Corporate India’s Role in Achieving SDGs 1, 2 and 3

Corporate India’s Role in Achieving SDGs 1, 2 and 3

Dr. Vishakha Jha ,

Assistant Professor

SOB,Woxsen University

The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provide a global framework for addressing key challenges by 2030. SDG 1 (No Poverty) aims to eradicate extreme poverty and ensure access to basic services and economic resources. SDG 2 (Zero Hunger) focuses on ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition, and promoting sustainable agriculture. SDG 3 (Good Health and Wellbeing) seeks to ensure healthy lives and promote wellbeing for all ages, including reducing maternal and child mortality and combating communicable diseases.

Indian companies play a significant role in advancing these goals through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, mandated under the Companies Act, 2013, which requires eligible firms to spend at least 2% of average net profits on social projects. Many align their efforts with the SDGs, often reporting progress via frameworks like the UN Global Compact.

How Many Indian Companies Are Working on These Goals?

Exact nationwide figures are challenging due to decentralized reporting, but key insights include

UN Global Compact India 429 Indian companies are active participants, committing to integrate the 17 SDGs into their operations. A substantial portion focuses on social goals like SDGs 1, 2, and 3 through poverty alleviation, nutrition, and health programs.

Regional Example (Haryana/NCR) A 2020 analysis of CSR projects identified 223 companies aligning efforts with SDGs, with 78% of funding (INR 824 Cr from FY201719) targeting SDG 1, SDG 3, and related areas. Specifically, over 50 companies contributed to SDG 1, and 63 to SDG 3. No direct SDG 2 linkages were noted in this dataset, though national efforts exist elsewhere.

Broader Trends Reports on top CSR spenders (e.g., top 50100 companies) show widespread involvement, with firms like Reliance Industries and Tata Group leading in social SDGs. A 2022 ranking evaluated 50 companies for overall SDG alignment, highlighting health and poverty as priority areas. Nationally, thousands of companies file CSR reports, with social initiatives (including SDGs 13) comprising 70% of spending.

Progress is tracked via tools like the SDG India Index (202324), which notes India's advancements in these goals, partly driven by corporate contributions.

Key Initiatives, Targets, and Achievements

Below is a table summarizing select major Indian companies' efforts on SDGs 1, 2, and 3, drawn from CSR reports and SDGaligned projects. These examples represent highimpact players; achievements are selfreported or from partnerships.

SDG Company/Group Key Initiatives Targets Aligned Notable Achievements

1 No Poverty Reliance Industries Ltd. (via Reliance Foundation) Village Associates program Builds community governance through Farmer Producer Companies (FPCs) and Women Thrift Groups (WTGs) for resource access and scheme linkages. Eradicate extreme poverty; enhance employability via skills; double agricultural incomes by 2022. Empowered 560 Village Associates and 3,000 leaders across multiple states; INR 14.58 Cr invested; improved access to government schemes for rural households.

1 No Poverty Tata Trusts Slum land rights pilot in Odisha; financial inclusion for women via SEWA Bharat cooperatives. End poverty via social protection and basic services access. Certified land tenure for 52,000 households; reduced loan default rates from 10%+ to 4%; impacted 1.97 lakh households in 1,896 slums.

1 No Poverty JK Cement Ltd. (via JK Trust) Cattle Breed Improvement Program Artificial insemination for livestock to boost milk yields. Build sustainable livelihoods in rural areas. INR 1.5 Cr project; improved productivity for lowyield cattle in Haryana/Rajasthan; supported integrated livestock centers.

2 Zero Hunger Tata Trusts (via Tata Dairy Mission & partnerships) Milk Producer Companies in Rajasthan; Annapurna Centralized Kitchens for tribal nutrition; food fortification advocacy with FSSAI. Achieve food security; end malnutrition; promote sustainable agriculture. Enrolled 11,613 women farmers; 31,800 kg milk collected daily; fortified staples reached 82 million (milk) and 321 million (oil) consumers; reduced anemia by ~10% in 25,000 children.

2 Zero Hunger Tata Trusts (Lift Irrigation & N M Sadguru Foundation) Mission 2020 – Lakhpati Kisan Lift irrigation and farmer training in Gujarat. Double smallscale producer incomes; sustainable food systems. Cultivated 450 acres; 36% of households earning > INR 1 lakh/year; trained farmers on seeds and techniques.

3 Good Health and Wellbeing Asian Paints Ltd. Project Drishyam (eye care) and Project Swasth (urban slum health camps). Reduce maternal/neonatal mortality; universal health coverage. INR 9.3 Cr invested; 1,822 eye checkups (887 spectacles, 161 surgeries); lowcost consultations/dental care for slum residents across 8 states.

3 Good Health and Wellbeing Steel Authority of India Ltd. Mobile Medical Units and Primary Health Centres for rural access. Combat diseases; strengthen health infrastructure. INR 5.6 Cr; served 44,000 villagers via 5 MMUs and 69,000 via 24 PHCs; 3,050 health camps for 60,000 people.

3 Good Health and Wellbeing Tata Trusts Cancer care transformation; UDAAN mental health program at Nagpur hospital; palliative care training. Promote wellbeing; reduce noncommunicable disease mortality. Trained 120+ oncology nurses; screened 1 lakh+ in Rajasthan; improved hygiene/therapy for 2,000 palliative patients; mainstreamed mental health patients via employment.

3 Good Health and Wellbeing Pernod Ricard India Pvt. Ltd. Primary Healthcare Centres and Nanhi Dhadkan (congenital heart treatment for girls). Ensure healthy lives; end epidemics. INR 4.01 Cr; treated 1,098,886 patients via 4 PHCs; 83 girls operated on for heart defects; mobile vans for remote areas.

SDG Goal	Representative Indian Company	Initiatives/Projects (CSR Focus)	Targets & Achievements (Examples)
SDG 1 No Poverty	Tata Group (various companies/Trusts)	Skill Development & Employability Vocational training for youth, entrepreneurship programs, and microfinance support.	Programs have trained millions in job-ready skills, leading to employment and income generation in rural/underserved areas.
	Hindustan Unilever (HUL)	Shakti Amma Program Training women in rural areas to distribute products, turning them into micro-entrepreneurs.	Creates self-employment opportunities, boosting household income and financial inclusion for rural women.
SDG 2 Zero Hunger	ITC Limited	Integrated Watershed Development & Sustainable Agriculture Promoting climate-resilient farming techniques, e-Choupal network for farmers.	Enhanced agricultural productivity and farmer incomes, improved water-use efficiency in agriculture. (ITC was ranked a top contributor to Zero Hunger in an India Impact report).
	Wipro	Holistic Rural Development Programme (HRDP) Focus on sustainable farming, food security, and natural resource management in rural communities.	Improved crop yields and promoted food security through better water management and agri-techniques.
SDG 3 Good Health & Well-being	Cipla	Affordable Medicines Focus on producing high-quality, low-cost generic drugs, particularly for diseases like HIV/AIDS.	Significant contribution to expanding access to essential, life-saving medicines in India and globally.
	Mahindra Group	Project Hariyali/Nanhi Kali Health and hygiene initiatives, building sanitation facilities, and promoting maternal health.	Improved health, sanitation, and hygiene for thousands of households; focused efforts on reducing child and maternal health risks.
	Tech Mahindra	Mobile Health Units (MHUs) & Mental Health Programs Providing primary healthcare in remote areas and promoting mental wellness.	Extended primary healthcare access to vulnerable populations via MHUs and addressed growing mental health needs.

Broader Impact and Challenges

Corporate efforts have accelerated India's SDG progress e.g., poverty reduction (millions lifted via schemes like PMAY, supported by CSR) and health improvements (e.g., 10% anemia drop in targeted groups). However, challenges persist, including uneven regional coverage and SDG 2's slower progress amid climate impacts. Companies like those in the top 100 CSR lists (e.g., TCS, HDFC Bank) often integrate multiple goals, with total CSR spending exceeding INR 25,000 Cr annually.

References

Corporate India’s Role in Achieving SDGs 1, 2 and 3

Dr vishakha jha

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