Sustainable Development and Livelihood Generation In Himalayan Region: A case of CSR initiatives by Tehri Hydro Development Corporation Limited Uttarakhand

Since time immemorial, the Himalayas have been venerated as a dwelling for the well-being of mankind. However, deteriorating environmental assets, global warming, increasing pollution and outmigration have made the well-being of the Himalayas a matter of concern. With the increased human intervention and global climatic changes, the equilibrium between mankind and the nature of this mountain habitat is disturbed, which is a concern not only for the local community but for the provincial authorities too. The underlying situation makes it imperative for the government, NGOs and corporate houses to take necessary steps that are required to conserve the Himalayas in all their beauty and bring in sustainable development alongwith livelihood generation for the local community. The state of Uttarakhand is also highly vulnerable to natural disasters and climate change, which pose a threat to its environment and population. Human activities, such as the continuous expansion of hydro-power projects and the construction of highways, have played a significant role in triggering frequent disasters in Uttarakhand, including landslides and floods. Additionally, uneven distribution of industrialization in the hilly and plain regions of the state has resulted in the challenge of outmigration for the people of Uttarakhand, particularly in the hill districts, where subsistence farming is the main economic activity. The constraints of traditional agriculture, alongwith outmigration have created a need for promoting livelihoods and enhancing the quality of life in these areas. This is where corporate social responsibility (CSR) can be instrumental and can play a pivotal role. Schedule VII of the Indian Companies Act 2013 provides an explicit direction to the companies for prescribed activities that qualify for CSR projects that have a tremendous potential to develop a sustainable growth model. Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited (THDCIL) has been identified among the top ten CSR-contributing companies that qualify for CSR interventions in Uttarakhand. With a mission of building sustainable value-based relationships with the entire stakeholders and promoting inclusive growth, THDC is committed to various CSR programmes. As a responsible corporate citizen, THDCIL is implementing various CSR initiatives for the project-affected people and nearby areas through company-sponsored NGO SEWA-THDC and THDC Education Society, another company-sponsored NGO runs Inter College at Tehri and THDC High School Rishikesh wherein in lieu of nominal fee education is provided to more than 800 needy and underprivileged students. Thus, current study is an attempt to take a closer look at the impact of CSR grants made by the company on livelihoods and sustainable development in Uttarakhand and comprehend the data and numbers to assess the effectiveness of these initiatives. For this, two development sectors were taken into consideration: education and vocational skills development as these were identified as the areas of development where major support has been made by THDC and which may have a significant contribution in meeting the challenges faced by the people of Uttarakhand.