Role of CSR at Numaligarh Refinery

Economic growth can be amplified when the role of CSR in business ethics is finely incorporated in the development strategy of a business. It redefines the identity and purpose of any corporate organization.

Numaligarh Refinery, a public sector enterprise, is a mighty pillar of industrial development and growth in the Morangi Golaghat district of Assam and in the neighboring regions. The guiding light of the company is its vision “To be a vibrant, growth oriented energy company of national standing and global reputation having core competencies in Refining and Marketing of petroleum products committed to attain sustained excellence in performance, safety standards, customer care and environment management and to provide a fillip to the development of the region.”

Since the beginning of commercial production in the year 2000, NRL has been displaying great performance with a highly diverse product range. The firm is sensitive towards the society and has taken up the responsibility to bring about inclusive development in its sphere of operations through its CSR initiatives, which are as follows:

1. Agri-allied and Income Generation: Sincere efforts are made to assist the farmers in enhancing their income generation by providing them technical expertise. Local entrepreneurs and self-help groups (SHGs) are encouraged and linkages are established with the financial institutions so that, their business can achieve sustainability.
2. Education and Skill Development: Education is the foundation of valuable change. No real development can occur without a concrete educational framework. The company provides for the basic school infrastructure and other facilities associated with it. Special emphasis is paid to the girl students and scholarships are offered to those students who show excellent academic performance. The project ‘Library for All’ aims to create a conducive and welcoming learning environment in the rural landscape. Project Uttoran has been designed to strive towards cent percent literacy rate and provide smart skills to the unemployed youth.
3. Infrastructure Development: Physical infrastructure forms the core of development. Model villages are being developed which can set an example for rural growth. Remotest of the villages are connected through roads. Through grid and solar power, rural electrification is being done
4. Community Healthcare: The outcomes of development are magnified when the community is leading a healthy life. People residing in villages are facing serious challenges when it comes to basic health care. Under ‘Project Niramoy’, primary healthcare is provided at the doorsteps through mobile medical camps. Project Drishti provides for free eye screening and cataract operations. Boat clinics and boat ambulances are the main highlights of this project. The initiative ‘NRL Helping Hand’ is striving to empower the differently abled and helping them come forward by making them feel that they are as equal as anybody else and their empowerment will lead to inclusive development of the society. ‘Project Jeevandhara’ aims to provide clean drinking water and the ‘Project Parichannata’ aims to construct a toilet in every household.
5. Promotion of Arts, Sports, Literature and Culture: Good talent needs a credible platform and NRL is making efforts to support young and rising talented youth in the fields of art, literature, culture and sports through the Project Khel and Project Prashikshan.

These CSR initiatives are successfully carried out in the areas within ten kilometers of the Numaligarh refinery and its Marketing Terminal at Silliguri. The fundamental idea is to create a sustainable model of development through the effective role of corporate social responsibility in business ethics which can add immense value to the lives of people and allow them to be an equal stakeholder in NRL’s development design. We can see that sensitivity towards the society is the prime moving force behind their vision of corporate social responsibility.