CB BureauAn initiative to adopt several ponds and lakes, clean water bodies, plant trees, and educate the local community about maintaining natural resources has been taken up by TAKE Solutions in partnership with Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) across Tamil Nadu.
The water body restoration initiative was started in 2013, with the company cleaning up the periphery of water bodies around its office in Perungalathur, Chennai. Since then, TAKE has sponsored the complete restoration of four water bodies and participated in the cleaning and maintenance of over 10 lakes in Chennai.
Deepa Jayakumar, VP of corporate services in the organisation, informs CauseBecause that TAKE volunteers have participated in activities like removal of invasive weeds from water bodies, de-silting, and deepening of the pond to increase its water-holding capacity. The company has also engaged with E-Qual Engineering to create a report on the environmental impact of future flooding of the Mudichur Lake in Tamil Nadu. The impact assessment report was presented to EFI and the analysis and results were shared with relevant stakeholders. Further, the information was used to develop content for creating awareness in the area through campaigns, including painting walls with messages.
TAKE is also supporting EFI’s work with local communities by working with Bodhi Health Education to create educational videos on topics such as hygiene and sanitation, women and child health, waterborne infection, and impact of plastic on health. As per EFI’s estimates, this initiative will reach around 1.5 lakh people by 2019. Apparently, this estimate is based on EFI’s reach through schools, colleges, corporates and public awareness campaigns.
Over 300 of the company’s employees have come together to plant 1,500-plus trees and paint walls with messages about the environment to raise awareness. The company is currently focused on the restoration of Alapakkam Lake for the next two years.
In terms of impact measurement, the company claims to track the number of volunteers and volunteering opportunities, the number of water bodies restored, the trees planted, and the size and number of communities engaged. It also assesses the impact of the activities on its volunteers by collecting their testimonials. Nearly 10 per cent of its team members have started terrace gardening to grow organic vegetables.
Aside from these initiatives, other CSR focus areas are preventive healthcare and education. Deepa Jayakumar, VP – corporate services, TAKE Solutions Limited, explains, ‘TAKE Solutions is committed to being a sustainable business enterprise that creates value for our customers, our investors, our employees, our partners, society and the environment. In line with our business objectives, we have supported initiatives to impact society in a positive and sustainable manner.’
On healthcare, TAKE has created awareness on diabetes and mental health, and supported life sciences R&D. It promotes education by supporting after-school learning in Chennai and rural Tamil Nadu. As per TAKE, CSR investment has been much above the mandatory CSR spend.
TAKE Solutions is a supply-chain management and life sciences company, listed in both BSE and NSE. It has operations in North America, Europe, Asia and South America.