the fifth estate
6
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THE
BRIDGES
OF
TRANSFORMATION
india’s growth story
is phenomenal.
e $4 trillion economy is no longer a distant
projection for our nation, but a bright reality.
To sustain this trajectory, we need consistent
growth, and we need a foundation that is
solid – so that as we reach for the sky, we also
strengthen our roots through indigenous,
community-led solutions. rough its
flagship programme, HCLTech Grant, the
HCLFoundation celebrates the role of Non-
Governmental Organizations (NGOs) or the
Fiſth Estate*, that are doing the exemplary work
of catalysing rural transformation tirelessly
at the grassroots. e Grant recognizes that
these committed NGOs are the true bridge
between people and policies, the local and the
global, propelling sustainable and inclusive
development to supercharge India’s progress.
With an investment of
`
146.95 Cr ($17.80
million) in NGOs pan India, the HCLTech
Grant has, over 9 years, empowered 2 million
lives through 58 path-breaking projects in
Environment, Health, and Education. Keeping
the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as a
barometer, the Grant manifests the company’s
CSR vision of creating ‘source codes’ for socio-
economic and environmental development in
India. Now, the
HCLTech Grant Americas
extends its learnings and innovative
programmes outwards from India through its
global CSR strategy, pledging $5 million across
5 years to impact-focused NGOs in the Americas
that are combating climate change and restoring
ecosystems and biodiversity.
rough a rigorous, transparent and robust
process comprising application, field investigation,
due diligence and jury stages, NGOs have to
demonstrate highly relevant, innovative, replicable
and scalable, financially sound, inclusive and
sustainable projects in the verticals of Environment,
Health and Education, in order to be shortlisted
for the Grant. ey must have a proven track
record of credibility and the ability to deliver
impactful programmes to marginalized, remote,
and underserved rural communities in the country.
e selection process itself aids NGOs to clarify
their vision, mission and impact through evidence-
based, fool-proof data and programming. e final
Grantees receive much more than funding from the
Grant, which also strengthens and capacitates their
governance and leadership throughout the duration
of the process, leveraging resources in optimum
ways to reach those who need them the most; in
short, forming bridges of opportunity.
e HCLTech Grant process is supplemented
by Pan India Symposiums which have become
gamechangers for NGOs that are applying
for the Grant, reaching out to others,
clarifying the application process
and encouraging more applications.
is year, the 9th edition of the
HCLTech Grant Symposiums,
organized by HCLFoundation
and CSRBOX, brought together
various stakeholders including
*so named by Shiv Nadar, Founder–HCL; Chairman
Emeritus &
Strategic Advisor to the Board–HCLTech;
Founder
& Chairman- Shiv Nadar Foundation