HPCL embracing the role of CSR in Business Ethics

Business enterprises across the world are willingly adopting the role of CSR in business ethics, which is helping them build a new identity and shoulder responsibility for their activities. The social purpose and the idea of sustainable development form the mainspring of corporate social responsibility.

Established in 1976, Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd. (HPCL), has achieved the Navratna status and has also made a mark in the Global Fortune 500 list with rank 384 in the year 2017.

Understanding the importance of corporate social responsibility in building an inclusive and sustainable future for the society, HPCL has emerged as a frontrunner in CSR activities. Without an iota of doubt, the firm has realized that corporate social responsibility will lay down the foundation of trust in business.

HPCL has a well-structured CSR vision based on the philosophy of ‘Creating Shared Values’ which aspires to:

• Serve the community
• Ensure sustainable business process – financially, environmentally and socially
• Utilize core competence, expertise, and technology of their business to reach the common people, especially the underprivileged
• Develop capacity in the community
• Enhance human excellence and improve quality of life

Following are the landmark CSR projects undertaken by HPCL:

1. Unnati: The objective of this project is to offer computer training programs in a time-bound manner along with the provision of computers to the students in rural and semi-urban areas. National Institute of Information Technology (NIIT) is the channel of training. So far, there have been about 18550 beneficiaries of the project spread across the states of Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
2. Nanhi Kali: This project aims to provide education to the girl child coming from the economically disenfranchised communities and also to enable her to discover her talent in performing arts and other extra-curricular activities. The larger goal is to create a conducive environment for her education, giving her a break from the burdensome domestic life and bringing her forward on a platform where she can exhibit her skills and abilities. The year 2009-10 saw a marked improvement in the personalities of 3600 beneficiaries of the project spread across the backward regions of Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. So far, there have been 11603 beneficiaries of the project.
3. Muskaan: Mental trauma plagues the lives of the street children who are caught in the vicious web of poverty. Executed in collaboration with Prayas, this project aims to bring out these children from such mental distress and transform them into individuals who can carry on with their lives with dignity and respect. In the year 2009-10, 200 street children were provided support and shelter by HPCL at Tughlaqabad and Jahangirpuri in Delhi. So far, there have been 800 beneficiaries of this project.
4. Suraksha: The objective of this initiative is to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS through rigorous training lectures and distribution of condoms to truck drivers at Highway Retail Outlets, and to ensure the safety of family members of the drivers and cleaners. Under the project, clinical interventions in the form of “Khushi” clinics have been started in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. These clinics are effectively working in the states that have a higher number of HIV positive population in India.
5. Swavalamban: This initiative was taken up with the objective of providing free vocational training to people from economically marginalized communities and households. Spreading across various locations such as, like Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Visakhapatnam, Bihar, and Guwahati, training in different trades like plumbing, welding, fabrication, electrical installation etc. have been provided to the unemployed youths including school dropouts. This project has successfully ensured skill enhancement of around 5600 beneficiaries so far.
6. Navjyot: In association with Navjyoti India Foundation, the primary goal of this project is to improve the health index and bring about the welfare of children. So far, there have been 19060 beneficiaries of this project.
7. Chale Chalo: Spread across Kendrapara and Naupada districts of Odisha, covering marginalized communities of youth, children, and women, this project aims to ensure social awareness and ensure the children’s rights to education and health. The idea is to integrate children at various levels of decision making processes in the community.
8. Rasoi Ghar: This project aims to empower the rural women by providing them the access to cheaper modern fuel and preventing health hazards through cleaner and more efficient fuels. LPG community kitchens have been built to further this cause. Women are encouraged to cook in these kitchens where they are provided with the basic infrastructure. Today, more than 1950 Rasoi Ghars are successfully operating across the country, benefiting 22,000 families.

With these wonderful CSR initiatives, HPCL has earned a reputation as a responsible corporate. We can observe that the resources are being positively channelized for the welfare of the larger community. These efforts reflect the firm’s sincere commitment towards the people and the planet. Undoubtedly, they have left no stone unturned in bringing smiles to the faces of a large number of people and the role of corporate social responsibility in business ethics has been a turning point.