ENGINEERING A SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION
EIL has consistently spent above the mandated 2% of its profits on various social projects every year, adding to over `130 crores in the past 10 financial years, focused on education, healthcare, and skill development. These initiatives have had a significant social impact everywhere, particularly in the aspirational districts
Since 1965, Engineers India Limited (EIL), a Navratna PSU, has been tirelessly working towards re-engineering the lives of the socially disadvantaged with its far-reaching CSR initiatives across the length and breadth of the nation. Its life-altering projects have brought hope and cheer to the homes of the poor and the deprived everywhere from Ladakh to Kerala and Rajasthan to Assam.
EIL has consistently spent above the mandated 2% of its profits on various social projects every year, adding to over `130 crores in the past 10 financial years, focused on education, healthcare, and skill development. These initiatives have had a significant social impact everywhere, particularly in the aspirational districts.
In remote villages around Barmer in Rajasthan, a quiet change is underway, spreading hope on the wheels of a van that provides healthcare to poor and helpless people at their doorstep. For as long as they can remember,
EIL’s pathbreaking residential skilling programme is designed to empower the unemployed backward youth with technical skills
these villages had little access to even primary medical services until EIL began its yeoman service in the form of a mobile clinic under its Project Sanjeevani. Among the services it provides are free health check-ups and medicines, bringing relief to hundreds of people every day. The services include check-ups, distribution of free medicines and treatment for simple viral infections, eye-flu, common cold and cough-related ailments, etc., in the area, thereby improving the general health status of the local population.
Firoz Khan, a 38 year old beneficiary from Mungda Village in Barmer district of Rajasthan heaves a sigh of relief after getting better from a bad bout of viral fever.And if it wasn’t for EIL’s medical mobile van, he would have to either go to Pachpadra town which is 4 km away or Barmer city which is 107 km away. “This medical van is giving excellent and free healthcare service to us. We now have primary health services at our door step. I am feeling as good as new, now!”, he adds with a smile.
A patient being treated at EIL’s mobile clinic under its ‘Project Sanjeevani’
Responding to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s clarion call for a Swachh
Jubilant women at a toilet facility in Mustafabad village, Haridwar
Bharat, EIL has championed the mission across two villages in the Haridwar district of Uttarakhand, giving hundreds of people access to toilets. Under its project called Project Swachh Kiran, EIL has set up toilets in 100 households in the two villages, changing the lives of the villagers, particularly women who earlier had to walk long distances into the neighbouring forests for defecation, facing the threat of wild animals and the harassment of men. This was a particularly painful ordeal during their menstrual periods. The toilets are not only hygienic and well-maintained but also protect their privacy.
The initiative has translated into a happier and healthier life for the long-neglected residents of these desolate villages. Says a grateful Fatima Bibi, 60 years), who lives in Mustafabad village of the aspirational district of Haridwar: “This is an excellent initiative. EIL has gifted me and my family a clean and hygienic toilet. Neither I nor any woman in the village now must walk to the forest for our daily needs.”
The EIL’s pathbreaking skilling programme is designed to empower the unemployed youth with technical skills that have helped them find decent jobs and lifted the lives of more than 1,600 young men and women from the backward classes. The initiative has transformed the lives of several families and led to the overall prosperity of the local communities. The training programme and placements continued steadfastly even during COVID-19.
Shurvir Rajput, a beneficiary of Skill Development Residential Training programme, shares his story. Due to financial constraints, his father could not support his higher studies. Shurvir is thankful to the EIL-supported skill training programme at Central Institute of Petrochemicals Engineering and Technology (CIPET), Lucknow, for providing him with the opportunity to learn about the plastic production process. After successfully completing the course, he got placed in a private factory with a monthly salary of ` 12,500. Now, he can support his father in taking care of his family.
Many students like Shurvir are now hopeful, thanks to EIL. Over 80% of candidates from backward classes have been provided with gainful employment, making them self-reliant and improving their socio-economic status. As a result, not only the lives of the beneficiaries have been uplifted, but also the lives of their families and the local community have significantly improved.
EIL has made a significant contribution to society by supporting the district administration of Dhubri district in Assam. They have established 140 Model Anganwadi Centres by providing basic infrastructure such as Nutri Gardens, kitchenware, water purifiers, and more.
The objective of this initiative was to strengthen and upgrade the existing Anganwadis and convert them into Model Anganwadi Centres to cater to the health and nutritional needs of children under the age of six, as well as pregnant women in the aspirational district of Dhubri. Approximately 8,000 children and expecting mothers benefit from these model Anganwadis in the district.
“We were facing difficulties in achieving health targets for children, pregnant women, and lactating mothers in our aspirational district. I want to thank Engineers India Limited for contributing to establishing 140 model Anganwadi centres. This initiative will help us to reach our goal and improve our district’s development. We hope that EIL will continue to support us in strengthening the development of our district,” Ms Kanta Das, District Development Commissioner, Dhubri District, Assam, and Nodal Officer Aspirational District, says.
A model Anganwadi in aspirational district Dhubri, Assam
