HCL Foundation and NCUI Collaborate to Empower Marginalized Communities

Noida, June 16, 2023. HCL Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of leading global technology company HCLTech, has announced a partnership with the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) to empower marginalized communities by providing training for sustainable income-generating opportunities. The collaboration aims to train over 5,000 women, youths, and artisans from marginalized backgrounds and establish a livelihood-cum-entrepreneurship development centre in Noida.

With a commitment to improving the standard of living for marginalized populations through sustainable interventions, HCL Foundation is leveraging its association with India's leading cooperative institute to empower women, youths, and artisans across the country and promote the cooperative movement. The partnership between HCL Foundation and NCUI's Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperation (CEDC) aims to create an enabling environment for diverse communities to acquire skills and livelihood opportunities.

Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President of Global CSR at HCL Foundation, stated, "HCL Foundation is committed to enhancing the standard of living of the marginalized through its sustainable interventions. By joining hands with India's leading cooperative institute association, we aim to empower women, youths, and artisans across India and promote the cooperative movement. The HCL Foundation-NCUI livelihood-cum-entrepreneurship development centre will be a pioneering initiative to promote opportunities to earn skills and livelihood in diverse communities."

Over the next three years, NCUI and HCL Foundation will collaborate to develop and provide training infrastructure, market platforms, and branding support to self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperatives throughout India. The partnership seeks to enhance the employability of women and youth in the private sector and other organizations.

Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive of NCUI, emphasized the significance of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HCL Foundation, stating, "Our MoU with HCL Foundation is a significant step forward in our efforts to strengthen the capacities of self-help groups and cooperatives in India. Together with HCL Foundation, we look forward to promoting vocational training and sustainable livelihood models, allowing grassroots organizations to generate economic growth and social progress. By creating an enabling and inclusive environment that supports skill development and entrepreneurship, we aim to impact lives and communities across the country."

The livelihood-cum-entrepreneurship development centre established through this partnership will offer participants training in basic financial and digital concepts, as well as regular health check-ups. HCL Foundation and NCUI also plan to support over 200 SHGs with more than 3,000 members and 50 multi-purpose cooperatives. The collaboration aims to replicate the successful NCUI Haat and Incubation Centre projects in various states, mobilizing communities and forming self-help groups and cooperatives.

This partnership aligns with HCL Uday, the urban CSR program of HCL Foundation, which is dedicated to promoting equitable and sustainable development for communities living below the poverty line. HCL Uday has already impacted the lives of 890,000 people in 11 locations.