GMR Group’s 75 Days of Gratitude, Giving, and Collective Impact

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GMR Group’s 75 Days of Gratitude, Giving, and Collective Impact

26 August 2025

Social Responsibility is not just a compliance at GMR. It is a core value that shapes how we build the business here. Ingrained deep into the ethos, every employee at GMR echoes the value through their actions and way of working.

A 75 days campaign saw a massive movement as employees led the Individual Social Responsibility initiative from 1st May to 14th July 2025, across locations, stepping up beyond their routine roles to contribute meaningfully to society.

To keep things interesting, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation (GMRVF) created dummy passports and handed them to each employee to capture every act of kindness. These passports were called ISR Champion Passport. For GMR this was a collective movement to show gratitude, compassion and shared responsibility.

A Passport to Purpose

More than 8,000 employees received the ISR Champion Passport to record their volunteering activities. Participation was seen by individuals and by groups. Many of them volunteered in their neighbouring communities and supported organizations not affiliated to GMRVF. However, first time volunteers chose to engage with GMRVF supported communities to keep the experience authentic. Either ways the program gave freedom to each employee to choose a cause close to their heart.

Whether it was a onetime activity or continued series of activities, every effort mattered in creating the ripple effect of impact.

Impact Across Communities and Causes

Diversity in supported causes was evident as employees across locations participated. From planting seeds for the environment to mentoring students, the range of activities and causes chosen was mind boggling. It also opened avenues for the organization to understand people’s ideas of cases that need support. Some employees chose to work with underserved children by narrating stories, taking tuition classes, supporting anganwadi centres or distributing stationery kits. Some chose to highlight the digital world we live in and created awareness among all age groups. Others used their niche skill to help communities understand road safety, while many donated blood, conducted yoga sessions, took craft workshops to teach reusing waste material and some organized health camps for vulnerable communities.

There was so much warmth in the campaign. Each employee brought a unique colour to the campaign. The spirit of giving was shining bright with each life touched upon.

Giving, Embedded in Culture

The ISR Champion Passport campaign stemmed from the volunteering policy in place at GMR. This policy encourages employees to dedicate up to 16 paid volunteering hours annually. This campaign served as a living expression of this policy. When the right platforms are created, people always come forward. It was depicted very clearly during these 75 days.

What is beautiful about the policy and culture it creates is that volunteering is not seen as an additional activity. Over time volunteering has become an integral part of professional life in GMR. It reinforces the belief that the organization especially leadership is as much about service as it is about performance.

Recognising Commitment and Consistency

To keep the pace intact and the spirits high the campaign saw milestone based titles. Every milestone had to be crossed by serving certain number of hours. These recognitions were not rewards but a marker of consistency. It celebrated effort and commitment.

The top contributors were given an opportunity to interact with Group Chairman and share their learnings and experiences. This small act shows that social responsibility is deeply valued in the Group.

More Than a Campaign

Just how festivals bring people together, at GMR, social responsibility and shared purpose bring teams together. The ISR Champion passport united employees across geographies and levels based on a common belief that meaningful change starts with intentional acts.

The campaign created something much deeper than imagined. It created a sense of collective pride. It reaffirmed that social responsibility is not just a compliance by law. It rather lives through individuals working in the corporate.

Lighting Lamps of Hope

This campaign gave people a space to contribute and create meaningful impact. Each act of kindness and gratitude lighted a lamp of hope in the communities. It gave the giver a sense of purpose and the receiver a guiding light to the path they want to follow.

As GMR continues to grow, initiatives like these reinforce a deep culture of gratitude, giving and collective impact.

Some chose to highlight the digital world we live in and created awareness among all age groups. Some used their niche skill to help communities understand road safety. Others donated blood, conducted yoga sessions, took craft workshops to teach reusing waste material and some organized health camps for vulnerable communities.