HCL Foundation (HCLF), which delivers the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda of leading global technology company HCLTech, has renewed its partnership with the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) for another three years to Boost Native Biodiversity in Uttarakhand’s eco-sensitive regions.
Over the past five years, the HCL Foundation and its partner INTACH have planted over 13,550 saplings, including 11,300 Rudraksha saplings and 2,250 saplings of other associated native species, on 30 acres of community-owned land near Sentuna village, in the Gangolgaon region of Gopeshwar, Chamoli district, and Aati village in Almora district. Around 200 local communities (including NSS volunteers, Mahila Mangal Dal members, farmers, school children, and others) have participated in the campaign.
The plantation has increased Native Biodiversity in the area by providing home for birds, animals, and other species. Local communities and field teams consistently record many mammals (Barking deer, Blue sheep), birds (Laughing thrush, Grey treepie, Blue-capped Rock thrush), butterflies (Common sailor and Common banded peacock), and spiders (Giant wood spider).
National Mission for Clean Ganga
The expanded alliance hopes to build on the good impact that this one-of-a-kind programme has had in restoring native biodiversity and habitat in Uttarakhand. By 2026, the HCL Foundation hopes to have planted 10,000 more Rudraksha saplings and other native species in the region. It will also organise community education programmes in order to repair degraded habitats and maintain natural biodiversity.
Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation, emphasised the need of collaborative work in restoring damaged habitat with natural biodiversity and praised the government’s efforts in this respect. “At the HCL Foundation, we have always taken a holistic approach to promoting natural ecosystem restoration.” We always try to sustain a vibrant and thriving ecology while honouring the rich cultural and religious legacy associated with it by encouraging the planting of native plants in the Ganga catchment area. “This renewed MoU will be critical in engaging local stakeholders in community-based habitat restoration,” she said.
G Asok Kumar, Director General, NMCG, Ministry of Jal Shakti; Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation; and Manu Kumar signed the tripartite MoU.
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