INDIA 2.0

IndiA 2.0

Help for school and Nature

The car maker is developing socially beneficial projects in India

he growing importance of the ŠKODA brand in India also affects its social responsibility. “Last year, we worked really hard in this area,” says Jiří Šesták, Head of Plant Engineering & Central Technical Services ŠKODA AUTO Volkswagen India Private Limited (SAVWIPL) in Pune. The car maker primarily focused on education and environmental issues. “We conduct the CSR activities in three different locations – Mumbai, Pune and Aurangabad,” says Šesták’s colleague Helena Kotková of GRI – Management of Region India. Check out the projects that were carried out last year thanks to the help of the company.

Better education for disabled kids

In cooperation with a NGO Snehalaya, SAVWIPL realized the reconstruction of a school building for children with special needs. „In addition to fitting the building with air conditioning, we also equipped the facility with IT infrastructure and new furniture,” says Šesták. We also set up a printing press in Snehalaya’s Rehabilitation centre for young adults with cerebral palsy to offer them a means to a sustainable livelihood.

A school that saves nature

SAVWIPL also took care of the construction of a district school in Pune. It participated in it from the first designs to the final handover of the finished facility, which also meet strict environmental requirements. “We obtained the highly appreciated GOLD certificate, which corresponds to the LEED standard (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design). It’s a proof of low-energy building, with functional ventilation system without using additional energy sources,” says Šesták. 

Trees and dams keep the water

Other important projects in the CSR area include tree planting – in 2019, the company planted 5,300 trees in Pune, which makes the total of over 28,000 since ŠKODA started its Indian mission. And let’s not forget the building of several small dams that prevent quick draining of water from the landscape. The rainwater therefore enters the groundwater, which is very important in water conservation efforts. 

What's next? Technical studies

This year, SAVWIPL primarily want to focus on sustainable development – we're going to emphasize on tree plantion even more than before, but we also want to introduce good practice in agricultural practices. „As for education, of course we’ll keep supporting primary schools but also higher technical institutions. With this in mind, we're preparing the CSR budget for 2020, to be passed in April. Mainly we’ll keep supporting long-term projects,” says Kotková. Rani Tolimat

Education is especially important

Interview with Jiří Šesták of the Planting and Maintenance Planning department of the SAVWIPL plant in Pune on social responsibility projects

Why are the CSR projects in India important, and what do they focus on?

India is a country of big social and economic differences, and the CSR projects are really helpful for the locals. For us, it’s not a duty but a tradition. For a long time, SAVWIPL has supported many activities that basically fall into four categories: access to healthcare, education and skill development, environment and road traffic safety. 

Which one is of special importance to you? 

Being a part of the development team, I’m personally involved in the second and third category – educational and environmental activities. Most successful projects certainly include the building of Zilla Parishad Primary School in the village of Nighoje, which also obtained the environmental certificate IGBL. We also were in charge of the reconstruction and refurbishment of Snehalaya School for handicapped children. And then there’s tree planting, another important activity. 

Could you compare the public response for CSR projects in India and other countries? 

I’ve got personal experience with Afghanistan. CSR projects are received positively in both countries, provided you find the appropriate target community and the project is sustainable. Our Indian activities meet both of these criteria. 

Based on your experiences, is the CSR work of SKODA different in India to the rest of the world?

Certainly, each country is specific. In India, the most important areas are those I’ve talked about, especially education. RANI TOLIMAT