HCL Foundation extends DRR support in Cyclone Amphan-hit Areas in West Bengal

• Building Back & Restoration remains top priority in HCL Foundation’s humanitarian activities implemented in collaboration with NGOs DRCSC, CINI & Sabuj Sangha

Kolkata, 24^th June 2020: HCL Foundation (HCLF), a CSR arm of HCL Technologies, in partnership with its Implementing NGOs, is providing humanitarian assistance to the communities of West Bengal affected by the recent Super Cyclone Amphan. HCLF has focused its DRR interventions around long-term Build Back & Restoration to address needs in the areas of WASH, Shelter, Health and Livelihood in this region covering the districts of North and South Parganas in WB. 

Cyclone Amphan has left a trail of massive devastation in the Sunderbans region of WB, disrupting life and livelihood extremely. Apart from rendering thousands of people homeless, it has led to the loss of basic amenities like food and drinking water, livestock and livelihoods. The vulnerability of the people has increased manifold due to poor or no electricity, no phone connectivity, destruction of crop fields and exposure to contagious enteric diseases which is another grave concern.

HCLF in partnership with Kolkata-based NGO Development Research Communication and Services Centre, has launched Relief and Build Back work in 10 villages in the 3 blocks of South and North 24 Parganas in West Bengal, namely Hingalgunge, Basanti and Sandeshkhali II. This intervention aims to support 1,200 beneficiary households through two key activities: 1) Support for Immediate Relief such as dry ration kits, drinking water purification kit and containers, tarpaulin or plastic sheets for making temporary shelters for those who have lost their roofs, mosquito nets, disinfectants, etc., and 2) Support for build back which will include reconstruction of livelihoods such as support for seeds, saplings, manure, salt-tolerant crops & paddy seeds; fish cultivation - fingerlings (aquaculture), and support for small animals & birds. The project will include restoration efforts over a period of one year while the relief support is for a duration of 3 months.

HCLF has also partnered with the Child in Need Institute (CINI) for providing reconstruction and relief support in the Falta Block of South 24 Pargana District in West Bengal for one year in coordination with the Government. Under the project, 75 most vulnerable households will be supported through reconstruction and repair of their houses, 10,000 adolescent girls and women from the most affected area will receive hygiene kits and 800 frontline workers and teachers will receive training on post-COVID protective measures along with the knowledge to promote relevant Government services among the entire population in Falta Block. The team will also ensure linkage with Government schemes and services with general population who will need it, besides Capacity Building of Government Functionaries and other NGOs in the region.

HCLF’s third collaboration in this DRR effort is with Sabuj Sangha for supporting 600 most vulnerable families affected by the cyclone in 11 Gram Panchayats of four blocks of South 24 Parganas. This project will largely focus on early recovery activities to ensure restoration of normalcy and mitigation of future risks with the key activities being: 1. Post Disaster Loss & Damage Assessment (PDNA) through drone, 2. Health support, 3. Education support for 500 school-going children, and 4. Livelihood support, 5 Awareness Training on Psycho-Social Care, and 6. Collaboration with the government and other stakeholders to help the farmers to plan their cultivation. Workshops/ Capacity Building Trainings on Soil Treatment & Weather Forecast, Livelihood Opportunities, Rights & Entitlements, Psychosocial Care Training and Awareness, Stakeholder Engagement Workshop and State-level Dissemination & Networking Workshop with government will also be held.

All these activities will be implemented in close coordination with the local administration. The interventions will help the community members in building back their dignity, economic self-sufficiency and will increase their adaptability with the situation to come.

HCL Foundation launches “Harit - the green spaces initiative”: Partners with the District Administration to strengthen its work in Gautam Buddh Nagar

New Delhi, 13 August 2019; On the occasion of the 43rd HCL Day, HCL Foundation today organised a Mass Afforestation Drive at Uday Upvan Sorkha (Mini Urban Forest) located at Sector 115, Noida, under its urban flagship program HCL Uday. HCL Foundation launches “Harit- the green space initiative” with the overriding objective to combat climate change through ecosystem conservation and restoration.

Shri Brajesh Narain Singh, District Magistrate, Gautam Buddh Nagar graced the occasion in the presence of Ms. Nidhi Pundhir, Director – HCL Foundation among other dignitaries. The drive was attended by more than 4000 people. 6000 saplings were distributed for the plantation drive in phase III of Uday Upvan, Sorkha to make the city greener.

Uday Upavan is an urban forest which is maintained and developed by HCL Foundation with support from District Administration, Gautam Buddh Nagar and the NGO partner - Give Me Trees Trust (GMTT).  This 4.5 hectares of land has become lush green in less than 2 years, all thanks to the commitment and efforts of District administration, GMTT team, HCL’s Power of One Community Champions, Community members from RWAs and villages, who have dedicated volunteering hours to ensure saplings survive the harsh weather conditions.

HCL Foundation piloted developing urban mini green spaces, which not only enhance urban green cover, but also increase native biodiversity, reduce heat islands and support ground water recharges to a great extent. With combined efforts, we have planted more than 34,000+ saplings of 36+ different species, with the survival rate of 92.3% at Uday Upvan, Sorkha.

HCL Foundation is committed towards conservation of environment and the indigenous flora and fauna. It has been working towards providing affordable, reliable, sustainable innovative solutions to combat climate change and its impact. In its endeavor to work towards the environment, HCL Foundation works towards protecting, restoring, and promoting sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystem along with conservation of natural water bodies, including restoration and conservation of waterbodies, and others.

HCL Foundation has been working towards combating desertification, deforestation, land degradation, native biodiversity loss and planted more than 46,000+ native species saplings pan India in the past 4 years with more than 90% survivability.  It has been working on lake rejuvenation and conservation in various parts of India. HCL Foundation has been instrumental in bringing social and environmental behavioral change among various sectors in the community.