NOIDA, India–(BUSINESS WIRE)– Three winners of HCL Grant 2017 across categories of Environment, Health and Education were today announced at a ceremony held at HCL Technologies Hub, Noida. Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, presided over the ceremony as the Chief Guest and felicitated the winners. Each winning NGO receives a Grant of up to INR 5 crores.

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Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, with the winners of HCL Grant 2017, Shiv Nadar and Robin Abrams (Photo: Business Wire)

At the occasion, Shri Arun Jaitley also released a compendium titled “The Fifth Estate – NGOs transforming Rural India in Environment, Health and Education, ” which is a compilation of all the finalists of the second edition of HCL Grant.

Shri Arun Jaitley, Hon’ble Union Minister of Finance and Corporate Affairs, congratulated the winners of HCL Grant 2017 and appreciated the work of HCL and the jury.

Addressing the gathering he said, “I must compliment HCL for going into the larger society, creating an independent jury, looking at areas which need support and getting the jury to select the best so that the winners can be role models for others.”

Malcolm Gladwell, an eminent author and speaker, attended the ceremony as a Special Guest and addressed the gathering comprising Board members, senior leadership and other distinguished guests from various walks of life.

The winning NGOs across three categories are:

• Environment – Foundation of Ecological Security (Gujarat)
• Health – Child in Need Institute (CINI) (West Bengal)
• Education – MelJol (Maharashtra)

Ms. Robin Abrams, Chairperson of Jury, HCL Grant, said, “HCL Grant is so much more than the fund itself. The mark of the strategic value of any grant is leverage. From the focus on governance and sustainability, sharing of best practices and how corporates and their employees can engage with NGOs – HCL Grant delivers on strategic value for the NGOs of India and for India’s Fifth Estate. It is exciting to be a part of this kind of leverage.”

HCL Grant, a CSR commitment by HCL through HCL Foundation, envisions to contribute to rural development by strengthening NGOs through deep institutional involvement and commitment. The Grant stands testimony to the fact that only strong governance structures management capabilities and reliable impact measurement systems within NGOs can help them take up and sustain high impact, complex and social transformational projects.

The winning NGOs have been selected by an eminent jury panel. Members of the panel are Ms. Robin Abrams – Former President of Palm Computing, and the longest serving Board member of HCL Technologies; Dr. Isher Judge Ahluwalia – Leading Economist and Chairperson, Board of Governors, the Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations; Ms. Pallavi Shroff – Eminent Legal Counsel, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co.; Mr. B.S. Baswan – Former Director, Indian Institute of Public Administration; Mr. Richard Lariviere – President, Field Museum, Chicago and Former President of the University of Oregon; Dr. John E. Kelly – Senior Vice President, Cognitive Solutions and Research, IBM Corporation; and Mr. Shiv Nadar – Founder & Chairman, HCL and Shiv Nadar Foundation.

For more information please visit www.hcltech.com/HCL-Grant.

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Contacts

HCL Technologies
Ajay Davessar, +91 120 43828280
VP & Global Head – Corporate Communications
Ajay.davessar@hcl.com