Water Resource Management – Journey from Scarcity to Revival

Water Resource Development is one of the key priorities of the Company. The program lays emphasis on water conservation techniques, potable water and use of technology to support the initiatives. These are implemented in the surrounding vicinities of the Company’s plants, to cater to the requirements of the neighboring settlements.

As on 31st December 2019, 9,028 Roof Rainwater Harvesting Systems and 443 check dams have been constructed. 56.50 million cubic meter of water storage capacity has been created through integrated water harvesting and recharge structures across locations. 26,225 hectares of watershed development through soil and water conservation has been completed. In order to minimize the risk exposure of rural communities to climate change, the Company undertook climate proofing of watersheds in partnership with NABARD, in Solan district of Himachal Pradesh. Water harvesting structures such as farm ponds and check dams in the watershed area have enhanced agricultural productivity and improved water storage.

In 2019, at the First National Water Mission Awards Ceremony, ACF was awarded by the Jal Shakti Ministry (Government of India) for its contribution to ground water recharge and water resource management initiatives in impacted areas of Gujarat and Rajasthan.

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Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI) – Promoting Sustainable Skill-based Livelihood

The SEDIs were initiated by ACF to hone and align the skillsets of rural youth with the requirements of the industry. The Company has 33 SEDIs and has trained 62,921 youth, to date (6,956 in 2019) across 35 accredited courses, with a placement record of 75%. Enterprise development is systematically supported at SEDIs and 17,742 trained candidates have successfully embarked upon their entrepreneurial journey. In 2019, 6 new SEDIs opened in Morbi, Mathura, Mahuva, Dariba, Agoocha and Hooghly. Over the past few years, the Company has laid emphasis on training females and preparing them for technical roles.

In 2019, a Social Return on Investment (SRoI) study was conducted in 6 SEDI locations. The study involved the review of trainings conducted from 2015 to 2018. This was undertaken to understand the stakeholder perception of socio-economic value created by the trainings for skill-based livelihood. The study found that the average SRoI was ₹ 5.56 for every Rupee invested.

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Women Empowerment

As part of the Women Empowerment program, ACF has facilitated formation of 2,697 Self Help Groups (SHGs) with a total of 30,683 members. ₹11.51 Crores have been invested in this initiative. We have witnessed active involvement and participation of 17,000 women members across our programs. Trained local women are contributing as para-professionals and field facilitators in several programs including 196 Pashu Swasthya Sevikas (PSS) and 356 Sakhis, across locations.

ACF has established 7 women federations. SHGs across locations are pooling their resources and expertise to help women achieve financial independence, while mobilizing them to tackle a wide array of social issues including alcoholism, domestic violence, sanitation and discrimination against widows. Focus is also on initiating enterprise for livelihood among women and this helped 4,049 women engage in entrepreneurial activities. Amrit Dhara Milk Cooperative in Darlaghat, installed a bulk chilling machine with a storage capacity of 2,000 liters of milk to support dairy business growth.

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Education

ACF, in association with government run schools, introduced sports on a pilot basis in 10 schools in Darlaghat. As part of the Haridwar project, partnering with HDFC, smart classrooms were introduced in 12 schools. ACF, in collaboration with Doorstep Schools (DSS), started a project and invested time and efforts in bridging the dialect gap faced by tribal children in schools, to enable ease-of-learning.

Ambuja Manovikas Kendra (AMK) is a special facility opened by ACF, dedicated to the intellectually challenged children in Ropar, Punjab. The center has earned wide-spread recognition and is touted as one of the best schools for special children in the region. The center is providing therapeutic services to 137 children with intellectual disabilities.

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Annual Report on CSR Activities and Expenditure

The annual report on CSR activities and expenditure, as required under Sections 134 and 135 of the Companies Act 2013 read with Rule 8 of the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules 2014 and Rule 9 of the Companies (Accounts) Rules 2014, is presented under Annexure II to this Report and the CSR policy is available on the website of the Company.