"L&T HAS A RICH LEGACY OF CSR"

Mabel Abraham, Head of CSR at Larsen Toubro, shares insights on the company's impactful initiatives and sustainable solutions over the years.

- Team BW

Could you share Larsen & Toubro's (L&T's) corporate social responsibility (CSR) vision and how it aligns with the company's business strategy?

L&T has a rich history of CSR, dating back to a time when it was not even called CSR. The ethos of community upliftment has been ingrained in the company for decades, with a primary focus initially placed on healthcare initiatives. Nearly four decades ago, L&T established a community health centre, which catered to reproductive and child health.

Another milestone in L&T's CSR journey was the establishment of its Construction Skills Training Institute in 1995. This venture aimed to empower rural and migrant workers, often school dropouts, by providing them with industry-standard skills training. However, we didn't do any ring-fencing. People could get trained, go back and work anywhere or even start their own enterprise.

The advent of CSR regulations brought about a refinement in L&T's philanthropic efforts, enabling a more focused and strategic approach.

Over the years, L&T's CSR portfolio has evolved to encompass a broader spectrum of societal challenges, including water and sanitation. Our approach is to address the national agenda, look at the gaps, play to our strengths and see how we can use our knowledge and expertise to facilitate communities to better their lives.

What are the key pillars of L&T's CSR strategy?

In addition to our four key areas - education, health, skilling and water and sanitation, we prioritise the integration of technology and innovation across all initiatives. This commitment extends to our integrated community development programmes in rural areas.