Tamil Nadu Forest Department (TNFD) has joined hands with HCL Foundation, in a timely step towards marine and coastal conservation to resolve the ghost net and marine debris problem in the Gulf of Mannar Marine National Park, Tamil Nadu. In alignment with SDG 14, HCL Foundation will be supporting TNFD to take up a 3-year action for the removal of ghost nets and marine debris. We will work together for a mass awareness campaign towards debri free Gulf of Mannar for the coastal communities.

An MoU was signed on December 19, 2022, in the presence of Mr. Srinivas Reddy, I.F.S, Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW); Dr. Naganathan, I.F.S, Additional Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (APCCF) – Wildlife; Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice-President, Global CSR, HCLTech; Dr. Santanu Basu, Project Director, HCL Harit and; Mr. Bakan Jagdish Sudhakar, I.F.S, DFO and WLW, Ramanathapuram.

HCL Foundation Sports Scholar, Jerlin Anika has become India’s first woman Deaflympian to receive the Arjuna Award for her achievements in badminton. She received the prestigious honour from the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu.

A badminton prodigy, 18-year-old Jerlin won three gold medals at the 2022 Deaflympics in Brazil while representing India. She also won six gold medals at the Asia Pacific Youth Badminton Championships and Asia Pacific Deaf Badminton Championships in Thailand this year. Earlier, Jerlin won one gold, two silver, and one bronze at the World Deaf Badminton Championships 2019 in China. 

Since 2019, Jerlin has been supported by HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of HCLTech, under its ‘Sports for Change’ initiative. By providing a high-quality and inclusive sporting experience, the programme aims to enable balanced participation, excellence, and holistic development of children from disadvantaged communities.