Connect with us

Concrete

Our mission is to positively impact as many lives possible

Published

on

Shares

ICR engages Jayakumar Krishnaswamy, Managing Director, Nuvoco Vistas Corp, in a detailed conversation about the company’s Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives, its success stories and vision for the future.

What is your vision and mission for Nuvoco’s CSR programme?
Through our corporate social responsibility projects and sustainable development initiatives, we envision the creation of a self-reliant world – one in which local communities can positively engage and create tangible value. Our mission is to positively impact as many lives as possible through projects on health, education, livelihood and environment protection by partnering with relevant stakeholders to contribute to achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals.

What is the budget allocated by your organisation for CSR and community building activities? What will be the areas of focus for FY 2022-23?
Nuvoco has had a long-standing commitment to sustainable development through its core value of ‘Care’. The company’s CSR activities are based on five overarching themes namely:

  • Sangrahit Bharat (Natural Resource Management & Clean Energy)
  • Swasth Bharat (Health)
  • Shikshit Bharat (Education)
  • Saksham Bharat (Livelihood)
  • Sanrachit Bharat (Infrastructure development)


The pandemic-induced disruptions over the past two years have led to major setbacks for primary and secondary education, this is especially true for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and socio-economically weaker sections of society, who didn’t have the same access to online education as their urban counterparts. Hence, for FY23, our focus will be on improving the health status of women and children, and promoting quality education infrastructure.

Which of your flagship CSR projects have been the most successful? What are its most notable achievements?
Below are some of Nuvoco’s most notable flagship CSR projects that we would like to highlight.
Project Daksh: Last year, in association with Shahi Exports, Nuvoco provided training in industrial skills to more than 175 girls from rural areas of which nearly 150 girls have been successfully employed in various organisations. Nuvoco also provided basic training on bedside patient assistance to these young girls to increase their employability. These skills training programmes have helped girls from socio-economically disadvantaged backgrounds garner meaningful job opportunities and sustain their families in rural areas.
Project Samriddhi: In the last year, Project Samriddhi has helped train more than 750 farmers in new and improved agriculture techniques and methods. We have trained farmers in West Bengal in SRI (System of Rice Intensification) – a method of paddy cultivation. Through this, they were able to enhance their paddy productivity by 25 to 30 per cent. We have also trained 100 women farmers in mushroom cultivation and this has helped them to earn an additional income of around 3000 to 4000 rupees per month. We also federated 450 women farmers to form a Sanchari Women Farmer Producer Company Limited; so far, they have collected a total share capital of 4.5 lacs for the registration of the company.
Project TARA: This project aims to support the frail healthcare infrastructure in villages and improve healthcare services in rural areas in India surrounding Nuvoco’s plants and factories.

  • Through project TARA, we have adopted 162 anganwadis near our Chittorgarh Cement Plant and are working to transform them into model recreational units.
  • We also aim to achieve 100 per cent ANC (Ante-Natal Care) tests for pregnant women in our project villages. To achieve this, we have provided mobile Ante-Natal Care (ANC) check-up kits that are integrated with a mobile app to the government health workers in these rural areas. Government health workers like ANM (Auxiliary Nurse and Midwife), ASHA (Accredited Social Health Activist) and AWW (Anganwadi Worker) were trained to operate the kits and conduct compulsory ANC for pregnant women in our project villages. Through this initiative, we have been able to bring crucial ANC facilities to the doorstep of rural families in need.
  • Furthermore, there is another initiative called the Girls Health Group wherein we seek to address health issues faced by adolescent girls in rural areas. Our team decided to form these groups across rural areas so that girls from every village can become members and discuss issues related to their health with their peers and seek solutions for them. For instance, the non-availability of sanitary napkins in villages was a major problem for young girls and women. In order to tackle this issue, we started sanitary pad banks in villages through our GHGs. Today, we are proud to highlight that almost every girl in our project village has access to sanitary napkins, thereby improving their menstrual hygiene and limiting the occurrence of infections.

How many women from Aakriti, an initiative under Saksham Bharat, have been empowered since its inception?
Project Aakriti is one of our most successful and unique initiatives that has helped to accelerate progress toward the economic empowerment of rural women. This project started in 2014 as a single Stitching Training Centre, today, it has graduated to a ‘Production Centre’ with a turnover of more than 20 lakhs per annum, supporting the livelihood of more than 400 women across locations (Mejia, Sonadih and Arasmeta). All the women trained under project Aakriti have benefitted immensely from the skills imparted and most of them are now self-employed or have jobs. Due to its extraordinary success, the project was the winner of the FICCI CSR Award 2017-18 for Women Empowerment.

What efforts have been taken by your organisation in the education sector? What has its impact been on the children?
We have installed state-of-the-art smart classes in 40 government schools across five states. These smart classes have audio-visual course content in local languages from class 1 to class 12, making it easier for students in higher secondary classes to grasp complex science and mathematical concepts. These smart classes proved to be a huge boon for both students and teachers during the lockdown as they could use the content for online classes and ensure that learning wasn’t interrupted. Overall, the project has ensured that the quality of education in government schools is improved and that there is a rise in digital-forward education practices in rural areas that often tend to get left behind when it comes to adopting tech-based education.

How did the pandemic impact your community-building activities?
The pandemic has had a significant impact on our community development projects and initiatives. Due to the devastating impact of Covid-19 across the country, we had to pivot and shift our focus to relief related activities such as setting up Covid Care centres in villages, conducting sanitization drives, spreading awareness on Covid-19 protocols and providing sanitisers and face masks to the villagers.

In which areas are you planning to expand your CSR and community building activities? What results are you expecting from the same?
In the past few years, we have streamlined our CSR activities so that there is an increased focus on achieving Global Sustainable Goals. Last year, we added the theme of Sangrahit Bharat through which we will be focusing on natural resource management and promoting clean energy initiatives in villages. Apart from our other themes of health, education and livelihood, this theme will focus on promoting the sustainable use of natural resources, especially groundwater – an increasingly scarce resource across the country. We will work towards improving groundwater availability through recharging, rainwater harvesting and reducing the rampant use of underground water. This will involve activities such as constructing recharging pits, anicuts on small water streams and rainwater harvesting structures in local buildings.
We will also focus on promoting clean energy initiatives in villages by installing solar street lights, promoting the use of solar pumps, and installing small solar plants in community buildings like panchayat offices, primary health centres in villages, government school buildings, etc.

What are the biggest challenges you face while building and empowering communities around your plants?
One of the biggest challenges that we face while building and empowering communities around our plants is the matter of creating ownership of projects among stakeholders. Community members often feel that it is our responsibility to continue to run all the projects for an indefinite period rather than for a fixed period with a particular objective.
Also, since most of the villages we work with are situated in remote rural areas that lack basic infrastructure facilities, we often face resistance when it comes to implementing health, education and livelihood-based programmes. Hence, a lot of knowledge sharing, and awareness creation activities are conducted to convince communities to accept the facilities.

Tell us about the awards and accolades

  • won by your organisation for CSR and community building.
  • 2015-16 – BT CSR Award by Bureaucracy Today for innovative CSR projects
  • 2016-17 – FICCI CSR Award (Jury Recommendation) for Women empowerment
  • 2017-18 – FICCI CSR Award for Women Empowerment
  • 2017-18 – NGO Box CSR Award for Women Empowerment
  • 2018-19 – FICCI CSR Award (Jury Recommendation) for Education.

Kanika Mathur

Concrete

FORNNAX Appoints Dieter Jerschl as Sales Partner for Central Europe

Published

on

By

Shares



FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY has appointed industry veteran Dieter Jerschl as its new sales partner in Germany to strengthen its presence across Central Europe. The partnership aims to accelerate the adoption of FORNNAX’s high-capacity, sustainable recycling solutions while building long-term regional capabilities.

FORNNAX TECHNOLOGY, one of the leading advanced recycling equipment manufacturers, has announced the appointment of a new sales partner in Germany as part of its strategic expansion into Central Europe. The company has entered into a collaborative agreement with Mr. Dieter Jerschl, a seasoned industry professional with over 20 years of experience in the shredding and recycling sector, to represent and promote FORNNAX’s solutions across key European markets.

Mr. Jerschl brings extensive expertise from his work with renowned companies such as BHS, Eldan, Vecoplan, and others. Over the course of his career, he has successfully led the deployment of both single machines and complete turnkey installations for a wide range of applications, including tyre recycling, cable recycling, municipal solid waste, e-waste, and industrial waste processing.

Speaking about the partnership, Mr. Jerschl said,
“I’ve known FORNNAX for over a decade and have followed their growth closely. What attracted me to this collaboration is their state-of-the-art & high-capacity technology, it is powerful, sustainable, and economically viable. There is great potential to introduce FORNNAX’s innovative systems to more markets across Europe, and I am excited to be part of that journey.”

The partnership will primarily focus on Central Europe, including Germany, Austria, and neighbouring countries, with the flexibility to extend the geographical scope based on project requirements and mutual agreement. The collaboration is structured to evolve over time, with performance-driven expansion and ongoing strategic discussions with FORNNAX’s management. The immediate priority is to build a strong project pipeline and enhance FORNNAX’s brand presence across the region.

FORNNAX’s portfolio of high-performance shredding and pre-processing solutions is well aligned with Europe’s growing demand for sustainable and efficient waste treatment technologies. By partnering with Mr. Jerschl—who brings deep market insight and established industry relationships—FORNNAX aims to accelerate adoption of its solutions and participate in upcoming recycling projects across the region.

As part of the partnership, Mr. Jerschl will also deliver value-added services, including equipment installation, maintenance, and spare parts support through a dedicated technical team. This local service capability is expected to ensure faster project execution, minimise downtime, and enhance overall customer experience.

Commenting on the long-term vision, Mr. Jerschl added,
“We are committed to increasing market awareness and establishing new reference projects across the region. My goal is not only to generate business but to lay the foundation for long-term growth. Ideally, we aim to establish a dedicated FORNNAX legal entity or operational site in Germany over the next five to ten years.”

For FORNNAX, this partnership aligns closely with its global strategy of expanding into key markets through strong regional representation. The company believes that local partnerships are critical for navigating complex market dynamics and delivering solutions tailored to region-specific waste management challenges.

“We see tremendous potential in the Central European market,” said Mr. Jignesh Kundaria, Director and CEO of FORNNAX.
“Partnering with someone as experienced and well-established as Mr. Jerschl gives us a strong foothold and allows us to better serve our customers. This marks a major milestone in our efforts to promote reliable, efficient and future-ready recycling solutions globally,” he added.

This collaboration further strengthens FORNNAX’s commitment to environmental stewardship, innovation, and sustainable waste management, supporting the transition toward a greener and more circular future.

 

Continue Reading

Concrete

Budget 2026–27 infra thrust and CCUS outlay to lift cement sector outlook

Published

on

By

Shares



Higher capex, city-led growth and CCUS funding improve demand visibility and decarbonisation prospects for cement

Mumbai

Cement manufacturers have welcomed the Union Budget 2026–27’s strong infrastructure thrust, with public capital expenditure increased to Rs 12.2 trillion, saying it reinforces infrastructure as the central engine of economic growth and strengthens medium-term prospects for the cement sector. In a statement, the Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) has welcomed the Union budget 2026-27 for reinforcing the ambitions for the nation’s growth balancing the aspirations of the people through inclusivity inspired by the vision of Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, for a Viksit Bharat by 2047 and Atmanirbharta.

The budget underscores India’s steady economic trajectory over the past 12 years, marked by fiscal discipline, sustained growth and moderate inflation, and offers strong demand visibility for infrastructure linked sectors such as cement.

The Budget’s strong infrastructure push, with public capital expenditure rising from Rs 11.2 trillion in fiscal year 2025–26 to Rs 12.2 trillion in fiscal year 2026–27, recognises infrastructure as the primary anchor for economic growth creating positive prospects for the Indian cement industry and improving long term visibility for the cement sector. The emphasis on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities with populations above 5 lakh and the creation of City Economic Regions (CERs) with an allocation of Rs 50 billion per CER over five years, should accelerate construction activity across housing, transport and urban services, supporting broad based cement consumption.

Logistics and connectivity measures announced in the budget are particularly significant for the cement industry. The announcement of new dedicated freight corridors, the operationalisation of 20 additional National Waterways over the next five years, the launch of the Coastal Cargo Promotion Scheme to raise the modal share of waterways and coastal shipping from 6 per cent to 12 per cent by 2047, and the development of ship repair ecosystems should enhance multimodal freight efficiency, reduce logistics costs and improve the sector’s carbon footprint. The announcement of seven high speed rail corridors as growth corridors can be expected to further stimulate regional development and construction demand.

Commenting on the budget, Parth Jindal, President, Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA), said, “As India advances towards a Viksit Bharat, the three kartavya articulated in the Union Budget provide a clear context for the Nation’s growth and aspirations, combining economic momentum with capacity building and inclusive progress. The Cement Manufacturers’ Association (CMA) appreciates the Union Budget 2026-27 for the continued emphasis on manufacturing competitiveness, urban development and infrastructure modernisation, supported by over 350 reforms spanning GST simplification, labour codes, quality control rationalisation and coordinated deregulation with States. These reforms, alongside the Budget’s focus on Youth Power and domestic manufacturing capacity under Atmanirbharta, stand to strengthen the investment environment for capital intensive sectors such as Cement. The Union Budget 2026-27 reflects the Government’s focus on infrastructure led development emerging as a structural pillar of India’s growth strategy.”

He added, “The Rs 200 billion CCUS outlay for various sectors, including Cement, fundamentally alters the decarbonisation landscape for India’s emissions intensive industries. CCUS is a significant enabler for large scale decarbonisation of industries such as Cement and this intervention directly addresses the technology and cost requirements of the Cement sector in context. The Cement Industry, fully aligned with the Government of India’s Net Zero commitment by 2070, views this support as critical to enabling the adoption and scale up of CCUS technologies while continuing to meet the Country’s long term infrastructure needs.”

Dr Raghavpat Singhania, Vice President, CMA, said, “The government’s sustained infrastructure push supports employment, regional development and stronger local supply chains. Cement manufacturing clusters act as economic anchors across regions, generating livelihoods in construction, logistics and allied sectors. The budget’s focus on inclusive growth, execution and system level enablers creates a supportive environment for responsible and efficient expansion offering opportunities for economic growth and lending momentum to the cement sector. The increase in public capex to Rs 12.2 trillion, the focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, and the creation of City Economic Regions stand to strengthen the growth of the cement sector. We welcome the budget’s emphasis on tourism, cultural and social infrastructure, which should broaden construction activity across regions. Investments in tourism facilities, heritage and Buddhist circuits, regional connectivity in Purvodaya and North Eastern States, and the strengthening of emergency and trauma care infrastructure in district hospitals reinforce the cement sector’s role in enabling inclusive growth.”

CMA also noted the Government’s continued commitment to fiscal discipline, with the fiscal deficit estimated at 4.3 per cent of GDP in FY27, reinforcing macroeconomic stability and investor confidence.

Continue Reading

Concrete

Steel: Shielded or Strengthened?

CW explores the impact of pro-steel policies on construction and infrastructure and identifies gaps that need to be addressed.

Published

on

By

Shares



Going forward, domestic steel mills are targeting capacity expansion
of nearly 40 per cent through till FY31, adding 80-85 mt, translating
into an investment pipeline of $ 45-50 billion. So, Jhunjhunwala points
out that continuing the safeguard duty will be vital to prevent a surge
in imports and protect domestic prices from external shocks. While in
FY26, the industry operating profit per tonne is expected to hold at
around $ 108, similar to last year, the industry’s earnings must
meaningfully improve from hereon to sustain large-scale investments.
Else, domestic mills could experience a significant spike in industry
leverage levels over the medium term, increasing their vulnerability to
external macroeconomic shocks.(~$ 60/tonne) over the past one month,
compressing the import parity discount to ~$ 23-25/tonne from previous
highs of ~$ 70-90/tonne, adds Jhunjhunwala. With this, he says, “the
industry can expect high resistance to further steel price increases.”

Domestic HRC prices have increased by ~Rs 5,000/tonne
“Aggressive
capacity additions (~15 mt commissioned in FY25, with 5 mt more by
FY26) have created a supply overhang, temporarily outpacing demand
growth of ~11-12 mt,” he says…

To read the full article Click Here

Continue Reading

Trending News