Chapter Six Case Studies of Select Companies

Chapter Six Case Studies of Select Companies

Case Studies in Engineering Sector

Pune’s engineering hub is popularly known as 'Detroit of the East' and 'Motor City'. This is because of the large presence of over 12500 established Indian and foreign multinational engineering companies catering to a broad spectrum of industrial activities spanning automobiles, engineering products, boilers, heat exchangers, fabrication and so on.

6.1: PraJ Industries: Innovation towards Sustainability

C o rp o ra te P ro file : Praj Industries is a three-decade successful entrepreneurship journey of Chairman and Founder—Pramod Chaudhari, who set up a world-class bio-chemical engineering company. Spread across five continents, the company has five business verticals which offers innovative solutions for beverage alcohol plant, brewery, water and waste-waste treatment plant and hi-purity systems. The company has set up ‘Praj Matrix: The Innovation’—a technological research hub for bioethanol and bio-chemicals processes.

Genesis_of C S R @ Praj Industries: In 2004, Praj Industries has set up their own dedicated Corporate Social Responsibility arm-Praj Foundation to create innovative and sustainable ideas based on the core competeney of their businesses by way of stakeholders engagement.

CSR Management Perception @ Praj Industries: Speaking about Praj’s CSR management perception, is Vinayak Kelkar, Lead-Corporate Sustainability, “For us, sustainability is the core element of our corporate strategy. Right from inception, CSR was always perceived as a long-term investment and sustainability tool by our Founding Directors with a strong emphasis on 'Innovation ’ and ‘Research & Development’. Kelkar further added, “By sustainable development, our commitment is to improve the quality of life of employees, local communities and stakeholders up and down the

184 Chapter Six Case Studies of Select Companies supply chain. Our Five Pillars o f Sustainability represents each approach and level. At the eaeh level, Praj is engaged in various projects with respect to the following aspects: Business Lines Solutions Suites Business Solutions

Community Actions through Corporate and Personal Social Responsibility CSR Project Collaboration: In 2004, Praj Industries has set up an independent CSR arm—‘Praj Foundation’ where ninety percent of the CSR activities are on project-mode basis, while, the remaining ten percent is allocated towards cheque-book philanthropy. Explains Kelkar on Praj’s CSR implementation mode, “The Foundation conceives, implements and monitors the innovative projects in collaboration with like-minded non­ government organizations. Currently, we are focusing on creating replicable models for all our sustainable projects. Depending on the success, we plan to implement on a larger scale and impact a large number of beneficiaries.’’

Praj Foundation’s CSR approach: Praj Foundation’s CSR activities is focused within the five to six kilometers away from their engineering unit. The villages covered by Praj Foundation are Mamewadi, Botarwadi and Kalborwadi. 1) Selection of non-government and institutional partners: Praj’s CSR initiatives are participative in nature with the help of external agencies. They engage internally with their employees to brainstorm towards conceptualization of sustainable solutions. Depending on the sustainability of the projects, they co-create the projects and execute in joint collaboration with institutional partners.

2) Project Selection: Praj’s CSR projects are approved by an Independent Managing Committee. The Foundation finalizes and approves the project on the following parameters: > Is the proposed project area within geographical limits set by Praj Foundation? > Is the project idea need based, unique and innovative? > Does the project idea fits in the focus area of Praj Foundation? > Does it offer scope for replicability on a larger scale? > Does it have a built-in component of Project Sustainability?

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3) Monitoring, Evaluation and Impact Analysis: At the time of project selection, Praj Foundation set protocols for monitoring, evaluation and impact analysis. Currently, they are in the experimentation mode, project reviews are undertaken at periodic levels. There is a detailed documentation done at each phase of the project. At the end of the project, they conduct impact analysis and suggest remedial measures. Praj Foundation Innovative CSR Thematic Areas

The Pillars for Praj Foundation innovative CSR focus areas are Environment, Education, Health, Social Entrepreneurship and Intra-praneurship. Among all CSR focus areas, Praj Foundation strong emphasize is on Environment. 50 percent of the CSR budget is allocated for carrying out innovative CSR practices towards Environment. The following environmental-friendly CSR initiatives undertaken by Praj Foundation;

I) Decentralized Bio-Degradable Solid Waste Management

A. Objectives: In 2009, Praj Foundation in association with Institute of Natural and Organic Agriculture (INORA)—a non-government organization towards research, development and promotion of organic farm management initiated the 'Decentralized bio-degradable solid waste management’ in and around Pune city with the following objectives; ^ To reduce carbon-footprints of citizens of Pune. > To create awareness of bio-degradable waste management among citizens. ^ To organize training of citizens in various composting and vermi- composting the bio-degradable portion. > To develop necessary extension material for creating awareness and imparting Master Composter’s training.

B. Implementation of the Project: Praj Foundation decided to institutionalize this concept through the pre-planned Action-Based Programme in the following ways; Setting up of satellite centers During the early days, Praj Foundation imparted training to eleven interested citizens, who could provide technical training on ‘composting’ in their respective localities. These trained citizens were associated as the ‘Satellite Center’

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in their respective locality. The Satellite Center Heads started practicing the technique of composting and vermicomposting at their respective localities and residences. They were provided promotional literature for the purpose of training and information awareness. ii. Livelihood creation: Creation of social entrepreneurs To strengthen the activity of decentralized waste management, a team of four individuals were trained to operate as ‘Waste Management Service Providers’. The team was extensively trained in composting techniques and rendering waste management services at the doorstep of the citizens. iii. Promotion of City-Farming Among Citizens To popularize the city-farming concept, Praj Foundation annually organizes 'Garden from Waste’ competition for those households who regularly compost their bio-degradable waste. The criterion for evaluating the entries are method of composting/vermicomposting, quality of compost and seasonal flowers, fruits and vegetables grown using the compost. iv. Community Composting Model Praj Foundation has established the ‘Community Composting Model’ at Manmohan Society in Karvenagar to demonstrate the composting of garden waste from 83 bungalows and effectively utilize the same for growing vegetables. As a part of promotional and training efforts, a demonstration unit comprising of shredding facility, composting pits and cultivating organic vegetable using the compost has been set up for the citizens, impact of the Project > More than 20000 citizens are sensitized through the awareness programmes. > More than 2000 individual family units and 225 common composting units within the housing societies are established. > Nine Satellite Centers across Pune city providing bio degradable waste management services to citizens. > Four social entrepreneurs earning their livelihood by providing waste management solutions. > 15 tons bio degradable waste per day into compost.

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II) Promotion of Sustainable Paddy Farming Practices

Objectives: Sustainable paddy farming is the first of its-kind initiative has been experimented in Kalbhorwadi in executed by Praj Foundation in association with INORA. The objectives behind this novel project is as under: > To promote raised-bed Paddy Nursery practices to obtain assured supply of healthy paddy saplings in spite of erratic monsoon. > To promote sustainable farming practices in paddy cultivation. > To promote use of Azolla as renewable source of low cost plant nutrient.

Implementation of the Project > Awareness sessions for farmers on the importance of sustainable farming practices > Seed treatment with organic fertilizers before sowing. > Raised bed-paddy Nursery technique. > Application of Vermi-compost before transplanting. Im p a c t: The project was started in 2012 and experimented with the help of 20 farmers on 13 acres of land in Kalbhorwadi. Within a year, it was spread across 50 acres benefitting 85 farmers from Kalbhorwadi, Botarwadi and Marnewadi. As of 2014, this successful project has covered over 100 acres benefiting 100 farmers spread across Mukaiwadi, Bhilarew'adi, Shelarwadi, Gadewadi and Balkawade padal.

III) Praj Bio Diversity Park: Enhancing Bio Diversity of Pune

To protect the rich bio-diversity of Pune city, Praj Foundation has set up ‘Silver Jubilee Bio Diversity Park ’ on two acres of land allotted by Pune Municipal Corporation along western banks of Pashan Lake. 250 Seedlings of 25 native tree species were planted in the Bio diversity Park by Praj employees. These seedlings have today attained an average height of 3-4 meters. Today the Park has become a thick forest and also home for many bird species visiting Pashan Lake.

IV) Eco-restoration of sacred groves (D e v ra l)

Praj Foundation in association with BAIF Development Research Foundation (BAIF) is actively engaged in ‘Participatory of Eco-restoration of

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Sacred Groves’ located in Anjanavale in taluka and Kalamvihira in Jawhar

taluka. Sacred groves (devrais) is a forest preserved by villagers on religious

grounds. To protect from depletion, Praj Foundation has initiated by way of

community mobilization, ecological surveys, raising nurseries of native tree

species, soil and water conservation and training vaidus as well as local

stakeholders.

V) Praj Green Scholarships and Awards

Praj Foundation mission to help and strengthen the green movement to the

young generation studying in schools and colleges. They want to introduce

mainstream eco-friendly concepts and ideas. For this, Praj Foundation has

introduced Green Scholarships are awarded to five deserving students on an aimual

basis. Likewise, they have constituted Praj Foundation Green Awards which are

awarded to nine students aimually for their active participation in greening

initiatives such as vermi-composting, planting and nurturing tees and so on.

VI) Prajite Social Responsibility (PSR)

In 2013, Praj Industries has made it mandatory that every Praj employee has

to spend a total eight hours to be spent on C SR activities. Called as Personal Social

Responsibility, the cumulative estimates works out to be 10,000 hours. The

objective of this initiative strives to encourage employees to take up sustainable

driven projects within their own domains.

VII) Encouraging the spirt of Intra-preneurship To mark the silver jubilee o f the company, Praj Foundation in association with

the knowledge partnership with Symbiosis Institute o f Business Management instituted

the ‘Maha-intrapreneur Award’ to recognize and promote the culture of

intrapreneurship within organizations. Till date, over 15 intrapreneurs from both the

corporates and non-government organizations located in have been

recognized for their achievements.

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6.2: Innoventive Industries: Women Empowerment through safe water accessibility

Corporate Profile: Pune-headquartered Innoventive Industries Limited (IIL) is a BSE listed company. Set up by first-time entrepreneur—Chandu Chavan, it is a multi-product company catering to applications in diverse sectors such as automobile, boiler and heat exchangers, energy, oil and general engineering. It manufactures a wide portfolio of products such as Electric Resistance Welded tubes (ERW) and Cold Drawn Electric Welded Tubes (CEW), strips and auto assemblies. The Company has three divisions. Tube, Sheet and Auto Products with engineering facilities set up in Sanaswadi, Pimple Jagtap and Vadhu-Budruk in Shirur district.

Genesis of CSR: Chandu Chavan—Chairman and Managing Director, is self-made entrepreneur who hails from a rural background. A qualified and trained engineer, Chandu Chavan during his early days of setting up his business, had to face major hurdles in terms of healthy workforce and talent in and around his engineering unit in Shirur district. Narrating the genesis of Jaldoot, is Vinod Gawande, Project Head, Jaldoot, ‘‘In 2008, Jaldoot was introduced around the engineering unit in Shirur as there was a dearth of skilled workforce and high absenteeism due to unsafe drinking water.”

T h e Id e a : Narrating The ‘Jaldoot project’ evolved during a pilot project, initiated by Swayamsiddha Mahila Utkarsh Foundation based on the feedback of rural women, who was found traveling long distances to and fro to a stationary water filtration plant. Women in rural areas suggested that if they could get "clean and safe drinking water’ delivered at their doorstep at a reasonable price. This was the genesis of Jaldoot delivery model.”

O v e rv ie w : Jaldoot comes from the word jal which means water and doot means the messenger. The water purification project is a highly scalable and sustainable safe drinking water distribution model, which addresses issues related to health, rural employment and women empowerment.

V is io n : Jaldoot’s vision is an where everybody has access to safe drinking water.

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Characteristics of Jaldoot’s socio-economic model

> A local entrepreneur, primarily a woman, to manage and oversee water distribution operations thus promoting social entrepreneurship. Local people, primarily women, as drivers for mobile filtration vehicles thus promoting women empowerment and generating sustainable employment for rural populace. > Distribution of need based services at doorsteps of the villagers.

Jaldoot’s DelivSyl^ilei > Reach & Affordability: With its mobile vehicles, each ‘Jaldoot’ distribution center becomes a powerful end-user distribution channel with a potential to serve customers located in a radius of 10-15 km. It will be provided at an affordable price at fifty paise per liter. ^ Support activities: ‘Jaldoot’ model is based on a comprehensive training program for local entrepreneur and extensive operational support for a range of activities from marketing, business development and performance bench-marking for operational improvement. > Employment: The model provides employment to entrepreneur besides employment to more than 30 people with decent monthly salaries. > Training of entrepreneurs: A comprehensive training Program, around 3 months is planned for entrepreneurs. The classroom component is covered, in one month, which covers all aspects of ‘Jaldoot’ business model. This includes skill development modules for marketing, accounting and management.

Jaldoot Innovation ^ The uniqueness of Jaldoot water purification project is it operates without electricity. This purification system involves taking water from a source such as a pond or lake with the help of a suction pipe and passing them through Ultra-micro filters providing clean water. > This suction pipe is dipped into the water source that allows water to pass through the multistage filtration system consisting of sand filtration, macro and micro filtration and finally through ultrafiltration membrane.

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The pump that is required for connecting to the water source and filtration system is driven by running the engine. > The ultrafiltration membrane system together with the 500 litre capacity stainless steel tank are mounted on a mini tempo or a three wheeler auto rickshaw. This process takes 20 minutes to filter and fill the tank. > This water purification system is mounted on a custom-made three-wheeler vehicle Ape, a product by Piaggio three wheeler, which is feasible to drive on rocky areas. Implementation The promoters of Innoventive Industries have set up independent NGO Swayamsiddha Mahila Utkarsh Foundation under Section 25 of the Companies Act, 1956 which works primarily towards women empowerment and social entrepreneurship. Project Cost An individual project cost for the distribution center to be managed by the entrepreneur with fleet of one vehicle is expected to be around Rs. 10.02 Lakhs. Impact A pilot project to assess the sustainability of the Project was initiated in 2009 in Sanaswadi village in in Pune with just three vehicles. Swayamsiddha ran awareness campaigns, which highlighted the advantages of a reliable source of safe drinking water. The Project has seen a resounding success in terms of the following impact: > 25 vehicles in operation currently with 12 of 15 women drivers, > Safe water distribution of over 40,000 litres per day currently > Population of over 12,000 served > Revenues of over Rs.7 lakhs per month; EBITDA of over Rs. 2.0 lakhs per month Tifeaup Jurther technological advancement and improvement In 2014, Swayamsiddha Mahila Utkarsh Foundation has tied up with Health Point Services India, a sustainable social business enterprise to transform rural & semi-urban in healthcare by providing services for clean drinking water, comprehensive diagnostic services and advance tele-medical services to the community. Future Plans The Foundation will expand the Jaldoot project in villages like , Dhanore, Andalgaon, Hivare Khumbhar, , Taku Haji, Karegaon in Shirur district. Plans are underway to expand the project across Marathwada and Vidarbha region.

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Case Studies in Information Technology Sector

Pune is tagged as the 'Silicon Valley' of India with an approximate 1500 information technology companies. Post Millennium, the infonnation technology sector witnessed a rapid boom, making it as a youngest sector with a total of over 3.5 lakh professionals.

6.3: Steria India: Nurturing towards Self-Independence

Corporate Profile: Groupe Steria SCA (Steria) is a French information technology company having its headquarters in Velizy-Villacoublay. As a Global Group, Steria delivers end-to-end IT-enabled business services to key vertical companies like public services, finance, telecommunications, utilities and transport. The India operations of Steria was acquired in 2010. For over two decades, Steria India (erstwhile IIS Infotech and Xansa) was promoted by its founder-Sanjeev Verma. Having its presence in India for over two decades, Steria leads European IT service providers with 30 percent of its global headcount in India spanning across delivery centers in Noida, Chennai and Pune.

Steria India’s Community Philosophy: During the early days, GSR at Steria India Foundation (SIF) was never perceived as an act of charity. For the company, the whole idea was to empower beneficiaries by helping them to become self-independence. Gayathri Mohan Vice President & Managing Trustee, Steria India Foundation enlightens, “Our community philosophy revolves primarily around ‘Education’. For us, we perceive education as a powerful tool to bridge the social dichotomy of rural-urban divide.” She added, “By way of our education initiative, we drive our CSR efforts with special emphasis on girl child, belonging from the impoverished strata of our society. Through our CSR model, we impart ‘computer literacy’, ‘English language’ and ‘personality development skills’ in and around our campuses in Chennai, Pune and Noida. V is io n : Every child has a right to a successful tomorrow, it is for every adult to make it happen. M ission > To create an environment that facilitates and motivates every member of Steria to contribute to the community in all aspects.

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> To help children realize their dreams and help in making them useful contributing members of society. Steria India Foundation’s CSR Approach: SIF aims to maximize its impact by facilitating the input of a number of stakeholders. y Volunteer driven - Steria staff volunteers drive all CSR initiatives > Client partnership Involvement of local government and district administration NGO involvement

CSR Objectives > To develop and support programs that fulfil Steria India CSR vision. > To create an environment that facilitates and motivates every Steria member to contribute to the community. > To work along with the government, district administration and industry bodies across different locations. > The Steria India CSR Model will also bring in a new dimension - create awareness on environmental issues and sensitize children to the need of protecting the environment. Steria India Foundation Community Model: Steria India Foundation has developed the Community Service Model. This tried and tested Model aims to scale up the reach of beneficiaries and its community work in and around their InfoTech campus.

Focus of the Model Computer Literacy English Language Counselling & Guidance Employment The Steria India Foundation Community Model includes the following:

^ Setting up of computer centres, school libraries and digital classrooms. > Play area in primary schools and sports training for high schools > English language skills - Tense-buster (self-learning software) for high schools > Mentorship sessions for senior children Teacher training sessions & vocational training

Path-Breaking Steria India’s Foundation CSR Practices

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1) One Steria One Country One School Programme (OSOCOS)

The ‘One Steria One Country One School’ initiative brings together the

different Steria group subsidiaries spread across in 15 countries. Explains Gayathri

Mohan, “The OSOC OS programme enables Steria’s global subsidiary to support one

school project in India by way financial sponsorship for all the education driven

initiatives. The Foundation plays the role o f an implementation partner.”

“The Steria group subsidiaries have reaped rich benefits in terms of client

participation, fund raising and employee participation. It provides a imique opportunity

to showcase India’s CSR projects by way interacting with school children via

communication technologies. Till date, subsidiaries like Norway, Sweden, Denmark,

Singapore, France, Germany and Switzerland have joined hands as a part of this

project,” she added.

In Pune center, Steria Germany and Switzerland supports Subhodh Vidyalaya

(Chinchwad) and S. D . Ganage Junior College (Krishnanagar) respectively as a part of

OSCOSO programme.

2) Steria India Foundation Graduate Scholarship Scheme (SIFGSS) Launched in 2008, SIFGSS provides financial help to bright and financially

deprived students with outstanding academic performance to pursue their higher

college education. Called as Steria Scholars, the objective of this Scheme is to award

scholarships studying in Steria supported schools as well as to provide them better

employability opportunities. Till date, the Pune region has over 30 Steria Scholars.

3) Smart Classrooms Steria India Foundation has set up the ‘Smart Classrooms’, where two

classrooms are converted to be smart classroom with the help of computer and

interactive board. Here, the teacher will get access to designed curriculum as per the

prescribed syllabi offered by Tata Class-Edge Software. Here, he or she can prepare

his/her own content, modify, store, recall, revise etc. as per the student requirements.

This entire activity is supported and developed by Steria team of IT professionals.

These centers are run by computer teachers where timely support in terms of training

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is provided. Currently in Pune, the Digital Learning Centre is set up at Dnyandeep

Vidyalaya.

4) Solar Powered Computer Centers

Steria India Foundation, for the first time, introduced the solar powered

computer centre in Talawade PM C School. The whole objective is to provide a green

solution to the chronic power shortages affecting that part of peripheral semi-urban

Pune. To reduce this fi-equent power fluctuations, the solar panels was installed to

instill the benefits of Green IT. In 2014, SIF has set up the solar powered computer

center at S D Ganage High School in Pune which is fully funded by Steria Switzerland.

5) One Day Challenge Community Day Since 2007, as the part of fund-raising activity, SIF has conceptualized the One

Day Challenge (O D C ) initiative for all Steria employees, clients and global subsidiaries

during October-November. Based on the raffle and lucky draw, every Steria

stakeholder has to purchase its raffle ticket for a fixed sum where the winner is declared

at the finale. The objective of O D C is to raise funds for SIF Graduate Scholarship

Scheme and support Steria Scholars. Steria India CSR @ the Pune Infotech Campus

With the Pxme Infotech Campus located in Talawade, Steria C S R practices are concentrated in the industrial belt of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. In Pune, Steria India have successfully extended their CSR support for 19 projects which includes extending

CSR support towards 14 government run municipal school, one orphanage, one school for special children and three in-house projects.

The following are some of the highlights of the CSR projects initiated by Steria India

Foimdation. I. Creating Public Private Partnerships with PCMC Run Primary Schools Since 2003, SIF has supported the PCM C Talawade School where over 355

school children till Class seven belongs to the economically weaker section from the

surrounding locality. Among the various CSR initiatives, SIF has set up the solar-

powered computer centres, organized teachers training in basics of computers,

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leadership clubs, mentorship programme, football training, spelling competition, drawing competitions, summer camps, science exhibition, medical camps and others.

II. Hope for Mentally and Visually Challenged: SIF has been proactively involved with Kalyani Vidyalala—a school for mentally challenged children and Jagriti School for Blind Girls—a residential school exclusively for visually challenged girls. Some of their CSR initiatives for mentally challenged children include teachers training for special children in partnership with Prism Foundation to understand the needs and capabilities of mentally-challenged children. For the visually challenged girls, SIF has set up a Computer Centre equipped with 'JAWS' software, where the girls operate computers with the help of the voice based software.

Future Plans: Discussing the future plans of Steria India Foundation, is Gayathri Mohan, “Steria India Foundation has set up the three-phase plan towards the cause of education. During phase one, we strive to reach out to one lakh children in the next three to four years, from the current 65000 beneficiaries. During the phase two stage, we opt to concentrate and focus on the quality of CSR initiatives carried out by them. Finally, we want to replicate Steria CSR Models in collaboration with other corporates.”

6.4: Persistent Systems :|Transforming Lives through Digital xShnology Skills

Corporate,Profile: Persistent Systems is a Pune-headquartered multinational which specializes in software product and technology services. It was started by Dr Anand Deshpande, a first time entrepreneur during the early nineties. Today, the company with a team of over 7,800 employees, the Company develops software solutions in key next- generation technology areas like Analytics and Cloud Computing. It caters to different sectors like telecommunications, life sciences, health-care and financial services verticals. Genesis of CSR @ Persistent Systems: Since 1995, Persistent Systems has being conducting philanthropic activities by way of donations in the field of medical and

197 Chapter Six Case Studies of Select Companies education. In 2008, Persistent Systems set up Persistent Foundation to institutionalize their CSR practices as well as to develop a systematic approach to administer the process of grant of donations. The Foundation’s Board of Trustees is headed by Sonali Deshpande, wife of Chairman and Managing Director. The other member of trustees are well known independent experts as well as the Chief Finance Officer, Chief Administration Officer and Chief People Officer.

Management Style of the Foundation W ork > Designing and planning its own social projects and implementing the same with the help of Persistent Systems’ employees or implementation partner/s from the respective domain. > Supporting social projects driven by its employees. > Providing monetary support to a number of social initiatives of non-government organizations by generating funds through cause-specific donation drives among the employees of the company. > Capacity-building of non-govemment organizations by providing them donations on an annual basis. > Organizing social events for networking or knowledge-sharing.

Focus Areas of Persistent Foundation As per the CSR Policy, Persistent Foundation primarily works for four board thematic areas across Pune, Bengaluru, Goa, Hyderabad and Nagpur. As on 2013-2014, Persistent Foundation has executed Unique 106 and & Cumulatively 134 projects in 12 Social Domains from four Focus Areas. > H e a lth : (Child Health, Women Health, Health Care for differently-abled and Healtheare for senior citizens) > Education: (Education for the poor, computer education, girls education) > Community Development: (Village Upliftment, Urban upliftment. Welfare o f Differently-abled and Welfare o f Senior Citizens) > Natural Disasters

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Stakeholder’s mapping: For the selection of CSR projects, Persistent Foundation has mapped the external and internal stakeholders. Post the mapping, they have identified and analyzed the disadvantaged, vulnerable and marginalized section of the society.

Persistent Foundation’s CSR Evaluation: Persistent Foundation conducts Impact Assessment for its CSR initiatives. It is done either through weekly meetings, quarterly Board of Trustees meeting, follow-up field visits, giving an opportunity to the beneficiaries to speak at the Persistent Foundation Annual Day, telephonic and email communications with the external parties. For which, they engage with skilled employees from Human Resources, Corporate Secretarial and Finance teams with domain knowledge to monitor the CSR activities.

C SR Financial Disclosures: Probably, Persistent Foundation is one of the few infonnation technology companies in Pune who have accounted and disclosed each and every spent in their Company’s Annual Report. A dedicated section of nearly 20-25 pages is devoted to the Persistent Foundation activities. The Annual Report consists of detailed financial facts and figures on donations received, employee’s contribution and CSR expenditure. Till 2011-2012, the total spending on CSR was one percent of the consolidated Profit after tax. This expenditure has been increased to 1.25 percent of PAT and subsequently two percent as per the provisions of the New Companies 2013. The detailed CSR Financial Statement discloses the following; > The CSR expenditure incurred towards board CSR thematic projects with detailed specifics—project and location wise. > The bird eye view of total income source in terms of donation from Persistent Systems towards corpus, donations from employees, trustees and others towards corpus, donation from Persistent Systems towards expenses, donations from employees, trustees and others towards expenses and return on investments.

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Persistent Foundation’s Key CSR Practices

1) Pune Cyber-Lab and Forensic Lab for Pune Police

Persistent Foundation in association with NASSCOM has executed successfully the project of constructing the cyber and forensic lab for Pune Police. This massive project involved the following activities: > Finalization of layouts in consultation with NASSCOM and Pune Police. > Furnishing of the Detection Room, Conference Room and Server Room with all carpentry work, painting, polishing, vertical blinds, anti-static flooring, modular ceiling and such. > Providing all electrical support for computers, servers and forensic equipment’s. > Providing necessary networking and communication facility with latest technologies and internal telephone exchange. > Air-conditioning systems in all working spaces and CCTV monitoring system for major area coverage.

2) Promotion of Social Entrepreneurship

Persistent Foundation has launched the Social Entrepreneurship Programme for the employees of Persistent Systems. The main aim is to provide an opportunity to design and execute their own projects. Till date, over 25 social entrepreneurs have been promoted by Persistent Foundation. Some of the highlighting projects are as under: > Abhilasha Project: A brainchild of Sarang Gosavi-a Persistent Employee. Through this initiative, Abhilasha project provides career guidance sessions through video-conferencing to the municipal schools. Till date over 1000 plus students have been benefited through this project. > Self-Organized Learning Environment (S.O .L.E): Driven by Bhushan Damle, a Persistent Employee, S.O.L.E project aims to create self-learning environment of internet education in Yeoli village, near Bhor taluka in . The Project offers learning facilities like learning Internet activities through games and puzzles, Skype sessions for English language training and other educational related topics.

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3) Digitization of Records

Persistent Foundation, as a part of urban development has recently taken up the initiative to restore old records in digital format. Currently, the Foundation has initiated this project at Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra (BSSK) and Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, Pune (BORI). At the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute, the Foundation has taken up the mammoth task of digitizing 1,50,000 library records in association with Student Welfare Group’s Earn and Learn scheme students. Likewise, at Bharatiya Samaj Seva Kendra, the Foundation provides support for digitization of records of 4,000 plus orphan children.

4) Cyber Genius and Cyber Champ

Persistent Foundation is actively involved in organizing the Cyber Genius and Cyber Champ-an inter-school competition in joint partnership with Dr Kalmadi Shamarao High School. This inter-school Pune district level competition attracts over 100 schools annually. The contest is conducted for different topics in different groups ranging from Logo and Paint Brush Tool design (mini school children), quiz (sub­ juniors), Q-basic and Point PowerPoint (Juniors) and website development (seniors).

6.5: Conclusion Based on the study of select companies, the researcher concluded that innovation is the new buzzword for engineering sector, while education seems to be hot-favorite CSR activity for information technology sector. Interestingly, it has been concluded that the top management of engineering sector have a strong leadership and drive towards their CSR projects. While on the other hand, the information technology sector is still grappling in the dark to comprehend the nature and scope of CSR activities in terms of inclusion and exclusion. Hence, they seems to be in an experimental mode to implement all CSR activities in a directionless manner. The sector is completely over-dependent on their employees for driving their CSR activities. □ □□ 201