Other Community initiatives

Providing healthcare

Sanjivani Mobile Medical Facility:We started Sanjivani, a mobile medical

service in 2003, to offer effective medical care in villages surrounding our Doom Dooma factory
in Assam. The objective has been to meet the basic medical needs of people living in the remote
villages in Assam through a free mobile medical facility.

Apart from basic medical services, Sanjivani also spreads awareness about hygiene, child
immunisation, family planning etc. The project covers a radius of 40 km around the factory with
two mobile vans equipped with basic medical equipment and a specialised team comprising one
male and one female doctor, two nurses, a medical attendant and drivers. On an average, 400
Sanjivini medical camps are conducted every year in remote villages surrounding our factory.
The project is run in close co-ordination with the local administration and its progress is
reviewed every quarter.

Assisting women through education

Fair & Lovely Foundation:Scholarships of up to INR 1 lakh have been awarded to those women
who do not have the financial strength to realize their dreams, but have the aptitude, drive, and
ambition to carve a place of pride for themselves in society. The scholarship which was awarded
only to postgraduate studies has now been extended to graduate students as well. Since 2003,
more than 790 scholarships have been awarded to women across India.

Disaster relief and rehabilitation

Floods, Bihar, 2008:We contributed 10,000 kits worth INR 60 lakh as the first installment of
material for immediate relief of the flood affected families in Araria District in Bihar. The kit
contained essential items such as utensils, clothes, blankets, and other useful material.
In all, 12 truckloads of material were distributed to the affected families under the guidance of
the Araria District Magistrate. A sum of INR 84 lakh was contributed by HUL and our
employees to rehabilitate the underprivileged amongst the flood-affected families in the village
of Jorgama, Madhepura district, Bihar. The project aims at theconstruction of 100 disaster proof
houses for the purpose of rehabilitation.

Tsunami, South India, 2006:We contributed over INR 10 crores towards the relief and
rehabilitation of tsunami-affected families by way of providing relief material, land, and
construction of facilities. We distributed nutritional and personal hygiene products worth INR 5
crores for immediate relief to the needy soon after the tsunami hit the region. Later, pursuant to a
request from the Government of Tamil Nadu about the urgent need for housing the affected
families, we donated 5.27 acres of land (market value on a conservative basis is INR 4.5 crores)
at Tondiarpet, Chennai, to the government. The complex has 960 permanent houses spread over
5.27 acres of land. Our employees also made a contribution of INR 50 lakhs which was used to
construct the facilities in the complex.

Caring for the vulnerable

Asha Daan:In 1976, HUL provided a 72,500 sq. ft plot for setting up Asha Daan in the heart of
Mumbai. This home is supported by the Missionaries of Charity and cares for abandoned and
challenged children, victims of HIV, and the destitute. We bear the capital and revenue expenses
for maintenance, upkeep, and security of the premises.

The needs of the abandoned/challenged children are met by the Sisters of the Home. Special
classes are arranged that teach the children basic skills, physiotherapy, etc. Whenever necessary,
we also arrange for corrective surgery in city hospitals. In 1995, we were able to open a ward for
female HIV positive patients, which was one of Mother Teresa's dearest desires.

……………………………………

CSR activities:

Greening Barriers:

Water Conservation and Harvesting

(linked to product Pureit)

HUL's Water Conservation and Harvesting project has two major objectives:
a. to reduce water consumption in its own operations and regenerate sub-soil water tables at its
own sites through the principles of 5R - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Recover and Renew;
b. help adjacent villages to implement appropriate models of watershed development. 

SHAKTI - Changing Lives in Rural India

Shakti is HUL's rural initiative, which targets small villages with population of less than 2000
people or less. It seeks to empower underprivileged rural women by providing income-
generating opportunities, health and hygiene education through the Shakti Vani programme, and
creating access to relevant information through the iShakti community portal.

In general, rural women in India are underprivileged and need a sustainable source of income.
NGOs, governmental bodies and other institutions have been working to improve the status of
rural women. Shakti is a pioneering effort in creating livelihoods for rural women, organised in
Self-Help Groups (SHGs), and improving living standards in rural India. Shakti provides
critically needed additional income to these women and their families, by equipping and training
them to become an extended arm of the company's operation.

Health & Hygiene Education

Lifebuoy Swastya Chetna (LBSC) is a rural health and hygiene initiative which was started in
2002. LBSC was initiated in media dark villages (in UP, MP, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra,
Orissa) with the objective of spreading awareness about the importance of washing hands with
soap.

The need for a program of this nature arose from the fact that diarrhoeal diseases are a major
cause of death in the world today. It is estimated that diarrhoea claims the life of a child every 10
seconds and one third of these deaths are in India. According to a study done by the London
School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the simple practice of washing hands with soap and
water can reduce diarrhoea by as much as 47%. However, ignorance of such basic hygiene
practices leads to high mortality rates in rural India.

Economic Empowerment of Women

The Fair & Lovely Foundation is HUL's initiative which aims at economic empowerment of
women across India. It aims to achieve this through providing information, resources, inputs and
support in the areas of education, career and enterprise. It specifically targets women from low-
income groups in rural as well as urban India. Fair & Lovely, as a brand, stands on the economic
empowerment platform and the Foundation is an extension of this promise. The Foundation has
renowned Indian women, from various walks of life, as its advisors. Among them are
educationists, NGO activists, physicians. The Foundation is implementing its activities in
association with state governments.
Special Education & Rehabilitation

Under the Happy Homes initiative, HUL supports special education and rehabilitation of
children with challenges.

Asha Daan:
The initiative began in 1976, when HUL supported Mother Teresa and the Missionaries of
Charity to set up Asha Daan, a home in Mumbai for abandoned, challenged children, and the
destitute.

Ankur:
In 1993, HUL's Doom Dooma Plantation Division set up Ankur, a centre for special education of
challenged children. The centre takes care of children with challenges, aged between 5 and 15
years. Ankur provides educational, vocational and recreational activities to over 35 children with
a range of challenges, including sight or hearing impairment, polio related disabilities, cerebral
palsy and severe learning difficulties.

Kappagam:
Encouraged by Ankur's success, Kappagam ("shelter"), the second centre for special education of
challenged children, was set up in 1998 on HUL Plantations in South India. It has 17 children.
The focus of Kappagam is the same as that of Ankur.

Anbagam:
Yet another day care center, Anbagam ("shelter of love"), has been started in 2003 also in the
South India Plantations. It takes care of 11 children. Besides medical care and meals, they too are
being taught skills such that they can become self-reliant and elementary studies

……………………………………..

Career progression
As one of the world's largest consumer goods companies, the scale and
importance of our supply chain operation offers many fascinating career
paths.

Access all areas

As your career progresses, you’ll have opportunities to work within the full spectrum of
disciplines, roles and areas. You'll gain exposure at global, regional and local levels across a
broad range of categories, markets and technologies. You'll take on different responsibilities that
allow you to directly impact business performance. And through world-class professional
learning programmes, you’ll develop the expertise necessary to become highly effective in your
specialisation.

Qualities & skills

You're exceptionally organised with a hands-on approach and excellent IT skills. You're good at
managing people, projects, information and change. You have an entrepreneurial mind when it
comes to innovation and cost saving. You also have the ability to create strong links with
individuals from a variety of different cultures and backgrounds.

…………………………………………………….

Water
We will conserve water by working on a wide range of locally relevant initiatives and
partnerships for water conservation and spread awareness about the issue amongst our consumers
and communities.

We are working with specialised NGO partners in the field of water conservation, and use
various models with specific performance indicators and evaluation procedures. We began this
journey seven years ago to build our learning. Since then, we have been engaged in successful
projects on water conservation across different terrains in India which face acute shortage of
water.

Click here for enlarged view

Successful water conservation pilot projects

Project Khamgaon
Seven years ago, our team from the Khamgaon factory started a pilot watershed management
project, on a five hectare plot, to prevent soil degradation and to conserve water. The selected
area was located in a dry and arid region of Maharashtra. The efforts have resulted in the creation
of a green belt, which is now a veritable forest with about 6,300 trees. Encouraged by the results,
we extended the model to a neighbouring village, Parkhed, in association with The Energy and
Resources Institute (TERI) and BAIF Development Research Foundation. The community at
Parkhed constructed 47 percolation bunds, 1,600 trenches, 6,000 running metres of continuous
contour trenching over 100 hectares and five permanent check dams. More than 350 families are
reaping the second crop, which is made possible by the check dams.

The total land under cultivation during the

second crop season is approximately 470 acres. The annual income of the farmers in the vicinity
of the five check dams has increased from an average of INR 36,000 to approximately INR
85,000, per farmer. This success has been attributed to the availability of well water during the
Rabi season and an increase in the water level during the Kharif season. Hence, along with
reaping a Rabi crop, the farmers have also been able to almost double the yield of the Kharif
crop. This initiative received appreciation at the Johannesburg World Summit on Sustainable
Development.

   

Project Silvassa
In April 2004, Vanarai and HUL started a project in Karchond and later in Dapada, Pati, Sindoni,
and Silvassa. Till March 2010, the project has made an impact on water and soil conservation.
The project has ensured sustainable development of water and land resources, locals have
attained self-sufficiency in basic needs of food, water, fodder and fuel, and local employment
opportunities have been generated through increased economic activity.

The other highlights are:

- More than 67 million litres of water have been harvested since 2004
- Additional income of INR 160 lakhs was accrued to villagers during project period
- 325 families have benefited under various programmes, 130 families now have 
  access to the public toilet facility
- Soil conservation treatment has been carried out on 282 hectares of land
- 12,000 mango seedlings have been planted
- 22 bore wells and 20 open wells were recharged

Project Puducherry  

In 2008-09, HUL's Puducherry unit partnered with DHAN Foundation, Madurai and identified
eight village ponds for renovation to enhance the water availability. One of the unique aspects of
the project was to form social capital by organizing villagers into pond association and empower
them to execute the physical renovation work. The pilot project has improved water availability
in eight village ponds by harvesting monsoon run-off. Rainwater harvesting storage of 22300 cu.
meter has fulfilled the multiple domestic needs of 4519 households in eight hamlets and 346
acres are now irrigated due to the rejuvenation of ground water.

  

………………………………………….

Livelihoods
Enhancing livelihoods has been another area where we have built partnerships to make a
difference.

We have developed innovative distribution channels, like Shakti, based on micro-enterprise

models as part of our business process. We have also implemented community initiatives to
enhance livelihoods with NGO partners, such as:

- Enhancing livelihoods of 75,000 poor women in partnership with DHAN Foundation

- Enhancing livelihoods in Dadra & Nagar Haveli through vocational training for 1080
  tribal youth. This programme was to complement and expand our impact in the
  region through the existing water conservation project.
Project in partnership with DHAN Foundation

75,000 women from rural, urban, tribal, or coastal areas in the south were given information on
how to pool in their own savings, access bank resources and identify commercial activities based
on their skills and local market potential. Their activities moblised more than INR 52 crores and
generated an incremental income of INR 18 crores.

Project in partnership with Aide et action

With Aide et Action we have set up iLEAD centers for the youth in Silvassa, offering vocational
courses like tailoring, basic knowledge about computers, electrical wiring, etc.

As of now, 60% of the trained students have been successfully placed in different organisations
in the region. Young women like Vimala Chatta, who is a Class 2 dropout, today earns INR 3000
a month because of the tailoring skills she picked up in an iLEAD course.Deepak Pargi learnt
how to use Photoshop and started his own photo studio at Surangi.

The short term courses offered by iLEAD are attuned to the demands and needs of the industry
leading to more relevant employment opportunities, thus leading to higher returns. This is a win-
win model for local communities and businesses. What is remarkable is that the youth from the
iLEAD programme are pitching in by mobilising new trainees, and providing necessary
counselling about taking up jobs outside their village through an alumni association they set up!
Youngsters are also given necessary space and advice when they want to establish their own
enterprises

……………………………………………………

HUL’s initiative in Rural Development - Shakti

Hindusthan Unilever Limited (HUL) and its constituent companies have been in India since
1931. The Company has consciously developed its strategies and operations keeping in view,
development of India as the focus for its growth. The company’s main contributions are
developing and using relevant technologies, stimulating industrialization, boosting exports,
adding value to agriculture and generating productive employment and income opportunities.
HUL has been engaged in rural development since 1976 in India. The first programme called
IRDP (Integrated Rural Development Program) was started in the year 1976 at Eta district in
Uttar Pradesh as a part of its dairy operations. This programme now covers 500 villages in the
district. Later, in all the places where HUL established their factories, similar programmes were
also started in adjacent Villages. These activities focus on training the farmers for better
productive use of their agricultural resources, animal husbandry, generating alternative income,
health & hygiene and infrastructure development.
The most important contribution for rural development is to create income - generating
opportunities to villagers. Such initiatives will only be successful when linked with the
companies core business and is mutually beneficial to both the customers for whom the
programme in intended and also for the company.
Based on these insights HUL launched project Shakti in the year 2001 in keeping with the
purpose of integrating business interests with national interests.

Project Shakthi
The objectives of project Shakthi are to create income - generating capabilities for
underprivileged rural women by providing a small-scale enterprise opportunity, and to improve
rural living standards through health and hygiene awareness. It is ushering in prosperity and
more importantly, self-respect to women in rural India.
Under the project, HUL offers a range of mass-market products to the Self Help Groups (SHG s)
which are relevant to rural customers. HUL imparts the necessary training to these groups on
the basis of enterprise management which the women need to manage their enterprises. For the
SHG women, this translates into a much-needed, sustainable income contributing towards
better living and prosperity. Armed with micro-credit women from SHG’s become direct-to-
home distributors in rural markets.
A typical Shakthi entrepreneur conducts a steady business which gives her an income in excess
of Rs.1000/- per month on a sustainable basis. As most of these women live below the poverty
line and hail from small villages with less than 2000 population, this earning is very significant.
Project Shakthi thus enables these families to live with dignity, with real freedom from want. In
addition to money there is a marked change in the woman’s status within the household, with a
much greater say in decision making. This will lead to better health and hygiene, education of
their children especially the girl child and an overall betterment in living standards.
The important and notable aspect of this model is it creates a win-win partnership between HUL
and the consumers, some of whom will depend on the organization for their livelihood and
builds a sustainable cycle of growth for all.

………………………………………..