Godrej Godrej’s major CSR initiatives include education, environment and health donations and it spends more than Rs 70 crore annually. It has set up establishments like Godrej Technical Institute Institute at Bordi, Pirojsha Godrej Research Laboratory, and the Centre for Excellence at Pirojshanagar under its education initiatives. The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation has been maintaining the western bank of the Thane Creek, the single largest mangrove belt in Mumbai. Godrej supports the Foundation for Medical Research, Mumbai for the cure of leprosy and funds the NAZ foundation which works for HIV. Jamshed Godrej, Chairman and MD, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited looks after all the CSR. The Awareness program for Godrej and Boyce, Vikroli, Mumbai was given the ISO 14001 certification.
“Corporate Social Responsibility in Godrej covers many aspects and areas, the greenery and mangroves are just one of them,” according the company. Godrej has been a ke y player in aiding education, environment and the health verticals besides looking after its own employees. Godrej has been investing in several CSR initiatives varying from education for the poor to HIV/AIDS campaigns. However, Godrej’s major CSR themes are Environment and Health-Donations. CSR Programs: Community Employees: Godrej provides pre-primary, primary and secondary schooling to its employee’s children. Environment The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation has been maintaining the western bank of the Thane Creek, the single largest mangrove belt in Mumbai. The Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre launched the Green Business Initiative in December 2005, which was aimed at facilitating the development of corporate greenhouse gas inventories and subsequent investments in greenhouse gas mitigation projects. • The company has also been associated with TRAFFIC-India (Trade Record Analysis of Flora and Fauna in Commerce), a division of WWF-India, which is responsible for monitoring and studying legal and illegal trade in wildlife and its derivatives.
• Godrej is a member of the exclusive "1001: A Nature Trust," which is actively associated with preservation of nature, wildlife and the environment. The company a nnually celebrates "Sarvajanik Holi" which helps to curb the wanton destruction of trees. • Its Godrej Ganga Ecology Panel generates public awareness among the people living on the banks of River Ganga to preserve heritage monuments and also help to control pollution. • The company has some groups like the Envirotech Group – for pollution-reduction and related matters, the Encon Group – for energy conservation and the Garden Department, which looks after the natural environment of numerous areas in Mumbai and in other cities. Godrej also launched the Green Governance Project in 2003 for biodiversity conservation. It is an active participant of The Indian Heritage Society which aims at preserving the architecture of India. Education Godrej established the Pirojsha Godrej Foundation in 1972 which later set up the Godrej Technical Institute at Bordi and the Pirojsha Godrej Research Laboratory. Udayachal Schools having both primary and high school branches were set up by the founder Pirojsha Godrej in 1955 with the aim of helping poor students lead a rich life. So far, 5,469 children have passed out from Udayachal. Godrej is also setting up “The Centre for Excellence” at Pirojshanagar, which will comprise a management institute covering management systems of various types and cultures, including ancient and modern Indian, Western and Japanese.
Outcomes Awards: Godrej has won awards such as: • The BHNS Green Governance Award 2005: Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd received this award on November
10, 2005 for conservation and restoration of habitat. • WWF 25th Anniversary Benefactor “White Pelican” Award was received by S P Godrej for the company’s contribution to conservation of nature and natural resources.
Health HIV: Godrej funds the NAZ foundation which has evolved and implemented a h olistic approach to fight HIV, focusing on prevention as well as treatment. In 2004, Parmeshwar Godrej, wife of Chairman Adi Godrej, launched a three-year Heroes Project which seeks to develop coordinated campaigns to address the spread of HIV/AIDS and reduce stigma and discrimination by educating the public. To fight AIDS, Godrej & Boyce has opened a clinic at its Godrej Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. Donations: Godrej supports the Foundation for Medical Research, Mumbai for the cure of leprosy. Godrej is connected with the Family Planning Foundation, a voluntary organization devoted to promote family planning as a basic human right. The company also funds the “Family Welfare Programme" under which the "Well Baby Clinic" had treated 1135 children by 2006. The Godrej Memorial Trust, established in 1994 runs a clinic in New Delhi which provides facilities for operations, examinations, immunization, counseling and family welfare.
Financial Outlay: The company gives 30% of its profit to charitable pursuits through the Pirojsha Godrej Foundation. In the financial year (2005-2006), the company spent an estimated Rs 70 crore on CSR related projects. Jamshed Godrej, Chairman and MD, Godrej and Boyce Manufacturing Company Limited were earlier the head of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). He looks after all the CSR projects relating to environment, health, education etc for the Godrej group. For his accomplishments, he was given the Padmashri Award in 2003.
Awards: Godrej has won awards such as: The BHNS Green Governance Award 2005: Godrej & Boyce Mfg Co. Ltd received this award on November 10, 2005 for conservation and restoration of habitat. • WWF 25th Anniversary Benefactor “White Pelican” Award was received by S P Godrej for the company’s
contribution to conservation of nature and natural resources. A different approach to the environment is demonstrated by Corporate Social Responsibility in Godrej which “covers many aspects and areas, the greenery and mangroves are just one of them,” according to the company. Godrej has been a key player in aiding education, environment and the health verticals besides looking after its own employees. The company strongly believes that the green environment enhances productivity and quality which has been appreciated by all employees and visitors. The company has a mission of “Enriching quality of life everyday everywhere”. The Soonabai Pirojsha Godrej Foundation has been maintaining the western bank of the Thane Creek, the single largest mangrove belt in Mumbai. The Sohrabji Godrej Green Business Centre launched the Green Business Initiative in December 2005, which was aimed at facilitating the development of corporate greenhouse gas inventories and subsequent investments in greenhouse gas mitigation projects.
CSR and Indian Experience The CSR framework of companies in India has evolved over a period of time. For business conglomerates like Tata, Birla or the Godrej family, their specific a pproaches and strategies are mainly based and driven by the ethical beliefs of the founding fathers. However, of late, the companies have been influenced by several factors including business areas in which the companies operate, the socio-economic environment, and the emerging opportunities. The basic objective of CSR these days is to maximize the company’s overall impact on the society and stakeholders. An increasing number of companies are viewing CSR as a comprehensive set of policies, practices and programs that are integrated throughout the business operations, processes that are supported and rewarded by the top management. A growing number of corporates feel that CSR is not just another cost to the bottom line but is critical for protecting the reputation, defending attacks and building a competitive edge. If integrated in the overall business strategy, CSR could be a remedy for protection against sudden co rporate downfall.
