annual-report-FY2021

213 MAHINDRA & MAHINDRA LTD. INTEGRATED ANNUAL REPORT 2020-21 • Further, learning at the Nanhi Kali Academic Support Centres is facilitated by ‘Community Associates’ who are locally hired women, trained by the project. Since the ‘Community Associates’ are local women, they play a vital role in the community’s acceptance of the project. b) INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (IWMP) – INTEGRATED WATERSHED MANAGEMENT PROJECT (IWMP) – • The project is a Public Private Partnership (PPP) with Government of Madhya Pradesh in Bhopal and with NABARD at Hatta for increasing the ground water table resulting in increased agricultural productivity and improved living standards. • These projects have benefitted 38,447 people in 48 villages. The project has resulted in an increase in ground water table through various ‘watershed’ measures. • These projects have proven to be a sustainable and replicable model for the development sector which was also recognised by Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs. • The IWMP Bhopal project was successfully completed in June 2020 and handed over to the government. • The Company has thereafter partnered with NABARD in Maharashtra for a watershed project in Igatpuri, in Nashik district covering 20 villages, over 13,500 hectares and benefitting a population of more than 23,020 individuals. • Four projects covering area of 4,500 hectares were signed with NABARD for capacity building wherein activities like farm bunds, loose boulders and gabions for soil conservation were undertaken with the community. • Further, climate proofing project has been initiated in 3 completed micro watersheds to develop climate change resilient practices impacting over 3453 beneficiaries. c) MAHINDRA PRIDE SCHOOLS (MPS) – • The initiative provides livelihood training to youth from socially & economically disadvantaged backgrounds. • In F21, the Mahindra Group supported 7 MPSs in Pune, Chandigarh, Hyderabad, Varanasi and 3 in Chennai through which 4,342 students were trained. • Of these, M&M supported the schools in Chandigarh, Varanasi, 2 schools in Chennai, which cumulatively skilled 2,520 youth in F21. • From inception till date, 43,622 students have been trained and 100% have been placed. • As a result of the ongoing Covid19 crises, placement of students in F21 have been delayed and will continue in F22. • The alumni of MPS who are employed with different companies serve as role models in their community. Active alumni clubs regularly send referrals to MPS and at least 30-40% of a batch comprises of referrals. • In F21, 92,304 youth from Polytechnics, ITIs, Arts & Science Colleges across 13 states of India, received training through 1,816 Mahindra Pride Classrooms. Of these, 61,677 were supported by M&M. • The Mahindra Pride Classrooms provided 20-40 hours modules of training to final year students covering English Speaking, Life Skills, Aptitude, Interview and Group Discussion preparedness, and Digital Literacy. • Till date, 3,79,721 students have been trained through 8,335 Mahindra Pride Classrooms since inception in 2016-17. This year due to the Covid19 pandemic both MPS and MPC training was done online through zoom and other digital platforms. d) MAHINDRA HARIYALI – • The Mahindra Group has committed to planting one million trees every year. • From inception in 2007 till F21, the Mahindra Group has planted 19.08 million trees. • Of this, 11.68 million trees have been planted in Araku Valley to enhance livelihood of tribal farmers. In the Araku Valley of Andhra Pradesh, the trees planted include fruit bearing trees and coffee saplings, which have yielded high returns to the Adivasi tribal population in this region.