Setting exemplary standards, Ambuja Cement Foundation (ACF) has won the ICC Social Impact Award for the fourth consecutive time. During the Social Impact Awards 2022 ceremony in Kolkata, ACF was honored with 3 major awards for its contribution to women empowerment, water resources management and rural health.

ACF Sankrail won an award for gender equality and women’s empowerment in the large industry category while ACF Farakka won an award for its work in water resources management and livelihoods and an award of the jury in the health category. Among some sixty applications from various companies and NGOs, ACF emerged as the best organization in the field of water, women’s empowerment and health. For the fourth time in a row, ACF Farakka and Sankrail have won the ICC Social Impact Awards for their work in community development initiatives in the rural community. The awards were honored by the Consul General of Australia, the Consul General of Japan and the Deputy High Commissioner of Kolkata.

Commenting on the achievement, Pearl Tiwari, Director and CEO of Ambuja Cement Foundation, said, “It is a proud feeling to have renowned bodies like the Indian Chamber of Commerce recognizing our work over the past few years. All credit goes to our hardworking and committed team in Sankrail and Farakka who work tirelessly to bring prosperity to our rural communities.

Sankrail is an industrial block with nearly 130 heavy industries. ACF is working on gender sensitization and specifically on women empowerment in 16 villages around the Ambuja cement factory areas. As part of the women’s empowerment program, they focus on forming self-help groups, promote credit planning, and integrate the program with other priority areas of agriculture, water resource management , health and skills development. The organization encourages local women to participate in local development issues and participate in community/panchayat meetings. Thus, 40% of women belong to village institutions and committees.

Farakka is a block in West Bengal, based near the Bangladesh border considered one of the most underdeveloped blocks in the state. Health indicators were very low in the villages, but with targeted interventions and community participation, behavior change in family planning, maternal and child health, and anemia prevention was seen. The team has also worked on improving the livelihoods of small landowners through water harvesting and lift irrigation systems, which helps them grow more crops, get a better yield and earn more.

The ICC Social Impact Awards are an initiative of the Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) in which the Chamber engages with businesses, NGOs and implementing agencies to recognize them for exemplary work done in the field of social impact. Investment, CSR and Sustainability on a Pan India Base.