Diversified group ITC will spend Rs 250 crore this fiscal as part of its social investments for strengthening rural livelihoods. The company will also continue to add one lakh acres of land under its watershed development and 50,000 acre in its afforestation initiatives each year. "Last year, ITC had spent Rs 215 crore in Mission Sunehra Kal and has plans to invest around Rs 250 crore this fiscal in this initiative," ITC Ltd Vice President Social Investments Ashesh Ambasta told PTI.
Under the Mission Sunehra Kal, ITC works to strengthen rural livelihoods through its rural retail initiative e-Choupal, wasteland development through social forestry, soil and moisture conservation programmes, livestock development initiatives, building skills and social infrastructure. The company has formed a partnership through its crop development and procurement activities for its agri business with the farmers. The 'Mission Sunehra Kal' initiative is aimed to empower the rural communities by enhancing sustainable livelihood opportunities as well as increase rural purchasing power.
Presently, the project is covering a total area of 5,00,000 acres in 12 states in the watershed development programme, where ITC has factory or agri operations. "In the watershed area, we are adding nearly 50,000 acre every year and is across our business agro value chains such as pulpwood plantations, wheat, tobacco," Ambasta said. Similarly ITC covers a total area of 5,00,000 acre under its afforestation initiatives as part of its social investments.
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