Embassy REIT, a publicly listed real estate investment trust, is deeply aligned with ESG principles and aims to achieve responsible business practices, a resilient planet, and revitalised communities. To meet sustainable development goals, which now require mandatory reporting of progress and emissions to ensure accountability for government pledges, the trust has launched several programs under its CSR umbrella.
In an interview with ResponsibleUs, Shaina Ganapathy, Head of Community Outreach at Embassy Group, shared insights into these initiatives and their impact on community building.
How are CSR initiatives aligned with the long-term needs of the surrounding communities?
Our outreach efforts are therefore curated to address the long-term needs of surrounding communities through sustained, impactful programs. In education, we focus on continuous support for adopted government schools, ensuring year-on-year growth with a structured approach to student development from cradle to career. In infrastructure, we provide end-to-end management, including repairs, renovations, and dedicated maintenance staff, ensuring the sustainability of the facilities we build. Additionally, our environmental initiative in North Bangalore, EcoGram, started off as a benchmark for best practices when it comes to solid waste management. In a unique partnership between local administrative bodies, NGO partners, and corporates, it has now evolved in response to the community’s changing needs, creating a long-term, adaptive model for environmental and social well-being. Together, these initiatives create lasting value that supports community growth and resilience over time.
What metrics are used to measure the impact of programs in education, health, and sustainable infrastructure?
Our implementing partners are encouraged to measure the impact of our programs using a variety of metrics tailored to each focus area. In education, we conduct baseline, midline, and endline assessments in foundational learning across all grades to track student progress and outcomes. For infrastructure and health, a key metric is the increase in enrolments year on year, reflecting the positive impact of our interventions on accessibility and community health. In the environment sector, we use a QR code system at each residence linked to an app that tracks waste segregation data, complemented by regular door-to-door surveys to ensure residents have the resources and support they need to properly segregate waste. These metrics provide clear, data-driven insights into the effectiveness and reach of our initiatives.
Can you elaborate on the skills and employability programmes provided to government school students?
Our skills and employability programs for government school students are designed to bridge the gap between education and career opportunities. We sponsor scholarships for 73 girls pursuing engineering degrees in Bangalore and Pune, in partnership with the Lila Poonawalla Foundation. Alongside their academic course, these students receive workshops in financial literacy, job readiness, grooming, and presentation skills to enhance their employability. Additionally, alumni from the government schools we support have the chance to intern across various departments at Embassy Group, with the potential for permanent roles—this year, two interns secured positions in our Interiors team. For high school students in eight government schools, we offer a comprehensive career guidance program covering over 18 industries, complemented by industry exposure visits and personalised career counselling to help students make informed choices about their future paths.
How does the Environment program, EcoGram, address environmental challenges while improving basic amenities?
The EcoGram initiative addresses environmental challenges by creating a sustainable model for waste management and critical resource conservation that simultaneously improves basic amenities in these peri-urban communities, which are at the cusp of seeing development.
EcoGram has also contributed to improving the quality of life in these villages by:
• Generating employment opportunities through waste management operations.
• Empowering women via the EcoGram Shakthi Program, which provides livelihoods through the sale of local products.
• Enhancing infrastructure by establishing waste collection and processing facilities
Overall, EcoGram not only helps prevent pollution and degradation of soil, air, and water but also fosters community empowerment and improved living standards, making it a replicable model for other regions in India.
What innovative solutions have emerged from the Corporate Connect program to drive social and environmental impact?
The Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Amendment Rules, 2021 now allow companies to undertake CSR activities in collaboration with other companies, as long as they adhere to Schedule 7 and report separately on their projects. This change underscores the government’s commitment to fostering impactful corporate partnerships and driving meaningful change.
At Embassy, the Corporate Connect Program has been a game-changer, catalysing collaboration among corporates to amplify their collective impact and eliminate redundancy. Since 2017, the program has been at the forefront of addressing critical challenges in the development sector, from identifying high-impact causes to ensuring scalability and sustainability, all while optimising resources and avoiding duplication under the CSR Mandate. By encouraging strategic partnerships, Embassy is helping corporates unlock greater potential for social good.
How are corporate occupiers engaged in collaborative projects, and which partnership has been the most impactful?
The Corporate Connect Program has facilitated cross-sector collaboration with over 40 corporates across 100+ projects, aligning them towards a common purpose and enabling greater impact than individual efforts could achieve. Key examples of innovative solutions include:
• Pandemic Relief Collaboration: Embassy played a pivotal role in coordinating corporates and civil society organisations during COVID-19 relief efforts. This collaboration reached hospitals, frontline workers, and government school children and teachers across Bangalore, demonstrating the model’s strength in times of crisis.
• Collaborative Volunteering: The program’s motto, “Together we can do so much more,” has been proven true with over 450 volunteers engaged in the past year from our corporate partners. Volunteers have cleaned and beautified public spaces and government schools, fostering cross-company interaction and deeper employee engagement.
• Thought Leadership Platforms: As a CSR thought leader, Embassy has created a space for corporates to come together and address key social development challenges. Through 16 editions of the Embassy Engage series over 7 years, the Corporate Connect model has successfully encouraged corporates to prioritise sustainability and responsible action.
What plans are in place to expand or enhance initiatives with a stronger focus on sustainability in the future?
With the growing momentum of the ESG movement, Embassy is actively leading discussions on sustainability, particularly bridging the gap between CSR and ESG. The latest Embassy Engage #16 focused on reducing waste in workspaces and promoting responsible consumption among employees. Through the Corporate Connect program, we plan to drive this initiative systematically by establishing a steering committee of corporates across our tech parks, who will champion the transition to greener, more sustainable workspaces.
Additionally, sustainability is integrated into all our CSR projects. Whether through making schools greener with solar power and rainwater harvesting, upgrading lakes to enhance biodiversity, or advancing our Solid Waste Management project—Ecogram—Embassy is committed to embedding sustainability into every initiative, both independently and in collaboration with our corporate partners.