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Our mission is to positively impact as many lives possible

Published

4 years ago

May 12, 2022

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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

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JSW Cement Commissions 1 MTPA Unit in Rajasthan

Rajasthan grinding capacity rises to 3.50 MTPA after commissioning

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2026

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JSW Cement has commissioned an additional 1 MTPA cement grinding unit in Nagaur, Rajasthan, taking the company’s total cement grinding capacity to 25.1 MTPA. The commissioning was announced on Tuesday, October 6.

The company said the new unit had increased the total cement grinding capacity at its Rajasthan plant to 3.50 MTPA. The expansion adds to JSW Cement’s production infrastructure as it continues to build capacity across its operating network.

The company’s total clinker manufacturing capacity, including capacity at its joint venture JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA. Clinker is an intermediate material used in cement production, and its availability supports the company’s grinding operations.

JSW Cement is also pursuing a proposed merger of its listed subsidiary Shiva Cement with the company. The scheme, approved by the boards of the respective companies, involves issuing five fully paid-up JSW Cement equity shares for every 41 shares held by Shiva Cement shareholders other than JSW Cement.

The arrangement remains subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. JSW Cement currently holds 66.23 per cent of Shiva Cement’s paid-up equity share capital, and the shares held by JSW Cement in the subsidiary will be cancelled under the proposal without any issue of JSW Cement shares against that holding.

The scheme has an appointed date of April 1, 2026, and the company has indicated that completion could take 12 to 14 months, depending on the receipt of approvals. These include clearances from stock exchanges, the Securities and Exchange Board of India, the National Company Law Tribunal and other applicable authorities, along with approvals from shareholders and creditors where required. JSW Cement shares closed at Rs. 113.15 on the BSE, up Rs. 2.05, or 1.85 per cent.

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Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

3 days ago

October 9, 2026

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Singh brings 20+ years of brand and marketing experience, and will lead integrated corporate brand communication initiatives at Wonder Cement

New Delhi

Wonder Cement, a leading cement manufacturer, has appointed Mahesh Singh as Vice President – Corporate Brand Communication. In his new role, he will oversee corporate brand strategy and communication, including digital and performance marketing, public relations, trade, events, exhibitions, sports and experiential marketing.

Singh brings over two decades of experience across marketing and communications, with roles spanning the automotive industry, agencies and entrepreneurship. He spent more than a decade with Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India, working across integrated communication, media, digital, retail and consumer engagement. His stint also included helping build the company’s digital marketing capabilities.

He moved to dentsu X India as Vice President – Strategy & Planning, working across categories such as automotive, auto components, electric vehicles, FMCG, consumer electronics, BFSI, apparel and brand consulting. His responsibilities included media and marketing strategy, product launches, content, performance marketing and consumer activations.

Singh subsequently took an entrepreneurial route with Radiant Brands before joining Shriram Ltd (SPR Autotech) as Head – Marketing & Communications. There, his remit included brand and corporate strategy, communications, PR and ORM, retail identity, loyalty programmes and events.

At Wonder Cement, Singh will be responsible for bringing together the company’s corporate brand communication initiatives across digital, performance marketing, PR, trade, sports and experiential platforms. The role will focus on creating an integrated approach to communication across consumers, trade partners and other key stakeholders.

The appointment brings to Wonder Cement a marketer whose career has spanned the brand, agency and entrepreneurial sides of the communications ecosystem.

Wonder Cement, part of the RK Group, is a cement manufacturer with roots in Rajasthan and a focus on quality, trust and transparency. The company has grown to six manufacturing plants, and a cement capacity of 21.5 MTPA. With more than 2,000 employees and a network of over 5,000 dealers, its operations span manufacturing, distribution and customer engagement, with a focus on consistent product quality and efficient execution.

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JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit in Rajasthan

The Nagaur expansion takes JSW Cement’s total grinding capacity to 25.10 MTPA.

Published

4 days ago

October 8, 2026

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JSW Cement has commissioned an additional 1 million tonne per annum (MTPA) cement grinding unit at its Nagaur Integrated Plant in Rajasthan. The commissioning takes the company’s total cement grinding capacity to 25.10 MTPA.

JSW Cement’s total clinker manufacturing capacity, including its joint venture JSW Cement FZC, now stands at 9.74 MTPA.

The company began operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and a 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the latest expansion, the plant’s total grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA.

The additional capacity will cater to cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a combination of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended September 30, 2026, JSW Cement also commissioned an Alternate Fuel Handling System and a Waste Heat Recovery System (WHRS) at the Nagaur plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said the additional grinding capacity was a strategic priority for the company’s expansion in North India. He added that the Alternate Fuel Handling System and WHRS were expected to reduce production costs.