Nurturing seeds of hope for a better tomorrow

Oil and gas services company Technip India has charted out several plans to foster socio-economic development in local.

Highlights:

• The company has initiated over 50 CSR programmes, in line with the UN SDGs, under the aegis of their flagship community programme Seed of Hope.

• They have installed biogas plants in 100 houses in Dahej, Gujarat to provide access to a clean and affordable source of energy to rural communities.

• Technip is also actively promoting female education by starting 32 STEM Mini Centres across four cities in India for female students and offering scholarships to girls pursuing science-oriented streams.

As responsible corporate citizens, Technip India - a subsidiary of London-headquartered TechnipFMC plc - is working to empower local communities, particularly by advancing gender diversity and environmental sustainability. Since 2015, the company has initiated over 50 CSR programmes under the aegis of its flagship community programme 'Seed of Hope'. The name alludes to the company's vision for sustainability - sowing the seed to build a better future.

The programme has been designed to pursue socio-economic development in alignment with the UN SDGs and is thereby garnering momentum in following thematic areas:

• Endorsing integrated community development programmes (social infrastructure development).

• Promoting affordable healthcare in rural areas.

• Initiating skill development centres with a focus on enhancing the employability of youth.

• Promoting quality education for underprivileged children.

• Empowering women socially and economically.

• Minimising carbon footprint.

• Facilitating access to clean energy.

This image can be redesigned by inhouse team so it follows our colours. Some of their leading initiatives in recent years reflect the ethos of sustainability i.e. fostering long-term, positive social impact in communities.

Biogas Project

The Biogas Project was launched with the objective of providing access to a clean and affordable source of energy to the less fortunate communities. It was implemented in five villages located in the vicinity of the company's Modular Manufacturing yard in Dahej, Gujarat with an aim of installing a 3 cubic metres biogas plant in the premises of 100 rural houses. These Flexi Biogas plants are easy to install and require minimal civil construction and maintenance cost. This project helps in the following ways:

• Supporting communities - It enables a better and healthier lifestyle for the less fortunate communities by providing them with access to low-cost cooking fuel.

• Respecting the environment - 100 households now have access to clean energy thereby reducing dependence on the burning of wood.

• Reducing of CO₂ emissions - Assuming a conservative production of 25 kgs of cow dung for 15 days in a month, 100 biogas plants can help in reducing 250 metric tonnes of CO₂ emissions annually.

• Advancing gender diversity - Women of the target households who typically engage in the collection of firewood/making cow dung cakes would be relieved of the drudgery involved.

• Producing organic manure - The digested slurry from biogas plants, a rich source of manure, shall benefit farmers in supplementing chemical fertilisers or maybe replacing the same leading to organic produce at no extra cost.

• Improving health and hygiene - Indoor air quality that is otherwise affected by the burning of dung cakes and firewood is improved.

STEM education for girls

The company has several initiatives aimed at fostering future-ready women professionals in the field of science and technology. 32 STEM Mini Science Centres for female students across Delhi, Mumbai, Gujarat and Chennai have been inaugurated, benefitting almost 7,000 girls from the sixth to the tenth grade. The company has also provided scholarships to 150 girl students, including 100 girls who are pursuing science in their Senior Higher Secondary Education stage and 50 women engineering students in electrical, chemical, mechanical, instrumentation and control streams.

Over the years, 'Seed of Hope' has been recognised with several awards including the National CSR Award 2019 conferred by the Hon'ble President of India in the category of CSR in Challenging Circumstances, West Zone. Swayantani Ghosh, Assistant Vice President, Communications, CSR and Sustainability Head at Technip India believes that CSR in India is yet to mature and we need to have a more well-defined policy framework with the focus shifting from social donations to making a social impact. “It's a journey of sustained effort to drive economic, social and environmental changes in the ecosystem and a 'Seed of Hope' is all set to internalise social welfare in the corporate culture. “

Nidhi Upadhyaya is the Assistant Editor at 'India Global Business' magazine.