Talwandi Sabo Power Limited (TSPL), a thermal power plant in Punjab, won the prestigious Greentech CSR award for outstanding achievement in the promotion of sustainable agriculture, at an online award ceremony organized by Greentech Foundation on 1st October 2020. TSPL’s CSR project in sustainable livelihood ‘Navi Disha’, benefits over 1100 farmers from 26 villages in the company’s periphery, helping them reduce input costs, adopt advanced agricultural practices and improve production from their agricultural lands.
Punjab is an agrarian economy, with a major share of agriculture and allied activities in the country. Over the years, this agrarian economy has evolved from subsistence farming to commercial farming. Under Navi Disha project, TSPL has organized several pieces of training and workshops on modern agricultural practices, integrated pest management and optimized use of chemical fertilizers for the farmers of Mansa & Bathinda District, resulting in increased saving on inputs costs of Rabi crops by 12% and on Kharif crops by 52%.
Vikas Sharma, CEO and WTD, TSPL said: “TSPL is on a mission to transform the rural agrarian economy of Punjab’s Mansa & Bathinda District through structured interventions in sustainable farming. The Greentech CSR award is a testimony to the endeavours of all the farmers who have put to practice the knowledge and skills gained during the training sessions organized by us. In line with our commitment to give back to the community, we shall continue to support Punjab’s farmers in all possible ways, helping them increase their produce and profitability.”
Expressing his gratitude to TSPL, Mandeep Singh, a farmer from Gharangna village said: “Navi Disha project has helped me save close to Rs. 45,000 by significantly reducing the amount of chemical sprays I used on my field earlier. The project team also encouraged me to develop a vegetable nursery, which is fetching me an additional income of Rs 1.5 lakhs today. I am thankful to TSPL for this wonderful initiative. These interventions have helped the farming community here immensely.”
TSPL has been at the forefront of Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives in Mansa & Bathinda District of Punjab and has undertaken several social development projects around the plant site contributing towards socio-economic development of the area. In the changing paradigm of social fabric due to the pandemic, TSPL is shouldering the responsibilities with district and police administration with full dedication and perseverance.