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  • HCL Foundation, UP govt renew Samuday pact till 2031

    HCL Foundation, UP govt renew Samuday pact till 2031

    In a major push for rural development, HCL Foundation and the Uttar Pradesh government on Wednesday announced a landmark extension of their Samuday partnership, renewing the flagship rural development programme for another five years, through 2031.

    The two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding at a ceremony in Lucknow, in the presence of Deputy Chief Minister and Rural Development Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya, Minister of State for Rural Development Vijay Laxmi Gautam, and senior government officials.

    Maurya said the state government remains committed to integrated rural development, noting that the Samuday partnership had driven significant change in Hardoi district over the past 11 years, and that the renewed MoU aims to replicate this transformation in other districts of Uttar Pradesh.

    Since its launch in Hardoi in 2015, the Samuday partnership by HCL Foundation has grown into one of India’s largest government-CSR collaborations. The programme now spans 579 Gram Panchayats across 13 districts of Uttar Pradesh, reaching more than 3 million people. It is also active in 95 Gram Panchayats in Tamil Nadu’s Thoothukudi district, benefiting over 140,000 residents.

    Under the renewed Samuday partnership, focus areas will include strengthening rural livelihoods, improving education and healthcare access, promoting climate-resilient agriculture, advancing water and sanitation infrastructure, empowering Panchayati Raj institutions, and deepening convergence with government schemes, besides extending the programme’s footprint to additional districts.

    Dr Nidhi Pundhir, Director, HCL Foundation, said the organisation works closely with communities and government bodies to strengthen rural ecosystems and build development models that can be scaled across geographies. She added that the past decade of the Samuday partnership had shown how government, communities and the private sector could jointly deliver lasting impact, and that HCL Foundation looks forward to deepening this collaboration.

    Samuday’s impact since 2015:

    • Over 1.99 million people reached through health and nutrition programmes
    • More than 534,000 students benefited from improved learning environments
    • 113,000+ farmers supported with better agricultural practices
    • 85,000+ youth and women aided through livelihood initiatives
    • 2,224 kWp of renewable energy infrastructure created
    • 2,300+ households covered under waste management interventions

    HCL Foundation, the CSR arm of HCLTech, has so far impacted over 8.5 million lives across its programmes in education, sports, health, sanitation, skilling, livelihood and environmental sustainability.

  • Jindal Stainless launches landmark Parivartan plan

    Jindal Stainless launches landmark Parivartan plan

    Jindal Stainless Foundation (JSF), the corporate social responsibility arm of Jindal Stainless, said on Monday it has launched a landmark initiative called “Parivartan,” an integrated village development programme targeting Ladwa village near the company’s Hisar manufacturing facility in Haryana.

    The programme is expected to benefit approximately 7,500 to 8,000 residents, the foundation said, through a participatory model covering healthcare, education, women’s empowerment, agriculture, livelihood promotion, sanitation, environmental sustainability, community participation and institutional strengthening.

    JSF Chairperson Deepika Jindal said the Parivartan initiative reflects the company’s belief that businesses and communities should grow together. “Through ‘Parivartan,’ we aim to create a sustainable and inclusive development model for Ladwa Village by addressing critical areas such as healthcare, education, livelihoods, and environmental sustainability,” Jindal said, adding the foundation intends to build partnerships that deliver lasting social impact.

    Rather than standalone interventions, the foundation said Parivartan will pursue a comprehensive village development model built around community ownership and local capacity-building, in partnership with the Gram Panchayat, government departments, community-based organisations and NGOs.

    The programme will begin with a baseline survey and Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) to assess Ladwa’s socio-economic profile and identify priorities, JSF said. Findings will feed into a Village Development Plan prepared jointly with local stakeholders.

    JSF said it will hold regular Gram Sabha meetings and consultations with youth, women, farmers, teachers, frontline workers and local leaders throughout the programme to maintain transparency and accountability. The foundation described Parivartan as a long-term model for inclusive growth and community empowerment.

  • Binance Charity donates Rs 3.3 crore for urgent Assam floods relief

    Binance Charity donates Rs 3.3 crore for urgent Assam floods relief

    Binance Charity, the philanthropic arm of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, said Thursday it has donated Rs 3.3 crore to Goonj‘s Rahat Initiative to provide urgent Assam floods relief, as the northeastern Indian state grapples with its worst flooding in more than six decades.

    The death toll from the floods has climbed to 105, with more than 1.2 million people across 25 districts and 2,734 villages affected at various stages this year, according to the latest official reports. Earlier in August, 349 villages in Golaghat, Sivasagar, Charaideo, Bajali, Dhemaji, Sonitpur and Jorhat districts were reported affected.

    The urgent Assam floods relief funding will go toward essential supplies including household items, hygiene kits and tarpaulins, distributed according to the needs of affected communities.

    In a statement, Binance Charity said the contribution is expected to reach 27,500 families across the flood-hit districts, supporting both immediate relief and longer-term recovery efforts.

    “Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the devastating floods,” said SB Seker, Head of APAC at Binance. “In times like these, it is crucial that communities and organizations come together to support those most in need.

    By working with Goonj’s ‘Rahat Initiative,’ we hope our contribution will provide urgent relief on the ground and help families begin the long journey of rebuilding and recovering.”

    Anshu Gupta, founder of Goonj, said the scale of loss across Assam this monsoon season has been staggering, with nonstop rains forcing residents into makeshift shelters and destroying months of stored grain and livelihoods overnight.

    He said the support would help the organization move faster in delivering relief material to hard-to-reach districts while sustaining a longer-term presence during the recovery phase.

    Goonj has also opened a public fundraiser for individuals wishing to contribute directly to the Rahat Initiative’s flood response in Assam.

  • Vedanta Power scales up biomass co-firing in Punjab

    Vedanta Power scales up biomass co-firing in Punjab

    Vedanta Power is scaling up biomass co-firing at its Talwandi Sabo Thermal Plant in Punjab, using agricultural waste as fuel, with the plant co-firing around 3.61 lakh metric tonnes (LT) of biomass in FY2025-26, equivalent to roughly 5.21% of its total fuel consumption, the company said.

    By diverting paddy straw from open-field burning, the biomass co-firing initiative helps reduce pollution and harmful emissions associated with stubble burning, the company said in a statement.

    The programme aims to create a productive use for paddy straw and build an organised supply chain for agricultural residue, offering farmers a way to derive value from crop residue previously treated largely as waste. It also provides an alternative to open-field burning during the harvest season.

    The Talwandi Sabo plant, located in Mansa district, has been using biomass co-firing to convert paddy straw into energy. The process involves collection, baling, transportation and processing of agricultural residue before it is supplied to the power plant, linking farmers, biomass aggregators, logistics operators and the energy sector.

    The move carries significance for Punjab, where seasonal management of paddy straw remains a key challenge. In Mansa district, reported stubble-burning incidents during the 2025 harvesting season fell by approximately 87% compared with 2023. More than 100 villages reported zero farm-fire incidents, while over 28,000 acres of farmland were protected from burning.

    While the decline in farm fires reflects several factors, the availability of an organised biomass utilisation route offers farmers and other stakeholders an additional alternative to open-field disposal of crop residue.

    “Biomass co-firing demonstrates how industrial demand can help create a market for agricultural residue and build a more organised value chain around it. By converting paddy straw into a productive source of energy, we are looking at the stubble challenge not only from an environmental perspective but also through the lens of economic value creation for rural communities,” said Rajinder Singh Ahuja, Chief Executive Officer, Vedanta Power.

    The biomass programme has also spurred development of a rural supply chain around agricultural residue. Collection and aggregation create opportunities for local operators, while transportation and processing generate additional activity around the biomass ecosystem. For farmers, the initiative offers a potential avenue to derive value from paddy straw traditionally treated as waste.

    “I am giving all my paddy straw to the biomass manufacturing plants so that this agricultural waste can be put to the best possible use. Instead of burning the straw in the fields, it is converted into environmentally friendly biomass pellets and used as fuel in thermal power plants. This helps prevent stubble burning, reduce air pollution, and improve the air quality of our region,” said Avtar Singh, a farmer from Raipur village in Mansa.

    The model also supports the broader principle of a circular economy by recovering agricultural residue and converting it into useful fuel. For the power sector, biomass co-firing offers a way to integrate a renewable fuel source into existing thermal generation infrastructure while contributing to agricultural-residue management.

    Vedanta Power is among the private power producers seeking to strengthen the role of alternative fuels and more efficient resource utilisation as India’s energy requirements continue to grow. The experience at Talwandi Sabo also underscores the potential for industry-led demand to complement government and community efforts to reduce crop-residue burning.

    With greater participation from farmers, aggregators, local communities and other stakeholders, biomass-based utilisation of agricultural residue could emerge as a scalable model for regions facing similar stubble-management challenges.

  • PwC Foundation empowers Sahariya women in Rajasthan

    PwC Foundation empowers Sahariya women in Rajasthan

    PwC India Foundation (PwCIF) said on Monday it continues to empower Sahariya women in Rajasthan’s Baran district, expanding sustainable livelihood programmes for the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group a year after floods devastated local crops.

    The foundation, marking the International Day of World Indigenous Peoples, said the initiative has helped more than 90 smallholder families adopt natural farming and poultry rearing in Moga, while supporting over 325 flood-affected households in Tarn Taran to rebuild their livelihoods.

    PwCIF Vice Chairman Jaivir Singh visited Baran to meet beneficiaries of the project, run in partnership with the Manjari Foundation, and toured vegetable cultivation, vermicomposting and goat-rearing initiatives across three villages.

    “Our engagement with the Sahariya community reflects this commitment and our belief that inclusive development must leave no one behind,” Singh said, adding that the programme empowers Sahariya women to move from agricultural labour to independent income generation.

    Manjari Foundation Executive Director Sanjay Sharma said the partnership has enabled the Sahariya community to build resilience and achieve greater income security, particularly among women-led households.

    PwCIF said it also provides targeted support to single and widowed Sahariya women through goat rearing and sustainable farming, part of a broader push to empower vulnerable rural populations and strengthen long-term economic self-reliance.

    PwC India operates in 136 countries with over 364,000 employees across audit, tax, legal, deals and consulting services, according to the company.

  • AWL Agri Business strengthens mid-day meal programme with new vehicles, meal sponsorship

    AWL Agri Business strengthens mid-day meal programme with new vehicles, meal sponsorship

    AWL Agri Business Limited, one of India’s largest food and FMCG companies, said on Tuesday it has strengthened its partnership with The Akshaya Patra Foundation by donating five custom-built insulated food distribution vehicles to support the Foundation’s Mid-Day Meal Programme.

    The company has also committed to sponsoring nutritious mid-day meals for more than 41,000 children studying in government schools across Gandhinagar, it said. The initiative was marked by a vehicle flag-off ceremony held at the company’s corporate headquarters.

    The five customized insulated vehicles will enable the safe and timely delivery of freshly prepared meals to government schools across Surat, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, strengthening the Foundation’s ability to provide nutritious meals to children every school day, the company said.

    “At AWL Agri Business, we believe that good nutrition is the foundation of a child’s health, education and future,” said Shrikant Kanhere, Managing Director & CEO, AWL Agri Business Ltd. “We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with The Akshaya Patra Foundation through this initiative, which combines infrastructure support with direct nutritional assistance to children.”

    Sri Raya Rama Dasa, Vice President of The Akshaya Patra Foundation, Gujarat, said the vehicles and meal sponsorship would strengthen the organization’s ability to serve children more efficiently. “Together, these efforts will help us combat classroom hunger, improve school attendance and help more children to learn and thrive,” he said.

    The partnership builds on a long-standing association between the two organizations. To date, AWL Agri Business has served more than 700,000 mid-day meals to school children and provided 14 food delivery vehicles, covering more than 27,000 children across 129 schools, the company said.

    The Mid-Day Meal Programme initiative also supports Fortune SuPoshan, AWL’s flagship CSR programme addressing malnutrition and anaemia among women and children, the company said.

    AWL Agri Business Ltd., formerly known as Adani Wilmar Ltd., is one of India’s largest food and FMCG companies, with more than 80 manufacturing facilities across 11 states, including what it says is India’s largest single-location refinery, located in Mundra with a 5,000-tonne-per-day capacity. Its Fortune brand reaches more than 135 million households, the company said.

  • Chouhan urges industry to boost CSR in agriculture

    Chouhan urges industry to boost CSR in agriculture

    Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Wednesday urged Indian corporations to expand CSR in agriculture, calling on industry leaders to channel a share of their profits into farmer welfare, rural development and agricultural research.

    Speaking at the CSR Conclave 2026, organised by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) in New Delhi, Chouhan said companies have a duty to act as “trustees” of national wealth rather than mere profit-makers, invoking Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of trusteeship.

    “While the nation provides opportunities for growth, it is the responsibility of industry to become an active partner in nation-building,” Chouhan said, adding that research must move beyond laboratories to directly benefit farmers.

    The minister strongly urged companies to prioritise climate-resilient farming, soil health, nutrition-secure food systems, and skill development for rural youth and women. He cited jute-processing technology as an example of innovation that needs faster commercialisation with private-sector backing.

    Chouhan also urged support for agri-tech startups, drone-pilot training, and women-led initiatives such as “Drone Didi,” describing rural women’s self-help groups as central to the next wave of agricultural entrepreneurship.

    While Indian law mandates that companies spend 2% of profits on CSR, Chouhan said the obligation should be viewed as a moral commitment rather than a legal formality. “True life belongs to the one who gives life to others,” he said.

    The event at the Bharat Ratna C. Subramaniam Auditorium was also attended by Ministers of State Ramnath Thakur and Bhagirath Choudhary, alongside senior ICAR officials and corporate representatives.

  • HCLFoundation’s Sports for Change National Finals empower 600 athletes

    HCLFoundation’s Sports for Change National Finals empower 600 athletes

    HCLFoundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of HCLTech, on Tuesday said it hosted the eighth edition of the Sports for Change National Finals 2026 at Gautam Buddha University, bringing together 600 young athletes from 15 states over three days.

    The Sports for Change National Finals empower grassroots talent by giving underserved children a platform to compete at the national level, the foundation said in a statement.

    The three-day event featured 300 boys and 300 girls who had qualified through district, state and zonal competitions in football, kabaddi, volleyball, kho kho, archery, badminton and table tennis.

    Participants represented states and union territories including Uttar Pradesh, Ladakh, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, West Bengal, Assam, Sikkim and Nagaland, the foundation said.

    “At HCLFoundation, we believe every child, regardless of their socio-economic background, deserves the opportunity to discover their potential and pursue their aspirations,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President, Global CSR at HCLTech and Director of HCLFoundation.

    “By nurturing grassroots talent and fostering an environment where young athletes are encouraged to dream bigger, build resilience and strive for excellence, we hope the National Finals inspire every participant to realize that their circumstances need not define their future.”

    The Sports for Change programme has reached more than 74,000 children and youth across India since inception, including 474 para-athletes, the foundation said.

    More than 12,000 young athletes took part in this year’s competitions, and over 30 sports scholarships covering coaching, equipment, nutrition and training access will be awarded to top performers.

    The initiative has enabled more than 490 athletes to advance to national-level competitions, with 38 going on to represent India internationally, the foundation said.

    Notable alumni include badminton player Jerlin Anika, sprinter Preeti Pal, rugby player Akshaya, powerlifter Rajkumari and chess player Kanishri.

    HCLFoundation said it has positively impacted more than 8.5 million lives to date through programmes focused on education, grassroots sports, health, sanitation, skill development, livelihood and environmental initiatives.

    HCLTech, its parent company, employs more than 223,000 people across 60 countries and reported consolidated revenues of USD 14.8 billion for the 12 months ended June 2026.

  • VISL skilling initiatives transform 1 lakh lives in India

    VISL skilling initiatives transform 1 lakh lives in India

    Vedanta Iron and Steel Limited (VISL) said on World Youth Skills Day that its skilling programmes have reached more than 100,000 people across India, as part of a broader push to build a future-ready workforce through technical education, digital learning, entrepreneurship and sports development.

    The VISL Skilling Initiatives, aligned with this year’s World Youth Skills Day theme of “Skills for a Shared Future,” span operations in Goa, Jharkhand, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Odisha, the company said.

    In Goa, the Sesa Technical School has trained more than 2,100 youth over three decades with a near 100% placement record, the company said, adding that the programme places particular emphasis on encouraging girls to pursue technical training. In Bokaro, the Vedanta ESL Skill School has trained over 700 youth since 2022 in trades including solar photovoltaic installation and home appliance repair, with more than 400 placed in formal sector jobs.

    The company also operates 25 Vedanta Computer Centres and Computer Labs across Goa, Maharashtra and Karnataka, alongside learning hubs under Project AAS Vidyalaya in rural Jharkhand. Combined, the digital literacy initiatives have benefited more than 80,000 students and young people, the company said.

    “The youth of our Nation are the driving force behind India’s growth story, and investing in their skills is an investment in the nation’s future,” said Pankaj Kumar Sharma, Chief Executive Officer of VISL.

    “At VISL, our approach to skilling goes beyond employment by enabling aspiration, nurturing potential and creating pathways to long-term socio-economic progress,” he said in a statement.

    Sports development remains a core pillar of the company’s youth outreach. The Sesa Football Academy in Goa has produced over 230 graduates through its residential training programme, including 14 international players, while engaging more than 8,000 young footballers through grassroots initiatives.

    Its men’s and women’s teams compete in national leagues including I-League3 and the Indian Women’s League. Separately, the Vedanta ESL Archery Academy in Bokaro has trained more than 50 young archers who have collectively won over 200 medals at district, state and national competitions.

    On women’s economic empowerment, the company’s Project JIVIKA has supported more than 280 self-help groups and benefited nearly 4,000 women across five states through vocational training in tailoring, handicrafts, mushroom farming and footwear manufacturing.

    VISL operates iron ore and steelmaking assets across India and Liberia, including Sesa Iron Ore, ESL Steel Limited and Western Cluster Limited, alongside associated industrial businesses.

  • HCLFoundation expands My Clean City for sustainable waste management

    HCLFoundation expands My Clean City for sustainable waste management

    HCLFoundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Urban Development Department of Uttar Pradesh to advance sustainable waste management practices in Hardoi, Prayagraj, and Agra under the Swachh Bharat Mission.

    The partnership will focus on strategic planning, pilot projects, policy reforms, and IT-enabled solutions to strengthen urban sanitation across the three cities.

    As part of the My Clean City initiative, HCLFoundation flagged off 10 E-drain carts and 10 E-garbage loaders donated to Hardoi Nagar Palika Parishad and unveiled three reverse vending machines.

    The Foundation is also undertaking city beautification through wall art and developing model markets and wards in Hardoi.

    “My Clean City is a citizen-led program aimed at reclaiming urban spaces with technology inclusion and innovative solutions. This partnership will strengthen efforts in Agra, Hardoi, and Prayagraj—our three new expansion cities in FY26,” said Alok Varma, Project Director, Samuday and My Clean City, HCLFoundation.

    Anuj Kumar Jha, Secretary, Urban Development Department and State Mission Director, Swachh Bharat Mission (Urban), Government of Uttar Pradesh, welcomed the collaboration, saying it will accelerate urban sanitation, strengthen waste management practices, and create replicable models for city transformation.

    Launched in 2018, My Clean City has sensitized nearly 750,000 citizens, trained over 100,000 stakeholders, managed 22,000 plus tons of waste, and engaged more than 3,500 school students through its Waste Champions Club in Noida and Greater Noida.