Staff Writer
Chennai: Ashok Leyland, the Indian flagship of the Hinduja Group and the country’s leading commercial vehicle manufacturer, received the Mother Teresa Award for Corporate Citizen of the Year 2024 at an event held at Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA). The award and citation were presented to the CSR team of Ashok Leyland by Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Hon’ble Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Established in 1998, the Mother Teresa Award for Corporate Citizen is a prestigious honour that recognizes organizations demonstrating exceptional social responsibility, a commitment to community welfare, and a strong focus on environmental sustainability. Highly regarded across India’s corporate sector, this award celebrates companies that go beyond business imperatives to create a lasting and meaningful impact on marginalized communities.
Mr. Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO, Ashok Leyland said, “At Ashok Leyland, we see corporate social responsibility as an integral part of our business philosophy. Our commitment to nation-building goes beyond manufacturing world-class vehicles, as we strive to uplift communities, protect the environment, and drive meaningful change. Receiving the Mother Teresa Award is a great honour and a reaffirmation of our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future. Our Road to School and Road to Livelihood programs continue to make a meaningful impact, now reaching over five lakh students. This year, we proudly welcomed 92,000 new students, and we are set to expand further by adding another 1,00,000 students in FY26, reinforcing our commitment to education and empowerment.”
Mr. Balachandar NV, CSR and Corporate Affairs, Ashok Leyland said, “Our CSR initiatives focus on holistic and long-term impact, aligning with our vision of creating a better society. This award is an encouragement for us to continue driving positive change through education, healthcare, environment sustainability, and skill development. We remain very proud of our ‘Road to School’ project, an initiative that takes education to the last mile, focuses on holistic child development enabling them to realize their full potential. For us, ‘Road to School’ is far more than just a CSR program; it represents a company-wide commitment to driving real, meaningful change in the lives of students.”
Road to School (RTS), Ashok Leyland’s leading CSR initiative in collaboration with Learning Links Foundation, strives to bridge educational disparities among students in rural and underserved areas attending government schools across India. The Road to School Program envisions fostering holistic development of children from government schools in remote areas. It supports both academic and co-curricular growth, encompassing health, hygiene, physical and emotional well-being, and sports. RTS program is aligned with the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals on improving the quality of education, scholastic and co-scholastic development including sports, and art education and promoting good health and wellbeing amongst underserved children from government schools.
Started in the year 2015 with 36 Schools in Shoolagiri and Anchetty in Krishnagiri District, Tamil Nadu, the Road to School program has made significant strides in improving learning levels across 7 states mapping about 2505 schools impacting around 4,81,121 Students in Government Primary, Upper Primary and High Schools (2nd to 12th Std.). Ashok Leyland is dedicated in its mission to impact 1 million students, ensuring every child in India has access to quality education. With a commitment to nurturing this vision, the company aims to make a lasting difference in the educational landscape in India.
The company’s CSR initiatives span multiple domains, including education, healthcare, road safety, skill development, and women empowerment. Additionally, Ashok Leyland actively champions environmental sustainability through afforestation projects, water conservation efforts, and initiatives aimed at reducing the carbon footprint.
This prestigious award reinforces Ashok Leyland’s dedication to creating a sustainable and inclusive future for all. The company remains steadfast in its mission to drive both economic growth and social development, making a meaningful difference in society that transcends business objectives.
