Cummins India Limited

Cummins India Limited recognises the critical importance of higher education and strives to enhance employability among youth by improving educational quality and alignment. The organisation addresses issues like inadequate education, illiteracy, and economic barriers to learning. It aims to make education more accessible and enhance vocational and professional training. By aligning educational systems with workforce needs, Cummins identifies key skills and gaps to improve overall education quality. Featured projects include promoting women's education and employability, providing educational assistance to socially and economically weaker sections, and supporting vocational education.

Cummins India Limited has identified bamboo as a sustainable and cost-effective building material for rural areas. With 72% of India's population in rural regions, infrastructure development heavily relies on steel. Bamboo offers a viable alternative due to its cost-effectiveness, natural resistance to moisture and rotting, and no need for Forest Department permission for harvesting. Cummins engineers developed a joinery technique to enhance bamboo's durability, allowing it to withstand high wind speeds, making it an eco-friendly alternative for rural construction.

Cummins' modular design, using only two components, can be transported easily and assembled with local skills. Bamboo impacts rural livelihoods by providing farmers with a viable cash crop, carpenters with processing opportunities, and consumers with affordable, sustainable materials. Conducted with Reddy's Foundation and involving 18 Cummins employees, this project was recognised as the Best Technical Project in Cummins' global Environmental Challenge 2011.

Cummins India Limited upgraded the Industrial Training Institute (ITI) in Phaltan to enhance vocational training. This initiative aims to provide better facilities for students and faculty, ensuring high-quality technicians for local industries. The programme focuses on improving infrastructure, offering soft skills training, increasing industry interaction, and promoting gender diversity. Discussions with the Director of Vocational Education and Training (DVET) are ongoing to further improve vocational training.

Implemented over four years, the project involved reactivating the Institute Management Committee, adding workshop equipment, creating power backup, landscaping, designing new courses, and increasing diversity. Cummins also introduced 5S and Kaizen concepts, health and safety practices, and communication skills, while working with the government on infrastructure development.

Cummins' efforts led to increased female enrolment, new courses in Diesel Mechanic and Machinist, transformation of workshops, introduction of industry best practices, and building renovations.

Cummins India Limited initiated a project at Deep Griha Society to address water scarcity at a primary school. Previously relying on bore-wells, the school lacked adequate drinking water. Cummins employees undertook a two-phase approach: implementing rainwater harvesting to replenish groundwater and installing a solar-powered purification system meeting IS:10500 standards. This system now provides 300 litres/day of safe drinking water for up to 400 children, eliminating water-borne diseases and ensuring sustainability. The project exemplifies corporate responsibility, enhancing children's lives with minimal environmental impact and community involvement.

Cummins India Limited undertook a transformative initiative in Nandal, Maharashtra, aiming to improve sanitation and overall village development. Identified as lacking basic infrastructure and facing water scarcity, Nandal was chosen for a comprehensive project. Cummins initiated a community-driven effort including constructing individual and communal toilets to replace open defecation practices. They also addressed water conservation issues by collaborating with villagers and government bodies to build a cement check dam, ensuring water storage and recharge during dry periods. These efforts not only improved sanitation and water access but also empowered villagers, enhancing their quality of life and agricultural productivity.

Cummins India Limited has long supported the Poona School and Home for the Blind Girls, a pioneering institution in Pune established in 1934. The school provides education and vocational training to visually impaired girls aged 5 to 35, fostering self-reliance and dignity. Students learn in Bharatiya Braille up to fourth standard and continue their education in integrated schools. Vocational training in skills like cane work, candle making, and tailoring prepares older students for independent livelihoods. Cummins' involvement includes infrastructure support, healthcare initiatives, and educational enhancements like a Braille printer and Occupational Therapy Room. Employees contribute actively, from cultivating a Kitchen Garden for student use to creating revenue through products like newspaper bags, empowering the school's residents economically and functionally.

Cummins India Limited implemented a transformative initiative in Padarwadi, a remote agrarian village 120 kilometres from Pune. Recognizing the villagers' daily struggles with agriculture as their sole income source and unreliable power supply, Cummins devised an economically sustainable solution. They established a Distributed Generation Model using a 15 kVA genset powered by locally sourced Pongamia Oil, complying with emissions regulations. This model empowered villagers to operate equipment like rice mills and oil extractors independently, reducing manual labor and boosting agricultural productivity. The project not only generated an estimated annual income of US$ 2500 for the community but also enhanced villagers' morale and creativity in utilizing new resources, fostering a ripple effect of positive change within Padarwadi.

Cummins India Limited launched the Zero Garbage Ward initiative to address escalating waste management challenges in Pune. Focused on Katraj Ward No. 144, the project aimed to transform waste disposal practices at the source through collaboration with NGO Janwani and other stakeholders. Key objectives included segregating and recycling waste, enhancing cleanliness, and improving the lives of waste collectors by integrating them into safer, more dignified collection processes. Cummins volunteers conducted extensive community outreach, educating residents on waste segregation and organizing public events and puppet shows to promote awareness. The initiative has expanded to 25 wards, fostering community participation and empowering waste collectors with safety gear and financial opportunities through scrap sales, setting a new standard for sustainable waste management practices.

Cummins India Limited launched the Paper Bag Project to combat the environmental impact of plastic bags in Pune. Recognizing the escalating use of non-biodegradable plastic bags, Cummins initiated a campaign to promote paper bags made from recycled newspapers. Employees engaged with the community to raise awareness about plastic pollution and trained NGOs to manufacture paper bags, creating employment opportunities for disadvantaged groups like the differently-abled and women from rural areas. Internally, Cummins replaced plastic bags with paper alternatives for various purposes, generating a demand of approximately 40,000 paper bags annually within the company. Externally, self-help groups marketed these paper bags successfully, securing regular orders and empowering local communities economically. The project has significantly reduced plastic bag usage, with plans to scale production, expand outreach, and involve more Cummins entities across India, fostering sustainable practices and livelihoods.

Cummins India Limited implemented an initiative to combat excessive wood consumption in Nandal village by introducing energy-efficient cooking stoves. This pilot project aimed to address the environmental and health impacts caused by traditional stoves, which heavily relied on wood collected from surrounding forests. Partnering with ARTI, Cummins facilitated the installation of 'Energy Saving Cooking Gas' stoves made from insulating cement bricks and metal wires. These stoves, designed to last 5-6 years, significantly reduced wood consumption by 30%, carbon monoxide emissions by 80%, and cooking time by 30%. The project not only aimed to preserve local biodiversity but also improved the villagers' health by mitigating air pollution from cooking practices.