India’s CSR landscape has steadily moved from charity-driven models to approaches that focus on sustainable, long-term change. Within this transition, HCLFoundation has built a strong presence through programmes that combine technology, community engagement, and environmental focus to create measurable impact. Over the past decade, it has reached more than 7.5 million people across rural and urban areas, with initiatives that address livelihoods, health, education, and climate resilience.
In this conversation, Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, SVP – Global CSR, HCLTech & Director, HCLFoundation, shares insights from the Foundation’s journey and explains how its work differs from traditional CSR models. She discusses how HCLFoundation integrates equity, inclusion, and sustainability into its programmes, and why long-term community ownership is essential for lasting results. For development practitioners and CSR leaders, her perspective offers valuable lessons on designing initiatives that are both scalable and rooted in local realities.
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Q&A
Q. Over the years, HCLFoundation has grown into one of the largest CSR arms in India, impacting millions of lives. If you were to capture the ethos and journey of the organization in one narrative, what would that story look like?
A. The journey of HCLFoundation is a testament of purpose, technology and compassion collaboratively transforming communities at scale. With a cumulative investment of ₹1,680 crores, we have positively impacted more than 7.5 million lives thus far, with over half of them being women reaching
The impact story told through the changing lives of farmers embracing sustainable practices, para-athletes breaking barriers on international platforms, artisans rediscovering economic dignity via digital marketplaces and communities restoring ecosystems while reclaiming ownership of their future. But the true essence of this journey lies in how it’s been walking with communities, not just for them.
Through flagship initiatives like Samuday, Uday, and Harit, the Foundation has championed in co-creating, scalable and inclusive development models that prioritize both human and ecological wellbeing. The ethos of HCLFoundation are rooted in the belief that when people are empowered, change becomes inevitable, and this belief has shaped a decade-long journey of meaningful partnerships, systemic solutions and resilient communities rising together.
Q. Purpose-led sustainability is at the heart of your work. How does this philosophy distinguish HCLFoundation’s approach to CSR from traditional models of corporate philanthropy?
A. Traditional philanthropy has often focused on providing relief or addressing immediate needs. At HCLFoundation, our philosophy of purpose-led sustainability moves beyond relief and emphasizes systemic, long-term change. At every step, our focus has been clear: seed initiatives that matter, scale them with innovation and integrity and sustain outcomes through collaboration and community ownership.
Every program is designed to embed resilience, social, environmental and economic, into communities. For example, Harit not only plants millions of trees but also ensures community-led forest management, creating livelihoods in the process. Similarly, My Clean City does more than manage waste. It transforms urban ecosystems through awareness, stakeholder training and capacity building. This approach ensures that impact does not fade once a program ends, but leaves behind empowered communities, sustainable systems and resilient ecosystems – acting as a key differentiator for us from traditional philanthropy.
Q. A central theme in your programs is advancing social equity and inclusive development. How do you ensure that the most marginalized communities remain at the core of your initiatives?
A. Equity and inclusion are not just guiding principles, they are the foundation of our work. Our programs are consciously designed to reach those who have historically been left behind. With equity as our anchor, we connected over 1,25,000 people to social protection schemes and empowered 15,000+ persons with disabilities. Uday has provided livelihood opportunities to more than 10,000 women and trained 1,00,000 youth in 70+ industry trades through its Yuvakendras and ITIs. In our rural program Samuday, we have active case finding initiatives where dedicated TB champions to support patients, ensuring healthcare reaches the last mile with empathy and dignity. We also focus strongly on enabling differently-abled athletes and children to access opportunities on par with others, as seen in our Sports for Change initiative. By listening to community voices, building local leadership, and aligning with government welfare schemes, we make sure that the marginalized are not passive recipients of aid but active participants in their own progress.
Q. One of your flagship areas is water conservation, a challenge of growing global urgency. How is HCLFoundation working to build long-term water resilience, and what role does community ownership play in sustaining these efforts?
A. Water is central to both human survival and climate resilience. At HCLFoundation, we take a holistic approach that combines infrastructure creation, ecosystem rejuvenation, and community participation. To date, we have harvested more than 107 billion liters of water and rejuvenated over 358 water structures, ensuring that water security is restored where it is needed most. But beyond numbers, the most critical part of our model is community ownership. We work with farmer cooperatives, women’s groups, and fisherfolk to ensure they not only benefit from water conservation projects but also take responsibility for their upkeep. A powerful example is Project Vembanad in Kerala, where fisherfolk are actively engaged in removing invasive weeds to protect their livelihood and ecosystem. When communities are stewards of their resources, sustainability moves from being a project to becoming a lived practice.
Q. To scale such programs, strong and resilient partnerships are essential. In your experience, what makes a partnership truly resilient, and how do you balance global scale with local context?
A. For us, a resilient partnership is one that combines vision with immediate execution. It is about creating collaborations that respect the lived experiences of communities while leveraging the expertise and resources of different stakeholders such as governments, industry, and civil society. We take pride in working with over 200 NGO partners across the country who are our equal partners. Our partnership with the Uttar Pradesh government has enabled us to strengthen rural livelihoods, introduce digital literacy, and expand renewable energy. Similarly, working with global partners such as Stanley Black & Decker has allowed us to create Unnati Labs for skilling ITI students. What makes these partnerships resilient is adaptability, mutual respect, and the shared goal of creating scalable solutions. By anchoring every global collaboration in the local context, we ensure that scale does not come at the cost of relevance.
Q. As a technology company, HCLTech is uniquely positioned to integrate digital innovation into CSR. Which areas, health, education, or environment, do you see as most ready for technology-led transformation?
A. While technology has transformative potential across all three, education and healthcare are particularly ready for large-scale impact. In education, we have already seen success with our coding and AI initiatives in government schools and the establishment of over 68 STEM and digital labs reaching many students. In healthcare, telemedicine and AI-driven diagnostics are bridging critical gaps in underserved regions. At the same time, technology is enhancing environmental sustainability, whether through data-driven monitoring of water bodies or GIS mapping for afforestation.
The strength of technology lies in its ability to democratize access and accelerate equity, and we see it as an enabler across all our focus areas.
Q. How is HCLFoundation aligning its priorities with the UN SDGs, and what systemic changes do you believe need the most urgent attention in the next 5–10 years?
A. All our flagship programs are mapped to the UN SDGs and our focus is to contribute measurable outcomes through advance these goals at both the community and national level. Looking ahead, the most urgent systemic shifts needed are in three areas. First, climate resilience, as communities are already facing the brunt of environmental degradation and extreme weather events. Second, universal access to quality healthcare, which remains a fundamental gap. And third, digital equity, because without closing the digital divide, millions will be excluded from opportunities for education, employment, and participation. We believe these areas will define sustainable progress in the next decade.
Q. You have spent more than 25 years in sustainable development. Could you share a pivotal experience that shaped your personal commitment to this field?
A. My commitment to this field is rooted in my own journey. I grew up in Rajasthan in a family of educators, yet I saw how girls around me were discouraged from pursuing education, with marriage seen as their only path. This reality instilled in me a sense of responsibility to break barriers—not just for myself, but for others. Education became my way of defying those limitations and opening new possibilities. Alongside this, my early passion for sports and the environment shaped my belief that resilience, teamwork, and sustainability are not just personal values, but essential to building stronger communities. These experiences together anchored my commitment to sustainable development and continue to guide me in working towards inclusive and impactful change.
Q. Beyond your professional journey, what personal values or practices have guided you in leading with empathy and purpose at scale?
A. Beyond my professional journey, the values that guide me are rooted in simplicity, empathy, and respect for every individual. Growing up, I learned to listen before acting, to understand before deciding — practices that continue to shape the way I lead. I believe true purpose comes from recognizing the dignity of others and creating spaces where voices that are often unheard can be included. These values help me stay grounded while working at scale, ensuring that impact is not just measured in numbers, but in the positive change felt in people’s lives.
