A hectic professional life has never deterred Lila Poonawalla from making time for social matters. When she was engaged with her professional activities as the CEO of Alfa Laval and now as the Chairperson of Tetra Laval and De Laval, she has always been concerned about her employees on a more informal level. Her employees' professional as well as personal well being was of prime significance to her. Some of the employees' welfare schemes she initiated were the Parivar Development Center and Parivar Communiqué. A Quality Day, a get-together was celebrated every year with the employees' families and Lila had also started annual scholarships for the children.

Apart from this, on a broader social scale, she is on the board of trustees of three Pune-based NGOs (non-governmental organizations) and works unselfishly to promote their causes: 

WORLD-WIDE FUND FOR NATURE, INDIA - is the country's premier NGO and one of the world's largest organizations. The WWF mission is one of nature conservation and environmental protection. WWF-Pune is one of the most active units and consistently solicits citizen participation to further their environmental objectives. Weekly meetings, nature camps geological excursions, bird-watching programs, demonstrations in vermi-culture etc. are organized to sustain public interest

Lila Poonawalla is an honorable member of the Pune Divisional Committee. She supports the cause in an advisory capacity, in matters pertaining to fund-raising. And participating in some of the programs. " I feel great to be part of this project. I have always been an environment supporter and at Alfa-Laval did my bit as promoter - the Alfa Laval Gardens, the Airport garden and Clean Offices are projects I took up. I was also actively involved in the Vanrai Environmental Project."

INDO SWISS VOCATIONAL TRAINING TRUST - A Founder Trustee of ISVTT, Lila's efforts in promoting this project stem from her unshakable belief in Quality. In order to facilitate Quality, training and development of the work force, especially in small-scale industries, are important. The small industry sector has to develop elasticity of approach to suit rapidly changing technology and market demand. And requires expert help in this area.

The Swiss Agency promotes the Pune-based trust for in the fields of Development and Co-operation (SDC). With the principle objective of supporting training initiatives originating from Industry Associations, the trust pays for training costs in the form of grants to Industry Associations in Pune District. Says Lila, " The projects involve a lot of work - they have to be evaluated and reviewed every month, the trainees have to be interviewed. The projects are chiefly aimed at promoting the rural youth. They have only basic skills, not proper technical training. With ISVTT, we try to change this and besides giving them technical training, they also learn good work practices." Lila has also invested her own funds in the project, as this important project required a settler when it was established in 1996.

ASHTA NO KAI - The Women's Literacy and Development Project was established specifically for empowering the marginalized women living in the rural areas around Pune. The project aims at helping them to become economically independent and self-reliant. The organization, which has its roots in Japan, was started in May 1997, with the main thrust being to provide rural women education, resources, access to credit and other inputs they need to become self-sufficient. In addition, mahila mandals (women's groups) are formed to provide a platform for women's collective action and solidarity. Here Lila is the Chairperson, and helps the committee to raise funds and sell the products produced by the women.

POONA BLIND MEN'S ASSOCIATION - Lila is the Vice Chairperson of this organization, which benefits from her presence and name. She also advises on the running of the organization, which is well known for it efficient functioning in Pune.

PUNE CITIZENS POLICE FOUNDATION - Lila is on the Board of Trustees of this Foundation, which has undertaken a project to enhance the quality of life for the children of the Pune Police Force.

FAIR & LOVELY FOUNDATION - It works towards a dream of a forward, liberated Indian woman. It sponsors education to under-privileged and deserving women in the rural areas. Here Lila contributes as a panelist at the interviews conducted for the scholarships.

DARPANA - Darpana is an institution for the learning and propagating of dance,it has grown into an international hub for research, creation, propagation, experimentation and development of dance, drama, puppetry, music and performance and as India's foremost center for creating art as development communication for social change.
With over 25000 graduates,over 10000 performances in 90 countries,a video and development department, an amphi - theatre, gallery, cafe, bookshop and a library with thousands of volumes on Indian culture, Darpana is a unique center.