New Delhi, August 04, 2025: Hinduja Foundation, the philanthropic arm of the Hinduja Group, in collaboration with the Central Himalayan Rural Action Group (CHIRAG), has reported significant progress in its water conservation and ecosystem restoration efforts under the Jal Jeevan initiative. The project, implemented in remote regions of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh, has impacted over 52,000 people who have long faced water scarcity and forest degradation.
Through integrated springshed management and afforestation, the initiative has revived 265 Himalayan springs, recharging approximately 12.96 crore litres of water annually. Additionally, 300 rainwater harvesting tanks have been built, collectively storing 96 lakh litres of rainwater each year. The afforestation efforts have greened over 300 hectares of degraded land, with a plantation survival rate of 92.6%.
The project has also had a notable socio-economic impact. By reducing the need for women and children to walk long distances to collect water, communities now have more time for education, agriculture, and livelihoods. From FY19 to FY25, the initiative generated 59,942 person-days of employment, benefiting 6,830 community members, including marginalized groups and women, who have played a key role as custodians of natural resources.
“Under our flagship Jal Jeevan initiative, contributing to India’s Vision 2030 for water security and climate resilience, this partnership reflects the spirit of the Himalayas, living in harmony with nature while building resilience for the future. The recharged springs, thriving plantations, and empowered communities are not just outcomes; they represent a foundation for long-term climate action and sustainable development. This is just the beginning of what inclusive, community-led conservation can achieve,” said Paul Abraham, President, Hinduja Foundation.
Commenting on the impact, Badrish Singh Mehra, Executive Director, CHIRAG, said, “We deeply value the Hinduja Foundation’s long-term commitment to addressing the Himalayan water crisis and environmental degradation. This collaboration has not only restored ecosystems but also strengthened livelihoods, resilience, and dignity for thousands of mountain families.”
The initiative, backed by Hinduja Group companies including Ashok Leyland, Gulf Oil, IndusInd Insurance, Hinduja Renewables, and Ashok Leyland Foundation, has received recognition from NITI Aayog and the UN CEO Water Mandate for its climate-resilient approach in the Ganga basin.
With its community-led model, the project presents a potential blueprint for climate-resilient development in India’s fragile mountain ecosystems.
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