Tata Motors’ CSR Initiative Aarogya Aims to Improve Community Healthcare

In a country where universal access to healthcare remains a significant challenge, addressing the urgent needs of underserved communities is critical. TATA Motors, through its decade-long CSR initiative, 'Aarogya,' has taken proactive steps to bridge these gaps. The program focuses on vital areas such as maternal and child healthcare, combating malnutrition, and improving access to clean drinking water, helping to uplift the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. In an exclusive interaction with BW Healthcare World, Vinod Kulkarni discussed about the impact of Tata Motors’ CSR initiatives in improving healthcare in India.  

 1. Could you share more details about Tata Motors' 'Aarogya' program and its key achievements so far? Talking about the health of underserved communities, how does the Aarogya program specifically address their needs, particularly in terms of child health and maternal care? How has the program evolved since its inception?

The Tata Motors 'Aarogya' program is a comprehensive health initiative to improve the well-being of underserved communities across India. Since its inception, the program has significantly addressed critical health issues, particularly in child health and maternal care.

The program is designed to combat malnutrition among children aged 0 to 6 years by detecting and diagnosing malnutrition, providing supplementary diets and supplements, and offering generic medicines and consultations for immediate improvement. By shifting from institutional-based clinical approaches to community-based health interventions, Tata Motors has created a sustainable impact, successfully moving more than 91 per cent of malnourished children to healthy zones over the past decade.

To foster behavioural changes within communities, particularly targeting young mothers and parents, the program includes awareness sessions and antenatal and postnatal services. Additionally, curative healthcare services such as diagnosis, administration of generic medicines, and consultations are provided to cater to the healthcare needs of the communities.

The Aarogya program also addresses the need for safe drinking water through the Amrutdhara initiative, which involves the creation of clean drinking water solutions for water-scarce villages.  Launched in 2010, this community-managed programme helps build infiltration wells for doorstep water access, develop gravity-driven pipe systems, and construct rainwater harvesting structures for villages and government schools. Since its inception, Amrutdhara has impacted over 8.8 lakh lives through 883 projects spread across 1114 villages across the country.  

 2. Can you elaborate on how the Tata Arogya CSR initiative has successfully reached and what are the number of beneficiaries it has impacted?

The Tata Motors’ ‘Aarogya’ initiative has created a sustained impact while addressing the healthcare and well-being of the underserved communities. With its consistent engagement with the local communities Aarogya programme has positively impacted 42.6 lakh lives over the last decade. In FY 23-24, it touched the lives of 5.7 lakh beneficiaries from underserved communities.

 3. How does Tata Motors collaborate with government bodies, NGOs, and other stakeholders in its health and nutrition initiatives? Can you share some examples of successful collaborations?

Collaboration is a cornerstone of Tata Motors’ CSR efforts, particularly in health and nutrition. By partnering with government bodies, NGOs, and community organizations, we have achieved significant impacts. Our “More for Less for More” strategy bridges the gap between goals and resources, scaling projects across India. This involves linking programs and beneficiaries, investing in communities near our manufacturing sites, and deploying models with clear objectives and outcomes.

One successful collaboration is the Malnutrition Treatment Centre (MTC) in Jamshedpur, established in 2009 with UNICEF, the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), and Parivar Kalyan Sansthan (PKS). Providing comprehensive support, including treatment and nutritious food, MTC has evolved from a six-bed to a 20-bed facility, serving Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM) children from 117 Anganwadis across East Singhbhum district.

 4. What are the targets of your health-related CSR interventions for 2024-25?

Tata Motors is firmly committed towards creating an inclusive, equitable, and sustainable India through our CSR programmes. Following our philosophy of ‘More for Less for More’ we strive to create a sustained impact on societies by the judicious utilisation of our financial and human resources. In FY23-24, our CSR programme impacted the lives of over 10.03 lakh people from underserved communities. We aim to create impact with scale, thereby building self-sustaining communities. An important aspect of attaining this goal is to address the needs of over 20,000 malnourished children, to achieve an 80 per cent improvement in their health. We are committed to scaling the impact of the Aarogya programme and continuing its successful track record of improving health outcomes.

 5. How does your organisation ensure the effective provision of generic medicines and consultations to meet the diverse healthcare needs of the communities you serve?

Tata Motors ensures the effective delivery of generic medicines and consultations through a structured healthcare approach. Their Aarogya program offers community-based healthcare tailored to local needs. By partnering with government bodies, NGOs, and local health departments, they strengthen healthcare delivery systems. The program provides curative services, including diagnosis, medication, and consultations. Additionally, Tata Motors invests in training healthcare workers and community volunteers and regularly monitors and evaluates services to identify and address gap

These strategies ensure that Tata Motors meets the diverse healthcare needs of the communities it serves, making a significant impact on their well-being. A shining example of our efforts can be seen in Pune. In 2014, our program provided nutritional supplements to nearly 600 malnourished children annually, with ASHA workers and Medical Officers trained in standardized intervention protocols. While about 10 per cent of the children remained moderately malnourished, we saw this as an opportunity to enhance our approach.  

 6. What are the services TATA motor is offering for the timely diagnosis of underserved communities?  

Tata Motors ensures timely diagnosis for underserved communities through community-based health interventions, mobile health units, and collaborations with government bodies and NGOs. The Aarogya program provides regular health check-ups, screenings, and curative healthcare services, including the administration of generic medicines and consultations, ensuring comprehensive and accessible medical care.

 7. Could you please share about the other initiatives that the company has implemented to address the challenges related to malnutrition?

Tata Motors has implemented several initiatives to tackle malnutrition. In collaboration with Manav Seva Trust in Sanand, Gujarat, they improved the health of over 200 children across 48 villages through health check-ups, medication, and nutrition education for mothers. In Pantnagar, they run Parvarish Kendras with the Institute of Social Development, providing nutritious meals and health monitoring via Anganwadi centers. In Pune, their CoMAL initiative, supported by UNICEF and WHO, focuses on community awareness and interventions for malnourished children in urban slums.