HIV/AIDS

We continued to make progress on our commitment to various programmes and actions in response to the HIV epidemic.

We conducted 102 awareness programmes involving 4700 employees within our units and nearly 320 members of communities surrounding our operations.

Human Rights: Significant Investments

During 2008-09, nearly 52 % of our total capex cash flow of Rs. 1700 crores was incurred on machinery and technology, which were sourced from reputed global suppliers/vendors who follow internationally accepted norms and standards on Human Rights. Approximately Rs. 456 crores were invested on new factories, hotels, modernisation.

All large contracts in ITC, for the construction of hotels, factories and significant upgrades include environment, health, safety and human rights clauses covering decent place of work, and ‘beyond compliance’ labour practices. During 2008-09, all large projects, including the ITC hotel projects in Bengaluru and Chennai, new pulp mill & 6th Paper machine in Bhadrachalam and the housing colony in Bengaluru were specially managed and supervised by ITC managers, who also ensured proper Human Rights compliance.

Corporate Internal Audit and Corporate EHS audited the above projects to ensure compliance with our Policies and Standards.