Ashok Leyland, the Hinduja Group's Indian flagship commercial vehicle manufacturer, has been awarded the Mother Teresa Award for Corporate Citizen of the Year 2024. The ceremony took place at Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), where Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, Government of Tamil Nadu, presented the award to Ashok Leyland's CSR team.
The Mother Teresa Award, established in 1998, is considered a significant recognition in India's corporate sector for organizations demonstrating exceptional commitment to social responsibility, community welfare, and environmental sustainability.
"At Ashok Leyland, we see corporate social responsibility as an integral part of our business philosophy," said Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO of Ashok Leyland. "Receiving the Mother Teresa Award reaffirms our efforts to create a sustainable and inclusive future."
Agarwal noted that the company's flagship programs, Road to School and Road to Livelihood, currently reach over 500,000 students. "This year, we welcomed 92,000 new students, and we plan to add another 100,000 students in FY26," he added.
Balachandar NV, who oversees CSR and Corporate Affairs at Ashok Leyland, emphasized that their initiatives focus on creating long-term impact. "For us, 'Road to School' represents a company-wide commitment to driving real, meaningful change in the lives of students," he said.
The Road to School program, launched in 2015 in collaboration with Learning Links Foundation, initially covered 36 schools in Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri District. It has since expanded to seven states, encompassing approximately 2,505 schools and benefiting around 481,121 students from grades 2 through 12.
The program aims to address educational disparities in rural and underserved areas, supporting both academic and non-academic development including health, hygiene, emotional well-being, and sports activities. This initiative aligns with the United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals for education quality and health promotion.
Beyond education, Ashok Leyland's CSR portfolio includes healthcare, road safety, skill development, and women's empowerment programs. The company also pursues environmental sustainability through afforestation, water conservation, and carbon footprint reduction efforts.
The award highlights Ashok Leyland's ongoing commitment to balancing economic growth with social development, as the company works toward its goal of impacting one million students across India.