Pondicherry, July 09, 2025: As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts, Marico Limited, in collaboration with the Department of Forest and Wildlife, Tourism Development Department of the Government of Puducherry, and local village panchayats, has successfully supported the safe incubation and release of 33,413 Olive Ridley turtle hatchlings along the Pondicherry coastline.
The initiative, titled ‘Save Olive Ridley Turtle’, aimed to protect the endangered species while fostering coastal community engagement in marine conservation. Spanning eight months, the project enabled community-led egg collection, establishment of turtle protection camps, hatchery management, and awareness drives in coastal villages such as Narambai, Nallavadu, Veerampattinam, Kalapet, Panithittu, and Manapet.
True to conservation best practices, the hatching process and the hatchlings' journey to the ocean were conducted without human intervention, allowing the turtles to reach the sea naturally—a vital aspect of their survival cycle.
“Our guiding light and defining ethos at Marico Limited has always been to ‘make a difference’ and create a positive impact for the people we engage with, as well as the community and the environment within which we operate. This has guided our community in Pondicherry, along with local villagers, and forest department officials, to work tirelessly for over eight months, nurturing sea turtles from eggs until they made their way safely to the ocean. This project is a testament to what we stand for at Marico Limited,” said Amit Bhasin, Chief Legal Officer, Group General Counsel, and Secretary of the CSR Committee, Marico Limited.
As part of the initiative, nearly 40 local fishermen received training through workshops and field sessions on turtle conservation. To support their participation, they were provided a monthly stipend of ₹5,000, offering supplementary income during the project period.
In addition to this marine conservation project, Marico’s Pondicherry team continues to drive local environmental efforts under its ‘Be the Impact’ campaign. These include biannual beach clean-up drives, pond and waterbody restoration efforts, and contributing 1,000 saplings to the Pondicherry Pollution Control Board for the ‘One Tree One Home’ campaign.
Marico’s efforts reflect its broader vision of responsible growth, community partnership, and environmental stewardship.