making by promoting the use of electronic consumption of these sites by about 6,000 sites outdoor till date. billing and online payment methods. 25%. Sites are converted mostly Over 65% of Airtel’s total post-paid installing FCU for switching off the Besides, Infratel has installed about 700 mobile customers have switched over Aircon, thus making them feasible for solar solutions at sites in the current to paperless bills. More than 15% installing green energy solutions like financial year, taking the total to 2,200. of these customers were converted solar and Li-ion, among others. Infratel continues to be the leader in in FY 2014-15 alone. solar site deployment across all tower Outdoor Site Deployment companies in India. In addition, Infratel During the year, over 90% of new sites has tagged 5,500 sites as green sites. were deployed as an outdoor site, eliminating air-conditioner usage. Project Green Cities with Project Green City was launched by New Sites Deployment as Sharer Indus Towers few years back, and over The Company has put up more than 22,000 sites have been tagged as green two-third sites as sharer site. This sites, until this year. Indus Towers has helped reduce energy consumption converted over 9,000 sites in the current significantly. year, totalling 13,700 sites outdoor, till date. 1,700 tons+ of e-waste was recycled in FY 2014-15 as per Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) norms

Corporate Social Responsibility & Sustainability 33 Digital for all

Creating Holistic countries in Africa. The partnership Awards and Recognition will drive improved access to Value, Globally health and education-related We take a holistic perspective at value information, while pushing forward Airtel Nigeria was named ‘Best creation, which encompasses caring for various innovative projects. Company in Education CSR ‘by Social Enterprise Reports Awards the community and being responsible Airtel Chad partnered with the (SERA). for the environment across the world. Ministry of Secondary Education to train 6,000 young people in Africa the country. The training focuses Airtel Nigeria received the Corporate Responsibility award for its active role Africa’s mobile revolution is creating on nurturing young talent to new vistas of opportunities for its improve their information and in the development of education in people. Mobile applications are communications technology (ICT) Nigeria. invariably helping save lives, create capabilities. livelihoods and wealth for many across Airtel Gabon unveiled a new Airtel Ghana was recognised as ‘Best the continent. Health, education and training programme targeting to Corporate Social Company of the development of youth potential have impart new technological skills year’ at the 3rd Association of Ghana been identified by Airtel’s stakeholders to thousands of youth in Gabon, Industries (AGI) awards in Accra. as key CSR areas. in partnership with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Airtel Ghana received the ‘Best Some Major Initiatives Include Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Community Relations programme’ of The three-year initiative (‘Train the year at the 2014 Institute of Public My Generation: Gabon 5,000’) Relations Excellence Awards in Accra. Airtel continues to focus on aims at offering a scientific education in Africa. In the ‘Adopt a and entrepreneurial training to Airtel Ghana was recognised for 5,000 people (aged 18-35 years) School’ project, the Company has being the outstanding Corporate and high-school teachers in supported 24,576 people and 629 Responsibility Company of the Gabon - through information teachers in 45 schools. and communication technology year in Ghana, during the Ghana (ICT). Cyber centres equipped Telecom awards. , along with other with laptops and servers will be operators across the continent, created in schools in Libreville, Airtel Zambia won the ‘Best initiated the ‘United Against Ebola’ Port Gentil, Oyem, Franceville, Corporate Social Responsibility campaign. Employees of Airtel Bitam and Lambaréné. ‘award at the 2014 Zambia, ZAPRA Africa donated over USD 50,000 to awards held in Livingstone. partnered with The help combat the Ebola outbreak in Grameen Foundation to introduce Sierra Leone. a new project that provides mobile financial services to women’s UNICEF and Airtel entered into a savings groups in Uganda. This partnership agreement to expand effort is aimed to reduce the their collaboration across 17 gender gap to mobile access.

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Bangladesh In line with the Company’s overarching objective of helping elevate the quality of life for people across geographies, has spearheaded multiple community outreach initiatives. Some of the initiatives during the year include organising blood donation camps, encouraging talent through awards and accolades, participating in heritage events like ‘Chittagong Boi Mela’ and also sponsoring sports in Khulna to raise funds for the welfare of freedom fighters.

Sri Lanka The Company has undertaken multiple initiatives in Srilanka to drive community wellbeing and environment protection. Some of the important initiatives on the community front, during the year, comprised the following: helped generate awareness against child abuse; provided assistance to The Lady Ridgeway Hospital (refurbishing the walkways to look colourful and educational, among other activities); conducted workshops on leadership and professional skills in schools, universities and academic institutes throughout the country; and introducing NFC Technology for public transport in Sri Lanka. As a part of the Company’s global mandate to help protect the environment, the following initiatives were undertaken: reducing the usage of plastic and paper; encouraging the use of e-bills; cutting down the use of diesel at site locations; taking steps at site locations to ensure health and safety; ensuring a pest-free clean environment at all Airtel’s sites.

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