HUL and JSW Ink Strategic Partnership to Establish 10 New Suvidha Centres in Mumbai

In a significant move towards community welfare and CSR, Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) and JSW Group have joined hands to establish 10 new Suvidha Centres in Mumbai. The partnership aims to enhance the accessibility of essential services, which will provide safe toilets, filtered drinking water, showers, and laundry services under one roof and uplift the lives of underprivileged communities in the city.

The partnership signed through the JSW Foundation builds upon HUL’s pioneering public-private collaboration with Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and HSBC India in 2016, which launched 12 Suvidha centres in Mumbai. The centres benefitted over 300,000 people annually, providing a holistic solution for low-income communities’ hygiene and sanitation needs. They were designed with women’s and children’s safety and well-being in mind, with inclusive design, enough lighting, CCTV cameras, and an emergency panic button.

HUL and JSW Suvidha Centres in Mumbai

The partnership between HUL and JSW entails the establishment of 10 Suvidha Centres in Mumbai. These centres will serve as one-stop destinations offering essential services to the marginalized and economically weaker sections of society. The primary objective is to improve the quality of life for these communities by providing them with easy access to vital services.

The Suvidha Centres will provide diverse services, including healthcare facilities, education support, vocational training, skill development programs, and access to clean drinking water and sanitation facilities. Additionally, the centres will promote hygiene and sanitation practices, address malnutrition, and empower women through various initiatives.

The collaboration between HUL and JSW highlights their commitment to sustainable development and uplifting society’s most vulnerable sections. By combining their expertise and resources, the two organizations aim to create a lasting positive impact on Mumbai’s underprivileged lives.

Other CSR Initiatives by HUL and JSW

Through various initiatives, HUL and JSW have consistently demonstrated their dedication to corporate social responsibility. Let’s take a closer look at some of their notable CSR endeavours.

HUL’s Project Shakti:

HUL’s Project Shakti is a pioneering initiative to empower rural women by providing them with entrepreneurship opportunities. The project focuses on training and enabling women to become independent entrepreneurs, acting as direct-to-consumer sales representatives for HUL’s products. This enhances the economic status of the women involved and enables HUL to reach remote rural markets effectively.

HUL’s Swachh Aadat Swachh Bharat:

As part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan (Clean India Campaign), HUL launched the Swachh Aadat Swachh Bharat (SASB) program. SASB aims to promote cleanliness and hygiene practices among individuals, communities, and schools across the country. The program educates people about the importance of sanitation and hygiene through awareness campaigns and initiatives conducted at the grassroots level.

JSW Foundation’s UDAAN:

The JSW Foundation’s UDAAN program focuses on providing quality education to underprivileged children and creating an inclusive learning environment. Through this initiative, JSW aims to bridge the education gap and improve the educational outcomes of marginalized communities. The program includes interventions such as scholarships, infrastructure development, digital learning initiatives, and teacher training programs.

JSW’s Saathiyas:

JSW’s Saathiyas program focuses on empowering and nurturing young talent in sports across various disciplines. The initiative identifies talented athletes from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and provides the necessary training, infrastructure, and support to excel in their chosen sport. By promoting sports, JSW aims to create opportunities for young athletes and encourage a culture of sportsmanship and fitness.

Some Other Contributions 

HUL also recently signed a memorandum of understanding with The Akshaya Patra Foundation to support distributing mid-day meals to government schools in Uttar Pradesh. HUL has pledged to support the mid-day meal operation for the next two years.

JSW Foundation, on the other hand, has been actively engaged in various social initiatives to impact society positively. The Foundation supports multiple education, healthcare, sports, art, culture, environment and animal welfare initiatives.

The strategic partnership between HUL and JSW to establish 10 new Suvidha Centres in Mumbai is a significant step towards enhancing the lives of marginalized communities. These centres will provide much-needed access to essential services and contribute to the upliftment of underprivileged individuals and families. HUL and JSW’s commitment to corporate social responsibility extends beyond this partnership, as seen in their other initiatives like Project Shakti, Swachh Aadat Swachh Bharat, UDAAN, and Saathiyas. By combining their resources and expertise, HUL and JSW are creating a positive and lasting impact on society, highlighting the role of businesses in driving meaningful change.

Read More: Sewa International: Empowering Local Artisans through CSR Initiatives