Bajaj Electricals Foundation’s ‘Flame of Change’ Improved Cookstove Project Wins CSR Times Award

Bajaj Electricals Foundation’s ‘Flame of Change’ Improved Cookstove Project Wins CSR Times Award

India, Aug 6: Bajaj Electricals Foundation, the CSR arm of Bajaj Electricals Limited, has been recognised with the Silver Award in the Clean Energy category at the CSR Times Awards 2026 for its flagship ‘Flame of Change’ Improved Cookstove Project. The award was presented at the 13th National CSR & ESG Summit, held on 4 August 2026 in New Delhi by the Managing Director of CSR Times, in the presence of H.E. Mr. Juan Rolando Angulo Monsalve, Ambassador of the Republic of Chile to India & Air Marshal Shri VPS Rana, PVSM, VSM, Jury Member, CSR Times. The recognition celebrates the Foundation’s efforts to restore nature through sustainable cooking practices by improving rural health, reducing indoor air pollution, lowering dependence on firewood, empowering women and contributing to climate action.

Over the years, Bajaj Electricals Foundation has distributed 14,000 improved cookstoves across Karauli and Sawai Madhopur in Rajasthan and Jawhar and Vikramgad in Maharashtra, positively impacting over 70,000 lives. By replacing traditional biomass cookstoves with cleaner, fuel-efficient alternatives, the initiative has helped create healthier kitchens, reduce firewood consumption, improve household well-being and save valuable time for women, while contributing to forest conservation. The project’s impact has also been independently validated through a third-party assessment of 8,000 cookstoves distributed in Rajasthan, which estimated a carbon mitigation potential of approximately 222,711 tCO₂e over five years, reinforcing the initiative’s contribution to environmental sustainability.

Commenting on the recognition, Pooja Bajaj, Executive Director – CSR & ESG, Whole-time Director, Bajaj Electricals Limited, said,

“This recognition is a proud milestone for Bajaj Electricals Foundation and reinforces our belief that sustainability creates the greatest impact when it addresses everyday challenges while protecting the environment. The Improved Cookstove Project is a simple yet powerful example of how thoughtful interventions can transform lives—creating healthier homes, empowering women, reducing pressure on forest resources and contributing to climate action. As we have strengthened our focus on environmental sustainability over the past two years, we have remained committed to investing in initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes. We are encouraged by the independently validated impact of this project and will continue to build scalable solutions that create long-term value for communities and the planet. This achievement is a testament to the dedication of our CSR team, led by Shreya Sudhir, along with our NGO and implementation partners. Their passion, commitment and collaborative efforts have been instrumental in bringing this vision to life and creating meaningful, measurable impact on the ground.”

Guided by a focused approach to environmental sustainability, Bajaj Electricals Foundation continues to invest in high-impact interventions that create measurable and lasting change. The Improved Cookstove Project reflects this commitment by combining community development with nature restoration through sustainable cooking practices. The initiative contributes to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, including No Poverty , Good Health and Well-being, Gender Equality , Affordable and Clean Energy , Decent Work and Economic Growth , Climate Action and Life on Land , reinforcing the Foundation’s commitment to building a more sustainable, inclusive and resilient future.