Tag: #ClimateAction

  • HCLTech awards $1 million climate grants in Americas

    HCLTech awards $1 million climate grants in Americas

    HCLTech awards USD 1 million under its HCLTech Climate Grant to three nonprofit organizations in the Americas for innovative climate resilience projects, with Guatemala’s CISP taking the top prize.

    CISP will receive USD 500,000 to enhance water security and sustainable land management in Guatemala’s dry corridor through rainwater harvesting benefiting 200 families, the company said in a statement.

    Runners-up Aves Argentinas (Argentina) and Lluvia para Todos (Mexico) will each get USD 250,000 for biodiversity conservation in the Atlantic Forest and community rainwater systems serving 2,300 people, respectively.

    The third edition of the HCLTech Climate Grant saw applications from 10 countries across the Americas, a 41 percent increase from previous years. A jury of HCLTech leaders and external experts selected the winners based on scalability and local relevance.

    “We are inspired by the ingenuity and commitment demonstrated by this year’s recipients,” said Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President, Global CSR, HCLTech.

    Launched in 2023 with a USD 5 million commitment over five years, the program has so far supported ecological restoration, planted over 360,000 trees and mangroves, and empowered more than 1,400 young people in climate leadership.

  • EBG Foundation launches Sambhav Hai to build carbon-neutral villages across India

    EBG Foundation launches Sambhav Hai to build carbon-neutral villages across India

    EBG Foundation launched Sambhav Hai on Earth Day, a nationwide rural sustainability programme spearheaded by EBG Group Founder and Chairman Dr Irfan Khan, targeting carbon-neutral villages across India through a phased, data-driven framework that begins with the adoption of Charla Thanda village in Telangana’s Nalgonda district.

    The initiative marks one of the most ambitious grassroots climate programmes announced in India this year, with a Rs 30 crore allocation for its first phase covering 50 villages, expanding to 150 villages in Year 2 and scaling to 750 villages in Year 3 with government institutional support. The programme aims to reduce carbon emissions by 10 to 20 percent within the first year, progressing toward full carbon neutrality within three years.

    “Real change cannot come from isolated interventions. With Sambhav Hai, we are building a model where environmental sustainability, economic progress, and community ownership go hand in hand. Our aim is to empower villages with the tools, data, and accountability systems they need to lead their own transformation and contribute meaningfully to India’s climate goals,” said Dr Irfan Khan, Founder and Chairman, EBG Group

    At Charla Thanda, on-ground interventions have already begun with household-level data mapping to establish a comprehensive climate and resource baseline. The programme will focus on improving access to safe drinking water, strengthening groundwater recharge systems and implementing structured waste segregation and composting solutions. Afforestation drives and regenerative land practices will run in parallel, with local volunteers trained to sustain efforts over the long term.

    The village is being developed as a live demonstration of the Foundation’s Minus One Village model — a replicable blueprint designed to be scaled across regions and geographies.

    “Sambhav Hai’s success will be tracked through a robust framework that integrates water, energy, waste, food and land systems, along with carbon footprint metrics under the Minus One Village model. This ensures that the impact is measurable, accountable, and scalable across geographies.” — Suresh Goyal, Additional Director, EBG Foundation

    “What began as a simple idea has evolved into a powerful movement for large-scale transformation. By placing villages at the centre of climate action and bridging the gap between policy and on-ground implementation, Sambhav Hai creates a pathway for communities to actively lead India’s journey towards environmental resilience.” — Ranjitha M, Additional Director, EBG Foundation

    In parallel with its phased village rollout, the Foundation said it would initiate work across multiple states as part of a broader national expansion, extending the programme’s footprint beyond Telangana into a pan-India rural sustainability movement.

  • HDFC Bank Parivartan builds 15,289 water assets, boosts rural India

    HDFC Bank Parivartan builds 15,289 water assets, boosts rural India

    HDFC Bank Parivartan has built and restored over 15,289 water structures across more than 10,430 villages, delivering a powerful boost to rural water security and benefiting 14.92 lakh households.

    The flagship CSR programme has also provided access to safe drinking water in over 950 villages through community purification systems using UV, RO, and multi-stage filtration technology, supported by dedicated water tanks, tap connections, and regular quality monitoring.

    From farm ponds and check dams to jal minars, rainwater harvesting systems, lift irrigation, and recharge wells, HDFC Bank Parivartan has created diverse water assets tailored to local needs, especially helping tribal farming communities in Central India.

    Powering long-term impact, the bank combines every water structure with agricultural support including micro irrigation systems, shade net houses, Bio-Input Resource Centres, and multilayer farming. These integrated efforts have significantly increased irrigated area, reduced dependence on erratic rainfall, and improved crop yields for smallholder farmers.

    Community ownership remains central to the programme’s success. Women’s Self-Help Groups and Water User Associations actively participate in Village Action Plans, while GIS-based planning and convergence with government schemes like MGNREGA ensure precision and sustainability. Trained water user groups focus on water budgeting and judicious usage to keep assets productive for years.

    “At HDFC Bank Parivartan, we meet communities where they are — whether building ice stupas in the mountains or installing purification plants in villages that never had clean tap water,” said Ms. Nusrat Pathan, Head of CSR, HDFC Bank.

    “Through Parivartan, our work spans watershed development, rainwater harvesting, rejuvenation of water bodies, last-mile irrigation infrastructure, and climate-smart agricultural practices. Over 15,000 water structures and safe drinking water for nearly a thousand villages is a major milestone, but the real success lies in fields now yielding a second crop and children no longer falling ill from contaminated water. We remain committed to building a water-secure India,” she added.

    Natural Resource Management was introduced as a dedicated focus area under Parivartan in FY 2024-25, integrating water conservation with afforestation, soil health, and solar energy. The programme supports Sustainable Development Goal 6 (clean water and sanitation) and SDG 13 (climate action).

    HDFC Bank Parivartan operates across six key pillars — Rural Development, Education, Skill Development & Livelihood Enhancement, Healthcare & Hygiene, Financial Literacy & Inclusion, and Natural Resource Management. As of March 2025, it has positively impacted over 10.56 crore lives across 28 states and 8 Union Territories. In FY 2024-25, HDFC Bank spent Rs. 1,068.03 crore on CSR activities under the Parivartan umbrella.