<a href="https://www.hcltech.com/hcl-foundation" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HCLFoundation</a>, which drives the corporate social responsibility agenda of HCLTech in India, announced on Monday the expansion of its <a href="https://www.hcltech.com/hcl-foundation/my-clean-city" target="_blank" rel="noopener">My Clean City program</a> to Agra, Uttar Pradesh — the first city outside the Noida–Greater Noida belt to receive the initiative since its 2019 launch.



As part of the rollout, the foundation donated 10 e-drain carts, two e-street sweeping machines and one HomoSep robot — a mechanised septic tank cleaning device — to Agra Nagar Nigam, the city&#8217;s municipal body. The equipment is intended to reduce hazardous manual work while improving the scale and consistency of urban waste management.



The HomoSep robot, already deployed in Gautam Buddha Nagar, has cleared more than 100,000 litres of sludge across 452 manholes and sewer sites — removing sanitation workers from direct exposure to toxic conditions. The device represents a broader pivot within the program toward mechanisation as a tool for worker safety.



Since its launch, My Clean City has engaged nearly 750,000 citizens through behavioural sensitisation drives and trained more than 61,000 stakeholders on waste management practices. The program has managed over 17,000 tonnes of waste in Noida and Greater Noida, and runs a Waste Champions Club involving more than 2,400 school students.



The initiative also carries a social welfare component. Under its Social Inclusion of Sanitation Workers program, 200 sanitation worker families in Gautam Buddha Nagar receive support across health, education, financial literacy and skill development — a recognition that sustainable sanitation reform extends beyond infrastructure.



Five biogas plants, each processing between 1,500 and 1,800 kg of cow dung daily, have been established in the region as part of complementary clean energy efforts, generating fuel from waste material.



HCLFoundation said the Agra expansion reflects a strategy of replicating proven urban sanitation models in new municipal geographies. The foundation, which reported having positively impacted over 7.5 million lives to date, focuses thematically on education, health and sanitation, skill development, environment, and disaster risk reduction.

HCLFoundation expands My Clean City program to Agra, donates Sanitation fleet to Nagar Nigam

<a href="http://malabargold.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malabar Gold &amp; Diamonds</a> has kicked off its most ambitious Corporate Social Responsibility cycle to date, with a bold Rs 200 crore programme for 2026-27 now under way across 19 states.



The retail jewellery group unveiled the plan earlier this week at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi, where Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal inaugurated the distribution of educational scholarships for 33,000 girl students.



The <a href="http://malabargold.com/csr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Malabar Gold CSR 2026-27 </a>initiative spans 15 major programmes at more than 3,000 locations and is designed to benefit over two lakh people by the end of the financial year.



&#8220;Malabar Gold &amp; Diamonds&#8217; decision to allocate INR 200 crore towards CSR will further strengthen the nation&#8217;s progress,&#8221; Goyal said at the launch event Wednesday. He emphasised that India&#8217;s growth is rooted in the empowerment of women and girls.



Education receives the largest share at Rs 114 crore. Scholarships are now being distributed to students across 284 districts in 18 states — a rollout timed to mark the group&#8217;s 33rd anniversary. Micro-learning centres for street children, run in partnership with the<a href="http://pratham.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Pratham Education Foundation</a>, are also being expanded this year from 1,543 to 2,500 locations across 17 states, with enrolment targets rising from 64,000 to one lakh students.



Group Chairman M.P. Ahammad said &#8220;human resource development is the backbone of national growth,&#8221; and added that the scholarship programme gives students the means to contribute to national development. Pratham CEO Rukmini Banerji, who attended the New Delhi launch, called the micro-learning model a proven route to reaching the hardest-to-reach children.



Food security is the second-largest priority. T<a href="http://hungerfreeworld.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">he Hunger Free World project</a>, allocated Rs 30 crore, already provides daily nutritious meals to 1,15,000 people in India, Zambia, and Ethiopia — a figure the group aims to grow through this cycle. The Grandma Home initiative for destitute mothers anchors the Rs 25 crore housing allocation, while Rs 14.2 crore funds healthcare access, including subsidised medicines through Malabar-Thanal pharmacies.



Environmental protection receives Rs 10 crore, with the remaining Rs 6.8 crore directed at other humanitarian activities.



The programmes are administered by the Malabar Charitable Trust, which channels five per cent of the company&#8217;s net trading profit into CSR activities annually. The group operates under ESG principles centred on women&#8217;s empowerment, healthcare, and education.



The launch on Wednesday was attended by Malabar Group Managing Director of India Operations Asher Ottamoochikkal, Executive Directors Nishad A.K. and Abdulla Ibrahim, Kerala House Resident Commissioner Puneet Kumar, and Thanal Chairman Idris.

Malabar Gold pledges bold Rs 200 cr CSR push in 2026-27

HCLTech has secured the No. 2 overall position in the Perpetual Capital–<a href="https://www.hurunindia.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hurun</a> India Impact 50 2026 report, reinforcing the technology major&#8217;s standing as a leader in corporate sustainability across global markets.



The Hurun India Impact 50 report evaluates companies based on visible and measurable contributions toward the United Nations&#8217; 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). 



HCLTech&#8217;s dominant HCLTech sustainability rankings reflect top-tier placements across multiple categories, with the company claiming No. 1 in Gender Equality and Affordable &amp; Clean Energy, and No. 2 in Sustainable Cities and Communities and Responsible Consumption and Production.



&#8220;These recognitions from globally renowned forums validate our efforts to embed sustainability-led positive impact across our operations,&#8221; said Vipul Arora, Global Head of Sustainability at HCLTech. &#8220;HCLTech will continue to enable clients and communities to reap the benefits of new technologies responsibly and sustainably.&#8221;



The recognition builds on a broader series of ESG milestones. For the fourth consecutive year, HCLTech has been included in the <a href="https://www.spglobal.com/esg/solutions/sustainability-yearbook" target="_blank" rel="noopener">S&amp;P Global Sustainability Yearbook</a>, a benchmark index tracking companies with strong environmental, social, and governance performance.



HCLTech also holds a Gold rating from<a href="https://ecovadis.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> EcoVadis</a>, placing it among the top 4% of rated IT companies globally. TIME magazine further recognised the company among the top 15 firms in the Professional Services category in its <a href="https://time.com/collection/worlds-most-sustainable-companies-2025/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">World&#8217;s Most Sustainable Companies 2025 list.</a>



The results signal growing investor and institutional confidence in <a href="https://www.hcltech.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener">HCLTech&#8217;s</a> long-term ESG strategy, as the company continues to align technology deployment with <a href="https://sdgs.un.org/goals" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sustainable development </a>imperatives across its global operations.

HCLTech dominates Hurun India Sustainability Rankings 2026

RBL Bank, one of India&#8217;s leading private sector banks, distributed 800 bicycles and school kits to underprivileged girl students in New Delhi on March 26, under its corporate social responsibility programme<a href="https://www.rblbank.com/csr" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> UMEED</a> — a bold move to empower vulnerable communities through accessible education.



The <a href="https://www.rblbank.com/umeed-bicycle-drive" target="_blank" rel="noopener">girl student bicycles CSR initiative </a>was held at <a href="https://www.edudel.nic.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sarvodaya Vidyalaya</a>, Pitampura, and attended by Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta, Education Minister Ashish Sood, and senior officials from the bank. The event marks one of the largest single-day bicycle donation drives by a private bank in the national capital.



Long distances between homes and schools remain one of the primary drivers of <a href="https://www.education.gov.in" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropout rates </a>among girls from low-income households in India. RBL Bank said the initiative directly targets that barrier by providing reliable, sustainable transportation — reducing travel time and safety concerns that often lead families to keep girls out of school.



&#8220;Education is the cornerstone of a bright future. By providing bicycles and school kits, we aim to empower young girls to overcome obstacles and pursue their dreams.&#8221; — <a href="https://www.rblbank.com/about-us/leadership" target="_blank" rel="noopener">R. Subramaniakumar</a>, MD &amp; CEO, RBL Bank



The UMEED programme, which focuses on enabling education and widening opportunity for marginalised communities across India, continues to scale its outreach. Officials said the CSR initiative is designed to offer not just immediate support but a sustainable, environmentally friendly solution to a systemic problem.



No financial details of the programme were disclosed.

RBL Bank&#8217;s UMEED empowers 800 Delhi girls with bicycles in CSR Initiative to curb school dropouts

In Molga village in Madhya Pradesh&#8217;s Sehore district, a six-acre lake that once ran dry now brims with water, feeding acres of soybean fields through sluice gates. The turnaround is the work of women — dozens of them — organised into a community water user group under Indian conglomerate<a href="https://www.itcportal.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ITC Ltd&#8217;</a>s watershed initiative.



The company&#8217;s integrated water stewardship programme has established over 5,800 women-led water user groups spanning 17 states, covering 1.89 million acres and benefiting more than 500,000 people. The model centres on a straightforward principle: give women governance over local water, and communities thrive.



&#8220;We used to face a lot of difficulty in getting <a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/sectors/water-access-transforms-15-rajasthan-villages/942" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water</a> earlier,&#8221; said Vimla Malvi, a water user group member in Sehore. &#8220;I had to carry two pots on my head for long distances. After getting involved with ITC&#8217;s water user group, there has been a lot of positive change.&#8221;



Women now oversee maintenance of more than 36,900 water structures — ponds, canals, and check dams — built under ITC&#8217;s programmes. Their involvement has ensured equitable water access for marginalised households, where scarcity has historically fallen hardest.



Beyond infrastructure, ITC&#8217;s Krishi Sakhi programme has trained thousands of women as agriculture service providers, promoting <a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/water/ubl-launches-transformative-project-jal-shakti-telangana-csr/1378" target="_blank" rel="noopener">drip and sprinkler micro-irrigation </a>and climate-resilient farming. Nearly 200,000 women farmers are part of ITC&#8217;s agricultural ecosystem. The company said its water-use efficiency drive enabled potential crop water savings of nearly 1,700 million kilolitres in 2025–26 alone.



&#8220;In inclusive water user groups, women play an active role in decision-making on how water is managed, maintained and shared, ensuring ITC&#8217;s interventions are not only equitable and sustainable but also scalable,&#8221; said Prabhakar Lingareddy, Executive Vice President, Social Investments, ITC Ltd.



The programme has helped ITC maintain a <a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/water/ambuja-marwar-mundwa-water-security-2025/1169" target="_blank" rel="noopener">water-positive </a>status for over 23 consecutive years, while also operating river basin-level interventions across five major sub-basins.



The initiative aligns with the United Nations&#8217;<a href="https://www.worldwaterday.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> World Water Day 2026 </a>theme — &#8220;Water and Gender&#8221; — carrying the message: &#8220;Where water flows, equality grows.&#8221; Advocates say ITC&#8217;s model demonstrates that empowering women is inseparable from solving the global water crisis.



Time freed from water collection has flowed into income-generating activities, with women joining micro-enterprises and self-help groups supported by ITC — compounding the social return on what began as an environmental intervention.

ITC&#8217;s women-led water groups transform rural India

<a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/news/ambuja-foundation-empowering-skill-building-viksit-bharat-dialogue/1240" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ambuja Cements</a>, the ninth-largest building materials solutions provider globally and part of the <a href="https://www.adani.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Adani Portfolio</a>, has handed over electric auto-rickshaws to 10 women from Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in the Kodinar region of Gujarat, opening a new chapter in rural <a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/category/woman-and-child" target="_blank" rel="noopener">women</a> empowerment and self-employment on International Women&#8217;s Day.



The handover ceremony was held at Ambujanagar, marking the culmination of a structured skilling and financing initiative designed to equip women with both the capability and capital to operate independent transport businesses.



Women associated with Sorath Mahila Vikas Sahakari Mandali and local SHGs underwent two months of specialised e-auto driving training at the Skill and Entrepreneurship Development Institute (SEDI), Ambujanagar. The programme focused on building safe driving skills and operational confidence among participants.



Following training, participants purchased the e-autos with extended loan support from Sorath Mahila Vikas Sahakari Mandali, ensuring financial access remained no barrier to ownership.



The trained women will operate e-autos in and around Kodinar, providing passenger transport services and ferrying school-going children — addressing a critical rural mobility gap while generating sustainable household income.



<a href="https://www.ambujacement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ambuja Cements</a> officials, present at the handover, encouraged the women to embrace their self-employment journey, reaffirming the company&#8217;s commitment to income-generating opportunities for women in underserved rural communities.



The initiative reflects Ambuja Cements&#8217; wider strategy of linking skill development with livelihood creation, particularly for women in regions surrounding its plant operations. The company&#8217;s SEDI centres across India have trained thousands of rural youth and women in vocational skills since inception.



The e-auto programme aligns with India&#8217;s broader push for electric mobility adoption in rural areas and dovetails with national priorities around women-led development and the SHG movement under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission.

Ambuja Cements Drives Women Empowerment, Hands E-Autos to 10 SHG Women in Gujarat

Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group), one of India&#8217;s leading FMCG conglomerates, has earned Water Positive Certification from GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment), recording a Water Positivity Index of 1.80 — placing the company among a select few Indian corporations to achieve such a high score.



The certification, awarded under GRIHA&#8217;s Decarbonizing Habitat Programme, follows a two-and-a-half-year assessment across 30 business locations in India, covering divisions spanning food and beverage, mouth freshener, hospitality, and agriculture.



Scale of Impact



Conservation interventions by DS Group have created a cumulative water storage potential of 66 lakh kilolitres. The programme integrates rainwater harvesting structures, wastewater reuse systems, recharge wells, water-efficient fixtures, and ecological restoration measures. Projects in Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh contributed significantly to groundwater recharge outcomes.



&#8220;The whole world is moving rapidly towards sustainability, with global water demand projected to exceed supply by 40% by 2030,&#8221; said Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of DS Group.



&#8220;By embedding water-positive practices into our business and community initiatives, DS Group contributes meaningfully to the larger sustainability agenda that India is aiming for.&#8221;



Kumar added that the Group views sustainability &#8220;not as a project but as a permanent responsibility,&#8221; guided by its philosophy of &#8216;Create What is Worth Creating.&#8217;



Sanjay Seth, VP and CEO of <a href="https://www.grihaindia.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GRIHA Council </a>and Senior Director at <a href="https://www.teriin.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TERI</a>, called the certification &#8220;a statement of intent of responsibility and vision,&#8221; adding that DS Group had demonstrated that &#8220;sustainability, productivity and profitability can go hand in hand.&#8221;



Broader Sustainability Context



The Water Positive Certification adds to a wider sustainability programme at DS Group that spans water conservation, livelihood development, agricultural initiatives, and energy efficiency. The company&#8217;s headquarters holds both <a href="https://www.usgbc.org/leed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LEED Platinum </a>and <a href="https://www.usgbc.org/leed/zero" target="_blank" rel="noopener">LEED Zero Carbon certifications</a> from the U.S. Green Building Council.



The achievement comes ahead of COP30, where water security and climate resilience are expected to be central agenda items.



Founded in 1929, DS Group markets brands including Rajnigandha, Catch, Pulse, Pass Pass, LuvIt, and L&#8217;Opera across domestic and international markets.



Established in 2007 as a joint initiative between Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and TERI, GRIHA operates as India&#8217;s nationally recognised green building rating system and is referenced in India&#8217;s Nationally Determined Contributions to the UNFCCC.

DS Group achieves landmark water positive certification, joins elite corporate circle

DBS Bank&#8217;s sustainable financing commitments surged 14 per cent year-on-year to cross SGD 102 billion at end-2025, the lender said in its latest report, as India emerged as its fastest-growing and third-largest sustainable finance market across Asia.



The Singapore-based bank, one of Asia&#8217;s largest lenders, facilitated SGD 41 billion of environmental, social and governance <a href="https://www.dbs.com/iwov-resources/pdf/sustainability" target="_blank" rel="noopener">(ESG) bond issuances</a> during 2025 as an active bookrunner, channelling capital into renewable energy, sustainable infrastructure, green real estate and social-sector projects.



&#8220;As Asia continues to grow, businesses are continuing to invest in low-carbon technologies, electrification and resilient infrastructure,&#8221; said Helge Muenkel, Group Chief Sustainability Officer at DBS Bank. &#8220;It was very encouraging that DBS Group crossed SGD 100 billion in sustainable financing commitments in 2025.&#8221;



India Drives Breakthrough Momentum



India&#8217;s rapid ascent within DBS&#8217;s sustainable finance portfolio reflects strong domestic appetite for green capital aligned with the country&#8217;s ongoing energy and infrastructure transformation.



In a notable deal, DBS extended a Rs. 670 crore sustainability-linked trade facility to<a href="https://www.indorama.net" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Indorama India Pvt Ltd</a>, tying the financing to measurable improvements in emissions intensity, water use and energy efficiency.



The bank also acted as arranger and sustainability coordinator for a multi-bank USD 350 million sustainability-linked revolving credit facility for<a href="https://www.chrysCapital.com" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> ChrysCapital X LLC</a> — marking the first sustainability-linked loan raised by an India-focused private equity fund.



Expanding Beyond Climate



DBS said it is broadening its sustainability mandate beyond climate mitigation to encompass nature-related risks and climate adaptation — a shift that signals the bank&#8217;s intent to align with evolving global biodiversity and resilience frameworks.



Community Impact



Beyond financing, DBS said it reached more than one million vulnerable individuals across Asia through community programmes in 2025. The <a href="https://www.dbsfoundation.org" target="_blank" rel="noopener">DBS Foundation </a>has committed over SGD 160 million since 2024 toward initiatives targeting essential needs, financial inclusion and community resilience.



The results were disclosed in DBS&#8217;s Sustainability Report 2025.

DBS Sustainable Financing surges past SGD 102 billion; India leads breakthrough growth

RBL Bank, under its CSR initiative <a href="https://www.rblbank.com/csr" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UMEED</a>, distributed 300 bicycles and school kits to underprivileged girl students in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to address school dropout caused by long commutes.



The drive was held at Shri Balaji Vidya Mandir in the presence of Rajya Sabha MP Laxmi Verma and other dignitaries.



MD &amp; CEO R. Subramaniakumar said the initiative aims to empower girls to pursue education and build an inclusive society. UMEED continues to drive impactful outreach across marginalised communities in India.

RBL Bank UMEED empowers 300 girls with bicycles in Raipur

<a href="https://www.marutisuzuki.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maruti Suzuki</a> India has commissioned seven Automated Driving Test Tracks (ADTTs) in Tamil Nadu, partnering with the state Transport Department to strengthen road safety and driver licensing.



Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin inaugurated the tracks last week via video conferencing at Regional Transport Offices in Coimbatore (Central), Tiruvannamalai, Krishnagiri, Madurai (North), Sivagangai, Dindigul, and Tiruchirappalli (West).



This forms part of a<a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/education/automated-driving-test-tracks-maruti-suzuki-signs-moa-in-tamil-nadu/1096" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> Memorandum of Agreement</a> to automate ten ADTTs statewide. Maruti Suzuki achieved the record feat of completing all ten within 150 days, with the remaining three in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, and Marthandam nearing operational status.



Rahul Bharti, Senior Executive Officer for Corporate Affairs at Maruti Suzuki, stated: “These Automated Driving Test Tracks, fitted with high-definition cameras, RFID sensors, real-time analytics, and integrated IT systems, deliver a transparent and unbiased evaluation process with zero human intervention.”



He highlighted India&#8217;s 1.77 lakh road accident deaths in 2024 (per <a href="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/daily-road-deaths-touched-485-in-2024-even-as-nh-fatalities-dipped/articleshow/125777686.cms" data-type="link" data-id="https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/daily-road-deaths-touched-485-in-2024-even-as-nh-fatalities-dipped/articleshow/125777686.cms" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Ministry of Road Transport &amp; Highways</a> data), stressing the vital role of rigorous testing in promoting disciplined driving and reducing fatalities.



The ADTTs support testing for two-wheelers (TW) and light motor vehicles (LMV), ensuring compliance with Central Motor Vehicle Rules through automated, objective assessments.



<a href="https://www.csrvoice.com/post/news/maruti-wagonr-swivel-seat/1260" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Maruti Suzuki</a>&#8216;s road safety push aligns with its 5Es approach (Engineering, Education, Evaluation, Enforcement, Emergency Care). The company has now automated 56 ADTTs across eight states, with expansions planned in Rajasthan (21) and Andhra Pradesh (4), targeting 81 nationwide.



It also operates 8 Institutes of Driving and Traffic Research and 23 Road Safety Knowledge Centres, plus ITMS surveillance and First Responder training programs.

Maruti Suzuki commissions Automated Driving Test Tracks in Tamil Nadu for road safety

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