New Delhi, Feb 20 : Ashok Leyland, the flagship commercial vehicle manufacturer of the Hinduja Group, has been awarded the Mother Teresa Award for Corporate Citizen of the Year 2024. The award ceremony, held at Loyola Institute of Business Administration (LIBA), saw Dr. Palanivel Thiagarajan, Tamil Nadu’s Minister for Information Technology & Digital Services, present the accolade to Ashok Leyland’s CSR team.

Established in 1998, the Mother Teresa Award is one of India’s most prestigious honors, recognizing corporations that excel in social responsibility, community welfare, and environmental sustainability.

Shenu Agarwal, MD & CEO of Ashok Leyland**, expressed his gratitude, stating, _“At Ashok Leyland, corporate social responsibility is deeply embedded in our business philosophy. This award reaffirms our commitment to creating a sustainable and inclusive future.”

Agarwal highlighted the company’s key CSR initiatives, including Road to School and Road to Livelihood, which collectively support over 500,000 students**. _“This year alone, we onboarded 92,000 new students, and we aim to reach an additional 100,000 in FY26,”_ he added.

Balachandar NV, Head of CSR and Corporate Affairs at Ashok Leyland, emphasized the long-term vision of their initiatives, noting that Road to School represents a company-wide commitment to meaningful, transformative change in education.

Launched in 2015 in partnership with Learning Links Foundation, the Road to School program initially covered 36 schools in Tamil Nadu’s Krishnagiri district. Over the years, it has expanded to seven states, impacting approximately 2,505 schools and 481,121 students from grades 2 to 12.

The program addresses educational gaps in rural and underserved areas, focusing on both academic and non-academic growth—including health, hygiene, emotional well-being, and sports. It aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for quality education and health promotion.