Tata Motors drives CSR through healthcare and education

By Lijee Philip, ET Bureau | 28 Nov, 2014

On the healthcare front, Tata Motors organizes medical camps and trains
community members in first-aid as mid-wives and as community health
workers.
Tata Motors sold 1, 41,846 passenger vehicles in India last year (2013-14). In the same year,
the company planted over 1, 64,000 tress. That might be like comparing apples to oranges but
nevertheless, it's a pointer to the sheer size of the automaker's CSR programs.
Tata Motors' CSR initiatives span a wide range, from driver training schools to combating
malnutrition. It spent around 5.17 per cent of its post-tax profit on such initiatives, during the
last financial year.
"CSR is subject to regular periodic monitoring and there are exhaustive indicators to measure
output, outcomes and impact of each and every program. We see the Companies Act 2013 as
an enabler for bringing in more transparency and accountability in the CSR program," says
Gajendra Chandel, Chief Human Resource Officer, and Tata Motors. Education, environment
and employment are the key focus areas of Tata Motors' CSR drive, says R Mashelkar, a
board member of Tata Motors who has been overseeing the company's CSR activities for
over a year.
The company drives its CSR program from its six manufacturing locations and offices. While
the company runs its Mechanic Motor Vehicle program with the help of its dealers and skill
development agencies, it has 137 industrial training institutes to develop skilled labour in the
agriculture and automotive sector. On the employment front, there should be upward
mobility as the youngsters have aspirations," says Mashelkar.
On the healthcare front, the company organizes medical camps and trains community
members in first-aid as mid-wives and as community health workers. In states like Jharkhand,
where malnourishment among children is high, the company runs malnutrition treatment
centers in partnership with UNICEF and the state government. Any child admitted to such a

center is given free treatment. Over 2.84 lakh people benefit from these healthcare initiatives
every year.
The company's initiative to provide clean drinking in villages is partly funded by its
employees. Tata Motors 27,943 employees contribute Rs 20 per month from their salary
towards the program and the company chips in with an equal amount. Thanks to these
contributions, over one lakh people living in 202 villages have been provided with clean
drinking water.
Through its Tata Education Excellence Program, the company has managed to improve the
pass percentage and the subsequent drop-out rates of students in partner schools in Pune from
70 per cent to 98 per cent and from 35 per cent to less than 5 per cent respectively.
"We are supporting 11 schools in Jamshedpur. Our senior colleagues are on school
management committees to oversee academic performance of students," says Chandel. Tata
Motors also supports municipal schools in cities like Mumbai and institutions like Asha
Kiran, a school for children for special needs.
In 1973, eight women started Tata Motors Grihini Social Welfare Society, which today has
over 1000 employees generating Rs 8.8 crore of revenues by manufacturing everything from
snacks to automotive electronic products. Environment protection is also a key area of focus
for Tata Motors. It undertakes wasteland development and plants over one lakh trees by
partnering with gram panchayats, government departments and NGOs. It also partners with
local communities to develop farms in wastelands. In Jharkhand, the company has developed
40 acres of cultivable wasteland through a lift irrigation project at Jamshedpur. We have also
trained farmers on scientific techniques in vegetable cultivation, soil & fertilizer
management," says Chandel.
The company has also partnered with IIT Bombay for distribution of solar lamps amongst
tribal students in Mumbai and Pune districts. The program is co-funded by the Maharashtra
government and the company.