The Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) has partnered with National E-Governance Services Ltd (NeSL) to launch an electric bus on campus. The unveiling, which took place today, is part of NeSL”s Sustainability Programme, showcasing a mutual dedication to advancing clean energy and lowering carbon emissions.
This event signifies a significant step in IIMB”s commitment to environmental sustainability. Senior figures from IIMB, NeSL, and Canara Bank were present, including Shri Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri, Managing Director and CEO of NeSL; Smt. Nivedita E.P., Executive Director of NeSL; Shri Bhavendra Kumar, Executive Director of Canara Bank; Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, Director In-charge of IIMB; Prof. Haritha Saranga, Chairperson of the Sustainability Taskforce at IIMB; Prof. M. Jayadev, Dean of Administration at IIMB; and Rohit Jaisingh, CEO of IIMB Development Foundation.
During the ceremony, IIMB and NeSL honored Canara Bank officials for their outstanding contributions to the bank”s digital and green initiatives. Employees recognized as “Green Warriors” received Certificates of Merit in various categories, including the top performers in the Gold Loan portfolio and Vehicle Loans, as well as teams from the Retail, Gold Loan, and IT/LAPS divisions.
This acknowledgment highlighted their efforts in enhancing operational efficiency and improving customer experiences while promoting sustainable digital transformation within the banking sector.
In his speech, Shri Debajyoti Ray Chaudhuri addressed the IIMB community, emphasizing NeSL”s commitment to sustainable mobility and digital transformation. He stated, “Electric vehicles are not only eco-friendly but also more energy-efficient than fuel-based transport.” Chaudhuri expressed NeSL”s ongoing support for IIMB”s green initiatives, including solar panel installations and fast-charging EV stations, aiming to create a sustainable model on campus.
Additionally, he mentioned NeSL”s Digital Document Execution (DDE) initiative, which is India”s first paperless platform for executing and storing financial contracts digitally, reducing paper usage while increasing efficiency and transparency. He praised Canara Bank for collaborating with NeSL to expand this initiative nationwide.
Prof. U. Dinesh Kumar, in his opening comments, thanked NeSL and Canara Bank for their continuous collaboration. He reiterated IIMB”s dedication to sustainability through projects that include solar power generation, electric vehicle infrastructure, and rainwater harvesting, noting the establishment of 75 recharge wells across the campus.
Prof. Haritha Saranga elaborated on IIMB”s holistic approach to managing water, energy, and waste. She noted that the campus spans 100 acres and is home to over 25,000 trees and numerous bird species, contributing to its vibrant ecosystem. Regarding water conservation, she explained that the combined efforts of rooftop rainwater harvesting and recharge wells capture approximately 1.43 million liters yearly, which has elevated the campus water table significantly and enables borewells to satisfy 20% of domestic water needs.
She also outlined IIMB”s strategy to achieve Net Zero emissions across Scope 1 and 2, supported by solar water heaters, a biogas plant, and extensive solar installations. On waste management, she highlighted Padcare, a start-up incubated at IIMB”s NSRCEL, which has pioneered technology for recycling sanitary waste, effectively reducing reject waste to just 5%. Over the past five years, the institute has successfully cut its overall carbon emissions by 10%.
Shri Bhavendra Kumar, reflecting on Canara Bank”s 120-year history and its strong ties to Karnataka, emphasized the significance of the partnership with NeSL. He remarked that innovations such as the Digital Document Execution platform have transformed gold loan processing, significantly lowering time, costs, and paper consumption. Kumar also mentioned that Canara Bank currently offers over 300 online banking services and is enhancing its partnerships with fintech companies and start-ups. He stressed the integration of Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into the bank”s risk management framework, focusing on addressing both physical and transition risks posed by climate change.
