CorporateSocialResponsibility

ProjectHindustanLeverLimited(HLL)

HindustanLeverLimited
MeetingEverydayNeedsofPeopleEverywhere

Introduction*

HindustanLeverLimited(HLL)isIndia'slargestfastmovingconsumergoodscompany,withleadershipin
Home&PersonalCareProductsandFoods&Beverages.HLL'sbrands,spreadacross20distinctconsumer
categories,touchthelivesoftwooutofthreeIndians.Theyendowthecompanywithascaleofcombined
volumesofabout4milliontonnesandsalesofRs.10,000crores.HLLhas32,400employees(40,000
includingGroupCompanies)atpresent,includingabout1,425managers.
Financialstatus:2003figures(Rs.Lacs)
GrossTurnover:11096,02
Turnover/Sales:10138,35
NetProfit:1771,79

Unileverholds51.55%oftheequityinHLL.HLLisIndia'slargestmarketerofSoaps,DetergentsandHome
Careproducts.IthasthecountryslargestPersonalProductsbusiness,leadinginShampoos,SkinCare
Products,ColourCosmetics,andDeodorants.HLLisalsothemarketleaderinTea,ProcessedCoffee,
brandedWheatFlour,TomatoProducts,Icecream,Soups,JamsandSquashes.HLLisalsooneofthe
country'sbiggestexportersandhasbeenrecognizedasaGoldenSuperStarTradingHousebythe
GovernmentofIndia;itisanetforeignexchangeearner.HLLisIndia'slargestexporterofbrandedfast
movingconsumergoods.Thediverseproductsrangeismanufacturedinover100factorieslocatedacrossthe
lengthandbreadthofIndiaand28oftheminbackwardareas.TheKhamgaonsoapplantandtheSumerpur
detergentbarunithavebeenrecognizedasamongthebestintheUnileverworld.
*(Source:http://www.hll.com/HLL/knowus/companyprofiles/Company_Profile.pdf)

CSRPerspective

CorporateSocialResponsibility(CSR)inHindustanLeverLimited(HLL)isrootedinitsCorporatePurpose
thebeliefthat"tosucceedrequiresthehigheststandardsofcorporatebehaviourtowardsouremployees,
consumersandthesocietiesandworldinwhichwelive".HLL'sCSRphilosophyisembeddedinits
commitmenttoallstakeholdersconsumers,employees,theenvironmentandthesocietythatthe
organisationoperatesin.HLLbelievesthatitisthiscommitmentwhichwilldeliversustainable,profitable
growth.
HLL'skeyCSRinitiativesareundertakenwithalongtermview.Initiativesthataresustainable,havelong
termbenefitsandanongoingbusinesspurposelinkedtothemareaccordedpriorityfocus.Asearlyasinthe
1950s,HLLfocusedonimportsubstitutionwhenbalanceofpaymentswasanissue.Sincethe1980s,mostof
HLL'sinvestmentshavebeenindesignatedbackwardareasandzeroindustrydistricts,spreading
industrialisation.HLLhasrevivedsickindustriesandhasdevelopedlocalentrepreneurship
Implementation

AnillustrationofhowHLLimplementsitsCSRactivitiesisProjectAshaDaan.
HLLsupportsAshaDaanruninMumbaibytheMissionariesofCharity(anNGOfoundedbythelateMother
Teresa).AshaDaanisahomeforabandoned,handicappedchildren,thedestituteandpeopleaffectedbyAIDS
(HIVpositive).AshaDaanhadbeensetupona72,500squarefeetplot,intheheartofthecityleasedbythe
company.HLLalsobearsthecapitalandrevenueexpensesformaintenance,upkeepandsecurityofthe
premises.
Monitoring

UnileversSummarySocialReview2003givesanupdateontheprogressUnileverismakingtolistenand
learnfromconsumersandotherstakeholdersastheystrivetobebothsuccessfulbusinessandresponsible
corporatecitizens.Thisreviewcomplementstheenvironmentalreport2003andtheannualreview2003.

ThereviewactsasasignposttofurtherinformationandcasestudiesacrosstheUnileverwebsite.This
undergoesregularupdation.Itfocusesoncreatingvalue,sharingwealth,ensuringconsumersafety,employee
health,engagingwithcommunities,foodandotherlocalbenefits.
FuturePlans

MentionedbelowaretheprojectsthatHLLiscurrentlyactiveinandintendstopursueactivelyinthefuture.
PROJECTSHAKTIChangingLivesinRuralIndia:

HLL'svisionforProjectShaktiistoscaleitupacrossthecountry,covering100,000villagesandtouchingthe
livesof100millionruralconsumersby2005.
LIFEBUOYSWASTHYACHETANAHealth&HygieneEducation

Startedin2002,theprogrammehasasofnowcoveredabout15000villagesin8statesUttarPradesh,Bihar,
Jharkhand,WestBengal,Orissa,MadhyaPradesh,ChattisgarhandMaharashtra;ithasalreadytouchedabout
70millionpeople,impartinghygieneeducationtoover25millionchildren.Thevisionofthisongoing
projectistomakeabillionIndiansfeelsafeandsecurebyfocussingontheirhealthandhygieneneeds.
FAIR&LOVELYFOUNDATIONEconomicEmpowermentofWomen

Launchedin2003,Fair&LovelyFoundationseekstoimpactthelivesofabout5000womenby2005.This
willbedonethroughscholarshipsandenterpriseinitiatives.Forcareerguidance,itseekstotouchmillionsof
aspiringwomenandstudentsinanongoingprogramme,currentlycoveringthreestatesandallmainmetrosin
thecountry.

GREENINGBARRENSWaterConservationandHarvesting

HLL'svisionistocontinuouslyinnovatetechnologiestofurtherreducewaterconsumptionandfurther
increaseconservationinitsoperations.Simultaneously,HLLsiteswillprogressivelyhelpcommunities,
whereverrequired,todevelopwatersheds.
HAPPYHOMESSpecialEducation&Rehabilitation

UndertheHappyHomesinitiative,HLLsupportsspecialeducationandrehabilitationofchildrenwith
challenges.
OtherprojectsthatHLLisinvolvedinareAshaDaan,Ankur,Kappagam,Anbagam,Yashodadham,Rural
EducationProjectatKhemgaon,IntegratedRuralDevelopmentandVindhyaValley.Detailedactivitiesof
theseprojectsarementionedinthereport.

CSRProjectsofHLL:Acriticalevaluation

CorporateSocialResponsibility(CSR)inHindustanLeverLimited(HLL)isrootedinitsCorporatePurpose
thebeliefthat"tosucceedrequiresthehigheststandardsofcorporatebehaviourtowardsouremployees,
consumersandthesocietiesandworldinwhichwelive".HLL'sCSRphilosophyisembeddedinits
commitmenttoallstakeholdersconsumers,employees,theenvironmentandthesocietythatthe
organisationoperatesin.HLLbelievesthatitisthiscommitmentwhichwilldeliversustainable,profitable
growth.
HLL'skeyCSRinitiativesareundertakenwithalongtermview.Initiativesthataresustainable,havelong
termbenefitsandanongoingbusinesspurposelinkedtothemareaccordedpriorityfocus.Asearlyasinthe
1950s,HLLfocusedonimportsubstitutionwhenbalanceofpaymentswasanissue.Sincethe1980s,mostof
HLL'sinvestmentshavebeenindesignatedbackwardareasandzeroindustrydistricts,spreading
industrialisation.HLLhasrevivedsickindustriesandhasdevelopedlocalentrepreneurship
Furtheringthisrichtraditionofcontributingtothecommunity,HLLisfocusingonhealth&hygiene
education,womenempowerment,andwatermanagement.Inadditiontotheseimportantplatforms,HLLis
alsoinvolvedinanumberofcommunitysupportactivities,likeprovidingaudiovisualpackagesforbasic
educationinprimaryschools,educationandrehabilitationofspecialorunderprivilegedchildren,careforthe
destituteandHIVpositive,andruraldevelopment.
Inrecognitionoftheseinitiatives,HLLreceivedtheprestigiousTERICSRSpecialAwardfortheyear2002
03fromTheEnergyandResourcesInstitute(TERI).Asiswellknown,TERI,whichwasestablishedin1974,
isworldfamousforitscommitmenttoandinitiativesineveryaspectofsustainabledevelopment.
AmongHLL'smajorCSRinitiativesare:

NMIMS
PROJECTSHAKTIChangingLivesinRuralIndia

ProjectShaktiisHLL'sruralinitiative,whichtargetssmallvillageswithpopulationoflessthan2000people
orless.Itseekstoempowerunderprivilegedruralwomenbyprovidingincomegeneratingopportunities.
ProjectShaktialsoaimstoimprovethestandardoflivingoftheruralcommunity,byprovidinghealthand
hygieneeducation.
Ingeneral,ruralwomeninIndiaareunderprivilegedandneedasustainablesourceofincome.NGOs,
governmentalbodiesandotherinstitutionshavebeenworkingtoimprovethestatusofruralwomen.Project
Shaktiisapioneeringeffortincreatinglivelihoodsforruralwomen,organisedinSelfHelpGroups(SHGs),
andimprovinglivingstandardsinruralIndia.ProjectShaktiprovidescriticallyneededadditionalincometo
thesewomenandtheirfamilies,byequippingandtrainingthemtobecomeanextendedarmofthecompany's
operation.
Startedin2001,ProjectShaktihasalreadybeenextendedtoabout20000villagesin196districtsin11States
AndhraPradesh,Karnataka,Gujarat,MadhyaPradesh,TamilNadu,Chattisgarh,UttarPradesh,Orissa,
Punjab,RajasthanandMaharashtra.TherespectivestategovernmentsandseveralNGOsareactivelyinvolved
intheinitiative.
ProjectShaktialreadyhasabout6200womenentrepreneursinitsfold.AtypicalShaktientrepreneurearnsa
sustainableincomeofaboutRs.1,000permonth,whichisdoubletheiraveragehouseholdincome.Project
Shaktiisthuscreatingopportunitiesforruralwomentoliveinimprovedconditionsandwithdignity,while
improvingtheoverallstandardoflivingintheirfamilies.Inaddition,itinvolveshealthandhygiene
programmes,whichhelptoimprovethestandardoflivingoftheruralcommunity.Theproject'sambitalready
coversabout15millionruralpopulation.Plansarealsobeingdrawnuptobringinpartnersinvolvedin
agriculture,health,insuranceandeducationtocatalyzeoverallruraldevelopment.
HLL'svisionforProjectShaktiistoscaleitupacrossthecountry,covering100,000villagesandtouchingthe
livesof100millionruralconsumersby2005.(Formoredetails,pleasevisitwww.hllshakti.com)

CSRHLL
9

NMIMS
LIFEBUOYSWASTHYACHETANAHealth&HygieneEducation

LifebuoySwasthyaChetanaisthesinglelargestruralhealthandhygieneeducationalprogrammeever
undertakeninIndia.Itsobjectiveistoeducatepeopleaboutbasichygienichabits.
Ithasbeendevelopedaroundtheinsightthatpeoplemistakenlybelievevisiblecleanissafeclean.The
programmeestablishestheexistenceofinvisiblegermsandtheassociatedriskofinfection.InIndiathisis
important,becausediarrhoea,causedbyinvisiblegerms,isthesecondlargestcauseofdeathamongchildren
belowtheageof5.Theprojectwillhelpreduceincidenceofsuchdiseases,byraisingawarenessofpreventive
hygienicpractices.
Thecampaignhasbeendividedintovariousphases.Intheinitialphase,aHealthDevelopmentFacilitator
(HDF)andanassistantinitiatescontactandinteractswithstudentsandinfluencersofthecommunity,like
villagecommunityrepresentatives,medicalpractitioners,schoolteachersetc.Anumberoftoolslikeapictorial
storyinaflipchartformat,a"Glogermdemonstration",andaquizwithattractiveprizestoreinforcethe
messageareused.The"GloGermdemonstration"isauniquetooltomakeunseengermsvisibleandemphasize
theneedtoadopthygienicpractices.Thefirstinteractionwithstudentsisthenreplicatedwiththerestofthe
community.Subsequently,followupvisitsandcommunicationareundertakenatperiodicintervalswhich
reinforcethemessageandlearnings.
Startedin2002,theprogrammehasasofnowcoveredabout15000villagesin8statesUttarPradesh,Bihar,
Jharkhand,WestBengal,Orissa,MadhyaPradesh,ChattisgarhandMaharashtra;ithasalreadytouchedabout
70millionpeople,impartinghygieneeducationtoover25millionchildren.Thevisionofthisongoingproject
istomakeabillionIndiansfeelsafeandsecurebyfocussingontheirhealthandhygieneneeds.
FAIR&LOVELYFOUNDATIONEconomicEmpowermentofWomen

TheFair&LovelyFoundationisHLLsinitiativewhichaimsateconomicempowermentofwomenacross
India.Itaimstoachievethisthroughprovidinginformation,resources,inputsandsupportintheareasof
education,careerandenterprise.Itspecificallytargetswomenfromlowincomegroupsinruralaswellasurban
India.Fair&Lovely,asabrand,standsontheeconomic

CSRHLL
10

has

NMIMSempowermentplatformandtheFoundationisanextensionofthispromise.TheFoundation

renownedIndianwomen,fromvariouswalksoflife,asitsadvisors.Amongthemareeducationists,NGO
activists,physicians.TheFoundationisimplementingitsactivitiesinassociationwithstategovernments.
InIndia,lowincomefamilies,albeitunwillingly,tendtodiscriminateagainstgirlchildren,inproviding
opportunitiesforeducationandenterprise,becauseofresourceconstraints.ThesupportprovidedbyFair&
LovelyFoundationwillhelpgirlchildrenavailopportunitiesofhighereducationandacquireskillsin
appropriateprofessions.Theseriesofprojectsthathavebeendrawnuptoachievethevisionincludethe
following:
Careers:Careerguidancebyorganisingcareerfairs.About100,000studentshavebenefitedfromthesecareer
fairsin42townsandcitiesin2003,gettingacquaintedwithover200careeroptions.Theprogrammeoffers
workshopsforcareerguidance,resumewritingskills,personalitydevelopment.Acareerguidanceprogramme
hasalsobeenspeciallydesignedfortelevision,andisrunningonthreeTVchannels.Careercolumnsarebeing
writtenandsponsoredindifferentmagazines.
Education:Scholarshipsforeducationsuchthatitopenscareeravenues,specificallytargettinglowincome
groupsarebeingprovided.2003wasthefirstyearofscholarships147studentshavereceivedscholarshipsin
2003.
Enterprise:Vocationaltraining
athreemonthHomeHealthCareNursingAssistantsCourse
skilldevelopmentintheareasofembroideryandgarmentdesigning
professionalcourseforaspiringbeauticians.

Inall,215womenhavebeentrainedin2003.

Launchedin2003,Fair&LovelyFoundationseekstoimpactthelivesofabout5000womenby2005.Thiswill
bedonethroughscholarshipsandenterpriseinitiatives.Forcareerguidance,itseekstotouchmillionsof
aspiringwomenandstudentsinanongoingprogramme,currentlycoveringthreestatesandallmainmetrosin
thecountry.

CSRHLL
11

NMIMS
GREENINGBARRENSWaterConservationandHarvesting

HLL'sWaterConservationandHarvestingprojecthastwomajorobjectives:a)toreducewaterconsumptionin
itsownoperationsandregeneratesubsoilwatertablesatitsownsitesthroughtheprinciplesof5Rreduce,
reuse,recycle,recoverandrenew;b)helpadjacentvillagestoimplementappropriatemodelsofwatershed
development.
WaterscarcityisoneofthebiggestcrisesfacingIndiaintermsofspreadandseverity.Waterconservationand
harvestinginHLL'sownoperationswillhelpconserveandregeneratethisscarceresource.Anattendantbenefit
willbereductionintheconsumptionofenergythatwouldhavebeenspentinconvertingandusingthatwater.
Thesupporttocommunitiesindevelopingwatershedswillhelpintheeconomicdevelopmentofareasadjacent
toHLLsites.
WatermanagementisafocusareaforallHLLfactories.Waterconservationhasbeenmadeoneofthekey
performanceindicatorsofanHLLfactory.Throughaseriesoftechnologyinnovationsandnovelprocessing
routesHLLhasreduceditsgroundwaterconsumptionbyover50%.HLLhasalsoappliedtechnologiesthat
recycleeffluentwateraftertreatment70%ofHLLsitesarenowzerodischargesites.Therearemanyother
measuresReverseOsmosisPlantsandSolarEvaporationPondstonameafew.Asimultaneousbenefitis
savinginenergythatotherwisewouldhavebeenconsumedindrawing,pumpingorconvertingwaterinto
steamHLL'senergyconsumptionperunitofproductionhascomedownby61%since1996.Since2003,all
HLLsiteshavebeguntoharvestrainwater.Rainwaterfallingonfactorypremisesisaccumulatedinponds,
therebyrenewingsubsoilwatertables.
HLLisalsocommittedtoextendingitseffortsonwatermanagementtothelargercommunity,andhasengaged
incommunityprojectsinwateradjacenttomanufacturingsites.
TheKhamgaonsoapfactoryislocatedinadryandaridregionofMaharashtraandgetslimitedrainfall.Seven
yearsbackthefactorystartedapilotonWatershedManagementona5hectareplottopreventsoil
degradationandconservewater.Theeffortshaveresultedinthecreationofagreenbelt,whichistheonly
visiblegreenpatchinthearea.The5hectaregreenbeltisnowaveritableforestofabout6300trees,including
over1400ornamentalplantsandover600fruitbearingplants.Therehasalsobeenaremarkableimprovement
inthequalityofsoil,and

CSRHLL
12

NMIMSsignificantconservationofwater.Thishasbeendocumentedinabooklet,'Greening

Barrens',so

thatindustry,governmentbodiesandcommunitiesadoptthiswidely.Encouragedbytheresults,HLLhas
extendedthemodeltoaneighbouringvillage,Parkhed,inassociationwiththeTERIandtheBharatiyaAgro
IndustriesFoundation.ThecommunityatParkhedhasalreadyconstructed37checkdams.Morethan20,000
saplingshavebeenplantedduringthe2003monsoon.Forthefirsttime,villagerswereabletocollectwaterand
utiliseitforirrigationpostmonsoon.TheinitiativereceivedappreciationattheJohannesburgWorldSummiton
SustainableDevelopment.
InassociationwithanNGO,Vanrai,HLL'sSilvassamanufacturinghub(intheUnionTerritoryofDadra&
NagarHaveli)toohasembarkedonalongtermprojectofwaterharvesting,whichaimstodramaticallychange
wateravailability,takingituptoyearroundavailabilityfrom4monthsatpresent.AtKarchondvillage,near
theSilvassasite,thecommunityhasbuilt18bunds.Sevenofthemareonariverrunningthroughthevillage,
and11smalleronesatdifferentwaterrunoffpoints.Thishasenabledthecommunitytosowasecondcrop,
therebysignificantlyincreasingtheirincomes.ThroughanIntegratedVillageDevelopmentProgramme,the
project'sambitalsoincludesalternateincomegeneratingactivitiesthroughSHGs,forestrymanagement,
educationofchildren,nutrition.
Theprogrammeofwatershedmanagementisbeingprogressivelyextendedtootherfactories.TheHosurCoffee
Factoryhassetanexampleinlowcostwaterharvestingmethods.AnotherexampleistheYavatmalPersonal
ProductsFactory,whichhasworkedwiththeSocialForestryDepartmentoftheMaharashtraGovernmentto
improvesubsoilwatertableinthearea.
HLL'svisionistocontinuouslyinnovatetechnologiestofurtherreducewaterconsumptionandfurtherincrease
conservationinitsoperations.Simultaneously,HLLsiteswillprogressivelyhelpcommunities,wherever
required,todevelopwatersheds.
HAPPYHOMESSpecialEducation&Rehabilitation

UndertheHappyHomesinitiative,HLLsupportsspecialeducationandrehabilitationofchildrenwith
challenges.

CSRHLL
13

NMIMS
AshaDaan:Theinitiativebeganin1976,whenHLLsupportedMotherTeresaandtheMissonariesofCharity
tosetupAshaDaan,ahomeinMumbaiforabandoned,challengedchildren,andthedestitute.Subsequently,
AshaDaanhasalsobecomeahometotheHIVpositive.TheobjectiveinsupportingAshaDaanwasand
continuestobetosharetheorgansation'sprosperityinsupportingtheMother'smissionofservingthe"poorest
ofthepoor".AshaDaanhasbeensetupona72,500squarefeetplotbelongingtoHLL,intheheartofMumbai
city.HLLbearsthecapitalandrevenueexpensesformaintenance,upkeepandsecurityofthepremises.The
destituteandtheHIVpositiveareprovidedwithfood,shelterandmedicationforthelastfewdaysoftheir
lives.Theneedsoftheabandonedchallengedchildrenarealsometthroughspecialclassesofbasicskills,
physiotherapyand,ifpossible,correctivesurgery.Atanypointoftime,ittakescareofover300infants,
destitutemenandwomenandHIVpositivepatients.
Overtheyears,HLLhasopenedschoolsforchallengedchildrenwithasharperobjectiveofsupportingfamilies
ofsuchchildren,helpingthechildrenbecomeselfreliantbylearningappropriateskillstobeproductive
membersofthehousehold.
Ankur:In1993,HLL'sDoomDoomaPlantationDivisionsetupAnkur,acentreforspecialeducationof
challengedchildren.Thecentretakescareofchildrenwithchallenges,agedbetween5and15years.Ankur
provideseducational,vocationalandrecreationalactivitiestoover35childrenwitharangeofchallenges,
includingsightorhearingimpairment,poliorelateddisabilities,cerebralpalsyandseverelearningdifficulties.
Thesephysicallyandmentallychallengedchildrenaretaughtskills,suchascookery,painting,embroidery,
bamboocrafts,weaving,stitching,etcdependingontheiraptitudes.Thecentrehasrehabilitated10children,
includingselfemploymentfor6childrenbyprovidingthemwithshops,and3girlshavebeenprovided
employmentascrecheattendants.Ithasalsomovedtonormalschools18children.Sinceinceptionithas
coveredabout80children.AnkurreceivedtheLawrieGroupWorldawareAwardforSocialProgressin1999
fromHRHPrincessRoyalinLondon.
Kappagam:EncouragedbyAnkur'ssuccess,Kappagam("shelter"),thesecondcentreforspecialeducationof
challengedchildren,wassetupin1998onHLLPlantationsinSouthIndia.Ithas17children.Thefocusof
KappagamisthesameasthatofAnkur.Thecentrehas17children,beingtaughtselfhelpskills,useful
vocationalactivitieslikemakingofpapercovers,greetingcards,

CSRHLL
14

andalso

NMIMSwrappingpapers,fancystationery,napkins,broomsmadeoutofcoconutleaves,candles,

somehomecareproducts.About12ofthechildrenhavebecomerelativelyselfreliantbyearningthrough
craftslearntatthecentre.Sinceinception,ithascoveredabout28children.
Anbagam:Yetanotherdaycarecenter,Anbagam("shelteroflove"),hasbeenstartedin2003alsointheSouth
IndiaPlantations.Ittakescareof11children.Besidesmedicalcareandmeals,theytooarebeingtaughtskills
suchthattheycanbecomeselfreliantandelementarystudies.
Over20,000individualshavebenefittedfromtheHappyHomesinitiativessinceinception.HLLis
wholeheartedlyinvolvedwithallfourcentresandwillcontinuetobeinvolvedinthefuture.
AmongHLL'sothersignificantCSRinitiativesare:

Yashodadham

HLLhasreconstructedavillageintheBhachauTalukaofGujarat'sKachchhdistrict.Thevillage,whichhas
beennamedYashodadham,wasdedicatedtoits1100residentsinDecember2002.TheresidentsbelongtoNani
Chiraivillage,whichwascompletelywreckedbythedevastatingearthquakeofJanuary2001.
Yashodadham,spreadover25acres,comprises289homes.HLLhasalsoprovidedaschoolbuilding,an
exclusiveplaygroundforchildrenandamultipurposecommunitycentre,includingacrche,healthcentre,
communityroomandvillageadministrationoffice.Allthestructuresareearthquakeandcycloneresistant.
Spacehasbeenleftallalongthevillageforparksandpublicsquares,wherevillagerssubsequentlywillplant
trees.
Eachhouseisof400sq.ftbuiltuparea,withrunningwaterandelectricity,ina1600sq.ftplot.Asdesiredby
thevillagers,thedesignandfoundationofhousesandtheplotsizeissuchthattheyhavethescopetobuild
extraroomsinthefuture.HLLhasconstructedbothanundergroundreservoirandanoverheadtankforwater.
HLL,whichhadlaunchedimmediatereliefafterthequakeinareasadjacenttoitsKandlaExportsfactory,
subsequentlydecidedtoreconstructavillage,whichwascompletelywrecked.Theobjectivewastohelpa
completelywreckedvillage,becausesuchsettlementshadthegreatest

CSRHLL
15

was

NMIMSneedforhelp.Fortysuchvillageswereinspected,aroundKandlafactory,andNaniChirai

chosen.

VindhyaValley

In2002,thecompanytookupaprojectinMadhyaPradesh,whichwillimpacttheentirestate'srural
population.ThemainstayofMadhyaPradesh'seconomyisagriculture.Prosperitythusmeansincreasingthe
incomeoffarmersandsmalltownandvillageentrepreneursengagedinagroprocessingandcottageindustries.
ThisiswhereHLLiscontributingitsexpertise.Ithashelpedthestategovernmentcreate'VindhyaValley',an
umbrellabrand,andsupportsoftwareforitsmarketing,manufacturinganddistribution.Thestategovernment
hasbeensubstantiallyinvestingeveryyeartofinancesmalltownandvillageentrepreneurs.Butthelackof
marketingskillsandmarketaccessdeniedthemthedesiredsuccessandeventuallyresultedinmostofthese
venturesbecomingunsustainable.Thelaunchof'VindhyaValley',withsupportsoftwarefromHLL,ishelping
overcometheimpediment.Itisatrulyuniqueandsustainableformoflivelihoodgeneration.Thishasresulted
asofnowintheestablishmentof20smallunits,basedinruralareas,providingdirectengagementtoabout
1000familiesinvolvedintheproductionofspices,honey,papad,pickles,agarbattietc.
Thesuccessof'VindhyaValleyhasbeenrecognisedbyvariousstategovernments.HLLhasrecentlybegun
workwiththeKarnatakaGovernmentinsimilarprojectstoimprovetheincomeandqualityoflifeofrural
communities.Anumbrellabrand,'StreeShakti',isbeingcreatedforSelfHelpGroups(SHGs).Theinitiative
willgeneratehighersalesandhigherreturnsfortheSHGs.
Initsbusinessoperationsandinitsprinciplesandpractices,HindustanLeverthusstraddlestheIndiancorporate
world,singlemindedlyidentifyingitselfwithIndianaspirationsandneedsineverywalkoflife.

16