HCL Foundation, National Cooperative Union of India to Enhance Livelihood Opportunities for Marginalized Groups

NOIDA:
HCL Foundation, which delivers the corporate social responsibility (CSR) agenda of leading global technology company HCLTech, has partnered with the National Cooperative Union of India (NCUI) to train over 5,000 women, youths and artisans from marginalized communities for sustainable income-generating opportunities. As part of the tie-up, HCL Foundation and NCUI’s Centre for Entrepreneurship Development and Cooperation (CEDC) will set up a livelihood-cum-entrepreneurship development center in Noida.

“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 institutes association, we aim to empower women, youths, and artisans across India and promote the cooperative movement,” said Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Vice President, Global CSR, HCL Foundation. “The HCL Foundation-NCUI livelihood-cum-entrepreneurship development center 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 develop and provide training infrastructure, market platforms and branding support to self-help groups (SHGs) and cooperatives across India. Through the tie-up, HCL Foundation and CEDC will help increase the employability of women and youth in the private sector and other organizations.

“Our memorandum of understanding (MoU) with HCL Foundation is a significant step forward in our efforts to strengthen the capacities of self-help groups and cooperatives in India,” said Dr. Sudhir Mahajan, Chief Executive, NCUI. “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.”

This livelihood-cum-entrepreneurship development center will teach participants basic financial and digital concepts and offer them regular health check-ups. HCL Foundation and NCUI also aim to support over 200 SHGs with over 3,000 members and 50 multi-purpose cooperatives. This partnership will replicate the NCUI Haat and Incubation Center projects in many states, mobilizing communities and forming self-help groups and cooperatives.

The partnership with NCUI aligns with HCL Uday, the urban CSR program of HCL Foundation, which is committed to the equitable and sustainable development of the communities living below the poverty line. To date, HCL Uday has impacted the lives of 890,000 people in 11 locations.