AS an institution that is defined by people, J&K bank has been, since decades, voluntarily – and not out of any compulsion committed to Corporate Social Responsibility. The bank adopted CSR as a considered means for sustainable growth. The bank believes that for an organization to succeed in long term it is imperative to keep the inclusive welfare of the society at the core of its values and purpose. At J&K Bank, Corporate Social Responsibility is not mere obligations but is a vital pillar of its continual success for present and future. The CSR policy of the bank is driven by the social empathy.
The bank’s approach to CSR seeks to recognize obligations towards society and aims to integrate its ideals into bank’s mission for optimizing both business and social performance, says Mushtaq Ahmad,chairman and chief executive officer of the bank. “Rather than using it as a ploy for publicity, our CSR is aligned with the bank’s strategic vision of ‘catalyzing empowerment through economic transformation’ by making innovative and strategic interventions in almost all spheres of life ranging from health to heritage, education to entrepreneurship, culture & community welfare to ecology & environment, and everything that can be conceived as a social cause demanding our attention,” said the chairman.
The chairman further said: “It is precisely in this context that J&K Bank considers contributions to CSR as an asset rather than an expenditure.The approaches adopted in covering, handling and implementing CSR initiatives are plain yet professional, massive yet methodical and simple but scientific. However, there is a constant urge to further streamline our CSR by adopting out-of-box, creative, innovative and scientifically advanced procedures.”
Meanwhile, major focus areas of J&K Bank CSR programmes/activities include
a) Promotion of education
b) Preventive Healthcare & Improving Public Health Delivery system under Project RAAHAT
c) Environmental & Ecological Concerns
d) Swach initiatives
e) Vocational Skills
f) Revival of art
Overview of activities
ü Under Project “MUSKAAN” Bank adopted around 200 differently abled children through registered professional NGOs to provide them with special education like toilet training, meal time, behavior modification etc. At the same time, in the year under report, bank took first of its kind CSR initiative in upgrading NGOs working for girl children (orphan) and abandoned old age people. These NGOs included prominent organizations in the Jammu region like Vridh Asharm, Samaj Kalyan Kendra and Ved Mandir Committee.
ü Continuing its novel CSR initiative of Remote Child Sponsorship Programme (RCSP), Bank brought Fifty (50) under-privileged children under its ambit for the sake of seeking primary education through leading concerned NGO CHINAR KASHMIR. At the same time , for the third consecutive year , Bank in alliance with Child Rights & you (CRY) continued its project ‘Koshish’ which is in operation in three (03) Districts like Budgam, Ganderbal and parts of Srinagar catering to the health, educational and nutritional requirement of as many as 9000 children having poor financial background. At the same time, to infuse a new life to the ailing education system at Government level, under the new concept of “Model Schools” J&K Bank as a first pilot Project developed three (03) Government schools in South & North Kashmir to equip them with the state-of-the-art technology and infrastructural facilities. Correspondingly up gradation of Ranbir Higher Secondary School Jammu- established in 1872 & also Karanwara middle school at basoli Kathua were also upgraded to enhance quality education. J&K Bank also, as a pilot project took a mega CSR initiative for the poor students at the university level under the Project “J&K Bank Merit Cum Means Scholarships”. Under the Project 36 PG courses have been covered by the Bank supporting one “eligible” student till the completion of the degree.
ü Preventive healthcare & improving public health delivery system remained core healthcare activity of the Bank under Project RAAHAT. Reacting to the fatal disease of Hepatitis C catching young & old in large numbers in the valley, Bank adopted 50 youth for complete treatment to make them Hep free. Improving public health system is one of the key clauses of CSR and, considering the wellbeing of general public, Bank provided all sort of support to Government hospitals. Ambulances, Critical care machinery like ultrasound machines, IABP, Coagulation machines, portable x-ray machines were donated to hospitals like SKIMS, Government Medical Jammu & its associated hospitals and District Hospital Leh. Besides, Anti-Cancer drugs and mammogram was provided to Cancer Society of Kashmir to help the NGO in combating the dreaded disease. Also, for the first time, Bank kept impressed money available with GMC Jammu/Kashmir for poor patients failing to buy medicines and to undergo diagnostic tests. Bank also proved the only organization in reaching out to the little children having facial deformity through a leading NGO MAYA FOUNDATION.
ü Taking a lead from Prime Ministers Swach Bharat mission that calls for clean India, bank took a major CSR initiative by donating four super sucker machine to Jammu & Srinagar Municipal corporations. This first of its kind swach initiative by the Bank aims to help the twin corporations to set the quality for technology driven cleaning system in municipal areas.
ü J&K Bank identified a distinctive project of E-learning in remote schools of Rajouri District. As many as 25 Government schools were identified where e-learning technology could be made possible. Things like laptops, Projectors & Interactive screens were installed at the identified schools to start the programme.
ü Due to conflict situation in the state over the last two decades, performing arts have been badly hit. From among the all performing arts, culturally rich music of the state, particularly valley has been in desolate situation, leaving many artistes to live a miserable life, besides the society losing centuries old rich art. Bank in one of its initiative started a Project in the name “art for All” so that, rich musical and cultural legacy of the State is revived and also the artists related with various arts are benefitted for their survival.
ü Reaching out to the unemployed but skilled youth of the state, bank through Twelve (12) Rural Self Employment training Institutes, Bank conducted 240 programmes for as many as 6795 candidates for various vocational skill training programmes. The reach and success of these vocational programmes has empowered more than 700 youth to start their own business units/ventures. At the same time, Bank had an MOU with Entrepreneurship development Cell, University of Kashmir for traditional kill developments progarmmes, particularly for women.
Notably, the bank has spent over Rs.28 crore while taking various initiative under corporate social responsibility banner.