ICICI Bank is an Indian bank with roots spread across the globe and one of the top notch banking and financial service providers of India. With the headquarters set at Mumbai, Maharashtra and the registered office at Vadodara, Gujarat, ICICI Bank stands as the second largest bank in India when it comes to market capitalisation and assets. A wide arrayed network of 4867 branches, 14367 ATM’s and presence in over 17 countries, it is one to reckon with. ICICI Bank has played a major role in the set-up of multiple Indian institutions like National Stock Exchange (NSE), CRISIL – the first ever credit rating agency of India, NCDEX, Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) and much more.
ICICI Bank has been a major foray and stands as one the biggest institutions of the Indian society and their role in guiding the society is quite exemplary. They have time and again contributed to the well being of the society with a pounding dedication and empowering ideas. They have founded ICICI foundation back in 2008 that looks into the CSR activities and contributes to the societal well-being. And their spending in these CSR stands quite en-large to other corporate houses which back their claims as to being one of the best CSR activist organisations.
There are different CSR initiatives that are run under ICICI group for inclusive growth and well being of the society and people. One such activity is ‘Projects of ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth’ which looks into the aspect of skill development, livelihood programmes and financial literacy. Having been started in 2008, the ICICI Foundation looks into implementation of skill development, via their in-house team and en-large trainee groups. They have been working on vocational skill development programs. They have over 26 skill development centres across 19 states which provide industry relevant training to candidates in 12 different technical roles and office based skills. The ICICI Bank has planned for two new centres of ICICI Academy in Dehradun and Gorakhpur for the fiscal year 2019. Having spread across Pan-India, ICICI Bank focusses their CSR initiative via this program into both urban and rural livelihood. The major objective of these CSR programs is to help develop the capabilities of the individual so that they can earn a sustainable livelihood in life. The trainees who enrol into these programs are further facilitated with job opportunities. It has been a trademark of ICICI foundation that they offer state-of-the-art practical based labs that help in enhancing the skillset of the people associated with the programme. It also allows for learning of the modules in the form of financial literacy and life skills.
Another known CSR activity from ICICI Bank has been in form of ‘Rural development and related activities’. This CSR initiative has seen the development of skill and livelihood enhancement, financial literacy, rural development and community development. This CSR approach has seen cross PAN-India and helps focus on building a greater initiative towards youth’s wage employment and career build-up. It has already crosses over 1200 local villages and is a major initiative via the ICICI foundation to build on the locally relevant trades and helping to connect the market linkage so that there can be a greater substantiality on the local level itself. There has been quite a theme of youth population migrating from the local village to the cities so that they can earn a livelihood for them and their family. With opportunity for them at the rural and local area limited to negligible few, this initiative marked as ‘Rural development and related activities’ takes into consideration of making ample efforts so as to form a marketability for the youth residing in the village area. The training generally includes short duration skill based grooming where the people partaking into it learn about the relevant trades that are suitable for their village. This initiative has already seen over 400,000 people partake in the trainings by March 31st, 2019. These trainings have resulted in a promotion of local entrepreneurship amongst village youth and even the women population.
ICICI Bank has lived up to its name as one of the biggest organisation of the nation with due diligence on the CSR front. With the trusteeship theory applicable for any organisation, the resultant end should always be the gentility and welfare of the people and ICICI Bank does the same with their various foundations that are zoomed on improving the livelihood and imparting valuable skill based trainings.
