Pawan Ahluwalia, Managing Director, KJS Cement
KJS Cement is a 2.5-million tonne capacity cement plant which started its production two years back and has exceeded its capacity utilisation. In its two years of operations, the company has launched various CSR activities and to initiate it, the company has adopted 12 villages comprising a population of 10,000 who have been benefited with the CSR activities launched by the company. Pawan Ahluwalia, Managing Director, KJS Cement shares his views with ICR. Excerpts from the interview….
Tell us about your CSR activities.
While concentrating on the plant production and marketing, the company has always kept its social responsibility as one of its priorities and has initiated welfare schemes for people working in the plant and the society at large. In its two years of operations, the company has launched various CSR activities and to initiate it, the company has adopted 12 villages comprising a population of 10,000 who have been benefited with the CSR activities launched by the company.
Could you brief us on the objectives of CSR activities KJS is involved?
When an industrial unit is established in a particular vicinity, it affects the environment and most of the time the farmers lose their land under acquisition for the industry. The society expect from the industries that the losses they suffer shall be mitigated by the industry to help them in seeking employment, contracts and other resource of livelihood in the industry. They also expect that the social upbringing process will be initiated in the nearby vicinity. The downtrodden people expect that by involvement of the industry, their basic needs would be taken care of and hence, KJS has taken up the CSR in the areas of basic needs, i.e., medical care, education, drinking water and means of employment. Steps to involve the youth in constructive activities and sports activities have also been initiated.
What is the budget earmarked for CSR activities?
We have earmarked Rs 500 crore per annum for CSR activities. The HR and CSR teams in fact conduct the survey and identify the needs where CSR is essential and they plan the budget. After the approval of the management, CSR plans are executed by them. The company is planning to make these 12 villages as ?Adarsh Gaun? of the state. Continued efforts are made by the company not only to continue with these CSR activities, but even to enhance the budget of CSR as per requirement of the people in the vicinity.
What is the impact of CSR on the society?
IR problems have minimised and positive attitude developed in the villagers?mind as they have been largely benefited by training for job and social upliftment. Positive opinion among the people around is a major advantage and the villagers have become ambassadors for promoting a goodwill for the company. Villagers came out to help and deliver their positive comments in public hearing for environment clearance and they never object to expansion plans of the industry. The relationship with the nearby villages has become like a family and they participate in all functions of the company.