Economy & Market

Kesoram strives to uplift the standard of living of underprivileged villagers

Published

5 years ago

October 14, 2021

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N Veda Kumar, Factory Manager, Kesoram Cement

Kesoram Cements is a division of Kesoram Industries, which a six- decade- old company owned by the Birla Group. Kesoram Cement was established in 1968 with one kiln and some balancing equipment to produce ten lakh tonnes of cement per year. The company has now grown to manufacture 15 lakh tonnes of cement per year. Kesoram has established a splendid relationship with the community in and around the factory. In the entire 35 years of its operations, the company has not seen any strikes or lock-outs. The company has an excellent track record in terms of generating employment opportunities for the local population, in furthering rural development and in protecting the natural environment. N Veda Kumar, Factory Manager, Kesoram Cement, explains how the company successfully aligned its growth with community benefits and helped everyone work towards a common goal of prosperity. Excerpts from the interview.

You have been very closely involved with villagers around the factory. Please tell us about your network.

Kesoram Cement has established the Kesoram Grama Vikasa Kendra (KGVK) Trust for organising corporate social responsibility programmes in the vicinity of the factory. At present, 12 villages are adopted by us, which are spread over in nine Gram Panchyats, three Mandal Praja Parishads and two Revenue divisions. Kesoram Cement has appointed a fulltime Rural Development Officer (RDO) to look after Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities. The activities are planned and implemented keeping the needs of villagers in mind.

How involved is your staff in these endeavours?

KGVK operates as a co-ordinating agency through its RDO and a team of members who serve as a link between the government departments, institutions like Gram Panchayats, co-operative organisations, Lions` club, NABARD, etc. A veterinary doctor and a media co-ordinator is also a part of the KGVK team looking after CSR activities.

The medical officer regularly conducts medical camps in the adopted villages. The veterinary doctor conducts animal health camps in all the 12 adopted villages every month. Media co-ordinator, a member of CSR committee, takes part in each and every activity helping people to be aware of all the opportunities generated by socially conscious Kesoram Cement, and helps building up the company’s image. The positive work has enhanced the company’s trustworthiness not only in society but also in the market.

Tell us some more about your CSR activities.

One part of our focus has been on helping unemployed youth to become independent and become capable of self-employment. Towards this end, we have taken up initiatives to impart training in motor driving, computer education, refrigerator and AC repair, etc, to youngsters.

We train Std 10 dropouts to secure a driving licence with the help of the RTO. Many of them are employed in public and private organizations, and are now able to earn their bread and butter. Tailoring centres have helped poor and needy housewives to gain financial stability. The women are able to earn at least Rs 200 every day by doing tailoring work. Similarly, girls who have undergone computer education are now working as computer operators in schools and private sectors.

We have installed RO water plants that have helped prevent water- borne diseases. Some 60 per cent of diseases spread through unsafe water. Earlier women had to go several kilometres away from home to fetch potable water, now they get it at their doorstep. Besides this, we have built concrete roads, temples, masjid, and churches in the villages. Refrigerator and AC training is another key programme geared towards helping the unemployed youth to improve their standard of life. Certificates are issued by the Ministry of Rural Development, Government of India. We have taken initiatives to help farmers meet experts and gather know-how on scientific methods of farming.

What are your priorities while framing a CSR plan?

Kesoram strives to uplift the standard of living of underprivileged villagers who are below the poverty line, by creating avenues of self-employment and other facilities. KGVK is doing its best to boost rural development. Efforts are also on to help the rural masses enhance their social and economic status. The company has created a healthy atmosphere among villagers by educating them and by directing them towards a better living.

Concrete

Wonder Cement appoints Mahesh Singh as VP Corporate Brand Communication

Published

2 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.

Concrete

JSW Cement commissions additional 1 MTPA grinding unit at Nagaur

Published

3 days ago

October 8, 2026

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With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA,
Mumbai

JSW Cement, one of India’s leading green cement producers and part of the diversified JSW Group, today announced the successful commissioning of an additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit at Nagaur, Rajasthan. The commissioning marks another significant milestone in the Company’s growth strategy.

With this commissioning, JSW Cement’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 25.10 MTPA, while its total clinker manufacturing capacity, including clinker capacity at its joint venture, JSW Cement FZC, stands at 9.74 MTPA.

JSW Cement had commenced operations in North India in March 2026 with the Nagaur Integrated Plant, comprising a 3.30 MTPA clinkerisation unit and 2.50 MTPA cement grinding unit. With the commissioning of the additional 1.00 MTPA cement grinding unit, the plant’s total cement grinding capacity has increased to 3.50 MTPA, enhancing the company’s ability to cater to the growing cement demand across Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the National Capital Region (NCR). The expansion has been funded through a strategic mix of equity and long-term debt.

During the quarter ended 30th September 2026, JSW Cement has also commissioned the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) at the Nagaur Integrated Plant.

Nilesh Narwekar, CEO, JSW Cement, said: “The commissioning of additional 1.00 MTPA grinding capacity at Nagaur is a key strategic priority for us and will accelerate JSW Cement’s expansion into North India. We look forward to servicing the growing needs of the region and contributing to the economic growth of Rajasthan, Haryana, Punjab and the NCR area. I am delighted to share that the company has commissioned this grinding unit within the expected timeline, showcasing our project execution capabilities. Further, the Alternate Fuel Handling System and the Waste Heat Recovery system (WHRS) are expected to substantially reduce our production costs going forward.”

Concrete

UltraTech becomes first Indian cement firm to cross 2 GW green energy

Published

4 days ago

October 7, 2026

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UltraTech Cement has crossed 2 GW of captive green energy capacity, with renewables and waste heat recovery meeting 48 per cent of its power needs.

Mumbai

UltraTech Cement Limited has surpassed 2 GW of installed green energy capacity for captive use, becoming the first cement company in India to achieve the milestone. The Aditya Birla Group company commissioned 116.55 MW of wind capacity at its Inter-State Transmission System-connected wind-solar hybrid project in Barmer, Rajasthan, along with 10 MW of Waste Heat Recovery System capacity at Sarlanagar Cement Works in Karnataka.

With these additions, UltraTech’s cumulative installed green energy capacity has reached 2,024 MW. This includes 1,580 MW of renewable energy capacity and 444 MW of waste heat recovery capacity, together meeting around 48 per cent of the company’s current power requirements.

The company said the milestone reflects the progress of its long-term energy transition strategy. In FY27 so far, nearly one-third of UltraTech’s 76 manufacturing units in India have maintained green energy utilisation above 50 per cent of their electricity requirements, while five units have crossed 95 per cent.

K C Jhanwar, Managing Director, UltraTech Cement Limited, said, “Crossing the 2 GW green energy milestone is the result of a strategy we have pursued consistently over the past decade. Cement is an energy-intensive, hard-to-abate sector, and showing that reliability and growth can go hand in hand with a rapid shift to green energy sets a benchmark for the industry. With nearly half of our power needs now met through green energy, we are significantly less exposed to fossil fuel supply constraints and power price volatility. As we scale up renewables, waste heat recovery and battery storage across our operations, we are building an energy foundation for stable, long-term growth.”

UltraTech commissioned 430 MW of green energy capacity in FY26 and continues to expand its renewable energy and waste heat recovery portfolio.

The company is also progressively integrating Battery Energy Storage Systems across its operations to improve renewable energy utilisation and supply reliability.

In 2025, UltraTech operationalised what it described as India’s first on-site hybrid round-the-clock renewable energy project at Sewagram Cement Works in Gujarat. The project combines solar, wind and battery storage.

As part of its decarbonisation strategy, UltraTech said it has not invested in new captive thermal power capacity for either greenfield projects or brownfield expansions at its integrated units for more than a decade.

The company said its expanding green energy portfolio is helping reduce dependence on conventional grid electricity and fossil fuel-based power, while lowering exposure to fluctuations in coal and electricity prices.

UltraTech aims to increase green energy’s share in its total power mix to 85 per cent by 2030. As a member of RE100, it has also committed to meeting 100 per cent of its electricity requirement through renewable sources by 2050.

UltraTech Cement, the cement flagship of the Aditya Birla Group, has a total grey cement capacity of 210.1 MTPA and white cement and putty capacity of 3.5 MTPA. The company is also a signatory to the GCCA Climate Ambition 2050 and has committed to the GCCA Net Zero Concrete roadmap.