United Technologies Partners with Girls Who Code to Inspire the Next Gen of Technology Leaders in India

United Technologies Corp. has announced an expansion of its strategic partnership with the U.S. based non-profit organization Girls Who Code (GWC). GWC is building one of the largest pipelines of future female engineers and technologists in the U.S. and with UTC’s support, it is now expanding to India. The global initiative, supported by Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney, is part of UTC’s comprehensive effort to inspire, train, increase and sustain the number of women and underrepresented populations in the technology sector.

“Digital acceleration is changing our world at an unprecedented pace and the future of our industries will be shaped by innovation rooted in gender parity,” said United Technologies’ Chief Digital Officer Vince Campisi. “UTC is incredibly proud to partner with an organization like Girls Who Code, to foster a learning environment and empower women and girls of all ages and backgrounds to thrive in STEM-related roles. Together, we can begin to break barriers, build relationships and inspire the next generation of technology leaders in India and around the globe.”

Considered one of the most significant GWC corporate partnerships to-date, UTC’s commitment will significantly help drive the expansion of GWC in India. UTC’s support includes financial backing, professional mentoring and hosting select GWC programs at company facilities. As part of the launch event in India today, UTC and GWC recognized the first-ever 30 girls graduating from GWC Clubs in India.

“Girls Who Code is on a mission to bring more girls into computer science around the world, and we’re thrilled to be doing that work in partnership with United Technologies in India,” said Girls Who Code founder and Chief Executive Officer Reshma Saujani. “The partnership will enable more girls to explore computer science, develop tangible skills as students, and one day shape the future of aerospace.”

GWC plans to leverage Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney in-country resources to expand pilot clubs in Bangalore, Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai. With UTC’s support, GWC can serve as a gateway to technology and engineering careers for women in India. The program partners with schools and orphanages to set up free clubs and provide girls with the skills and tools necessary for success in engineering and technology fields, encouraging the pursuit of careers in STEM.

GWC offers more than just coding skills – it helps aspiring technologists develop problem-solving skills, confidence-building, communication strategies, and empowers them to break barriers and build relationships that will last throughout their careers. The program provides an environment for girls to engage in fun online coding tutorials, build community through interactive activities, learn about inspiring role models in tech, and work together to design solutions to real-world problems facing their communities. To date, GWC has set up 100 Girls Who Code Clubs in India.

UTC is actively focusing its STEM investment strategy in support of achieving diversity goals, building technology workforce skills and driving community engagement in the places where UTC operates worldwide. UTC has more than 4,000 employees in India in its aerospace divisions – Collins Aerospace and Pratt & Whitney.

UTC will also sponsor The Grace Hopper Celebration taking place November 6-8. The event in Bengaluru brings together female technologists to celebrate the achievements and future of women in technology.

Mumbai Fintech Hub (MFH) and Fintech Convergence Council (FCC) Come Together for a Collaborative Growth Ecosystem for Indian Fintech

Mumbai Fintech Hub (MFH) and FinTech Convergence Council (FCC) have joined hands for a collaborative growth ecosystem for fintech in India. The two bodies have jointly fashioned the ‘India Fintech Festival (IFF)’ a global platform to showcase the opportunities while discussing the key challenges in the industry and the possible solutions to counter the same. IFF 2020 is backed by the Government of Maharashtra (GoM) as it will be driven by GoM Fintech Policy, operationalized under MahaIT. The platform is powered by World Bank, NITI AAYOG and Invest India, while MEDICI, a global innovation and insights platform for fintech is the program partner.

Fintech in India has today become a global growth story riding on key points such as – digitizing money in financial services, solving for identity in the form of Aadhaar for formalization, getting everyone a bank account or equivalents (PMJDY) to store money, building scalable platform(s) to move money (IMPS, UPI, etc.) and finally, allowing banks, FinTechs and wealth/insurance/lending players to access platform like UPI to innovate. This framework has led India to a FinTech revolution.

The GoM and FCC now aim to foster next-generation innovation enabling financial empowerment and technological advancement across the entire financial services ecosystem thus nurturing the sector for global competence. The Government wants to take the first step in this direction by focusing on making the country the next FinTech destination globally.

The festival, scheduled in the first week of March 2020, intends to empower the global FinTech ecosystem by providing them with an opportunity to showcase their ideas and technologies that promote innovation in the financial services’ industry. The platform will help build relationships, create business and investment opportunities while bringing together the who’s who across the global landscape to discuss the effects of regulatory and policy shifts. 5000 delegates across 50+ countries comprising of Fintech start-ups are expected to attend the event along with regulators, key financial institutions, tech companies, governments, industry bodies, corporates and students.

IFF will serve as a representation for the innovations of the best of over 2000+ Indian startups working to make India a $5 trillion economy by 2024. With the present economy at $2.7 trillion India’s is aiming for two times growth. Whereas digital financial services contribution to economy is expected to grow by five times during the same period.   

Maharashtra was the first state to launch a FinTech policy in 2018 which is being operated under the banner of "Mumbai FinTech Hub", in an attempt to build awareness and inculcate the widespread adoption of financial technologies.

The festival will have an advisory board with eminent personalities like Suniti Nanda, Fintech Officer, Government of Maharashtra, Naveen Surya, Chairman, Fintech Convergence Council; G Padmanabhan, Ex-RBI Executive Director, Current Non- Executive Chairman at Bank of India; Dilip Asbe, Managing Director & CEO at National Payments Corporation of India; Srinivas Jain, Executive Director and Chief Marketing Officer, SBI Mutual Fund; and Mohan Tanksale, Strategic Consultant, SWIFT among others.

On the occasion, Mr. Ajit Patil, IAS – MD, Maharashtra IT Corporation Limited said “With 400+ Fintechs, an API sandbox, investment platform, education platform, fintech adoption by state - we are leading the Fintech movement in India. We are firm in our belief to make Mumbai a Global Fintech Hub and the Fintech gateway for India. Through IFF (India Fintech Festival), we look forward to host 1000+ global delegation. We aim to showcase our Fintech strength and foster investments / new Fintech setup in the state”

Ms. Esperanza Lasagabaster, Practice Manager - Finance, Competitiveness and Innovation Global Practice, World Bank said “The World Bank recognizes the positive impact Fintech can have in addressing the long-standing barriers for financial inclusion, financial sector deepening and development. In recognition of this potential the World Bank jointly with the International Monetary Fund unveiled the Bali Fintech Agenda in October 2018 to guide our efforts in helping our client countries harness the opportunities and mitigate the risks associated with the rapid advances in financial technology that are transforming the economic and financial landscape. We are pleased to be a partner to the Government of Maharashtra and the Fintech Convergence Council in the organization of the inaugural India Fintech Festival. This event will offer an opportunity to showcase the rapid strides made by India in harnessing the potential of Fintech responsibly and also to bring lessons from across the World to shape the further development of Fintech in India.”

Ms. Suniti Nanda, Fintech Officer – Government of Maharashtra, said, “An event like IFF (India Fintech Festival) will be a testimony by itself which resonates the objective and passion of COLLABORATION between all key stakeholders in Fintech ecosystem.”

Commenting on this progressive move, Mr. G. Padmanabhan, Ex-RBI Executive Director and Current Non- Executive Chairman at Bank of India said, "India boasts of a state-of-the-art financial services system but the goal of complete digitisation is still miles away. The world is witnessing a technological revolution and being one of the fastest growing economies it is imminent that India joins the digital wave. Any event of this magnitude is impossible without the support of the most important stake holder, the Government, and we are fortunate to get their whole-hearted backing. The spontaneous gesture of support by the World Bank and other influential policy makers has encouraged us further to bring to you the best of FinTech-- be it speakers, seminars or the latest technological developments. I hope this event becomes the harbinger of digital transformation for the Indian FinTech ecosystem."

Mr. Naveen Surya, Chairman, Fintech Convergence Council who has been instrumental in bringing fundamental changes in the digital payments system was quoted saying, “India has led its digital Initiatives across the globe thanks to the potential of innovation, investment and collaboration in the country. This sector though evolving rapidly is still in its nascent stage. It is therefore imperative for opportunities to be harnessed in the right ways thus cementing India's position as a leader in the digital landscape. IFF was conceived as that global platform to facilitate communication and collaboration through shared learning experiences across the globe. We are thankful to many prestigious institutions who have agreed to become our partners and our eminent advisory board for their role in making IFF a reality."

Dilip Asbe, Managing Director and CEO, National Payments Council of India stated, “NPCI is committed towards the mission of Digital India. With the support of Government of Maharashtra and IAMAI/FCC, we expect IFF to host a vibrant community of innovation enablers, enterprises and start-ups to drive new solutions relevant to address industry needs and challenges. Government of Maharashtra has been the first state in India to create a Fintech Policy and IFF would be yet another step towards providing the right and deserved platform to the innovative tech minds who are ready to disrupt the fintech space.”

Layoff: How tech-driven processes are improving job security across different industries?

Today, the world economy is staring at a period of turmoil as two global giants, namely China and the US, have locked horns in a trade war. The fallout of this ongoing economic conflict is now visible on various markets – including India – and is promoting conservative outlook amongst businesses. Cognizant, which has 70% of its workforce in our nation, is going to layoff around 5,000 to 7,000 mid-to-senior level employees. Similar measures are being taken by other businesses including HP, HSBC, and others.

This is when Indian economy is already facing strong headwind because of its auto sector. It has resulted in around 100,000 job losses in the past couple of months and further 500,000 are expected in the upcoming quarter. So, it is barely a surprise when a CMIE (Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy) report indicates the nation’s unemployment rate is highest since 2016. As a matter of fact, it is 1.3% up from what it was back in September 2019, reaching 8.5% in the month that has just passed.

However, there is a silver lining in the cloud for India. Our nation can become the epicentre of global growth revival and emerge as the go-to destination for stressed investors. Bring the nation’s largest pool of youth, socioeconomic dividend, and fast-emerging digital market into the picture, and tables start turning around. Still, this will require a targeted approach wherein everything from job creation to skill development have a pivotal role to play.

Thankfully, several tech companies and their methodologies are bringing about a positive change on this front. Here are some of them:

Cybersecurity: The burgeoning global digital infrastructure requires skilled cybersecurity professionals to address the prevailing vulnerabilities within the IT domain. However, the irony is that around three-fourth of the global organizations are currently experiencing cybersecurity skill shortages. It is also difficult to train or upskill a professional due to the sheer dynamism of the sector and fast-emerging technologies (hence, new attack vectors). Usually, cybersecurity professionals get trained through ‘Baptism by Fire’ or, in other words, while facing a real cyberattack. Students, on the other hand, merely get bookish knowledge which is both incomplete and largely irrelevant by the time they enter the job market.

Here, solutions like Cyberbit’s Cyber Range are proving to be a game-changer. They create a hyper-realistic environment with simulated network architecture of a particular organization. It enables the in-house teams to experience a virtual attack without risking the IT infrastructure. Such solutions are also finding their way into educational institutes, thereby adding considerable value for the student entering the advanced segment.

Education Sector: One of the biggest challenges that India today faces is to train the massive pool of youth that it has. Surely, teachers have a critical role to play in this development both in the short-term and the long-term. The challenge over here is that there are limited technological tools available for teachers to discreetly observe a class. There is also no standardization in CPD (Continuous Professional Development) of teachers. In this scenario, avant-garde solutions like ONVU Learning’s LessonVU, a tech-driven teacher training and self-reflection program, are bringing a positive change. For instance, LessonVU’s lesson capture, observation, and self-reflection-based approach enable teachers to bridge the gaps in their pedagogical training and experience targeted skill development. With the perfect confluence of technological features (including Data analytics and Artificial Intelligence), it comes across as a comprehensive solution for proficiency building of the teaching community. The best part is that such solutions have visible impact from Day 1 and gradually improves the class performance.

Data Analytics: Today, data has become the new oil and gold for businesses. For the uninitiated, we will be generating 463 exabytes of data daily by 2025, which is equivalent to creating 212 million DVDs per day. This industry development is enabling organizations to use this rapidly increasing data to make informed decisions and drive efficiency enhancement for across-the-board processes. It is the reason why Big Data industry, which clocked $8.5 billion market size back in 2017, will grow more than four-fold to reach $40.6 billion by 2023. The fast-emerging market and the professionals operating in it can unlock new avenues for India by spearheading a comprehensive data-driven growth of the nation.

Nevertheless, the organization of exponentially generating data is not easy and neither is understanding its relevance. Certain approaches like Qlik Academic Program are enabling Indians to learn data analytics skills with much ease. The free-to-use online program perfectly aligns concepts of data mining, programming, and database management at the academic level. It further equips a person with product-agnostic Data Analytics and Data Literacy certifications. Similarly, SkillUp Online and its certified courses for data science curate cutting-edge training programs for aspiring professionals. Ultimately, they are making our nation’s youth well-prepared for a sector that is destined to transform everything from economy to business processes forever.

Entrepreneurship: Both growth and job creation go hand in hand with entrepreneurship. However, a free enterprise cannot thrive in the absence of credit. Several NBFCs and lending platforms are working on this front to eliminate the credit gap that various industries face today. Vivriti Capital, India’s largest online credit platform for institutional clients, has created a marketplace platform to make funding easily accessible for businesses. It directly lends to both businesses and NBFCs (which then lend to businesses) via different models including credit disbursement, investment banking, and consultancy for strategy formulation, new business launches, due diligence, liabilities management, risk management, transaction advisory, etc. It helps in the all-round development of the market as well as various verticals present in it. This is while also infusing capital across different industries and empowering them to avail the predominant business opportunities more seamlessly with its technological expertise.

In the light of recent turn of events, it is a prudent measure to intensify such tech-driven approaches and upskill our youth as fast as we can. India stands at a crucial juncture in terms of market and is eyeing better job creation and double-digit growth rate. Perhaps, this is the perfect break to drive the same change for the global economy.

Covestro Launches its 4th Edition of #STEM4Girls in Greater Noida and will Reach Out to More than 1200 Girls

Covestro, one of the world’s leading producers of advanced and high-performance polymers has successfully commenced the first phase of #STEM4GirlsFestival2019 in Greater Noida starting from today. The initiative will continue till 9th November in Greater Noida with around 300 girl students joining each day and will subsequently expand to other cities like Dharampur, Ankleshwar, Cuddalore and Mumbai. Overall around 4000 girls will be part of this year’s #STEM4Girls edition. #STEM4Girls is an initiative of Covestro to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education among girl students between the age of 11-14 years.

As science becomes increasingly crucial for tackling the world’s issues, Covestro strongly believes that every girl needs STEM, and STEM needs girls. STEM4Girls aims at empowering thousands of girls every year across the globe to bring a positive change in society.

“In India, women are mostly understated in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields. With STEM4Girls Initiative, we at Covestro India believe in encouraging young girls to build a career in STEM. It is an initiative to capture the interest of girls and get them thinking about the possibilities of careers in STEM in order to build a brighter future. We aim to enhance awareness among teachers and students about the value of learning, with a special focus on STEM. Covestro intends to help revolutionize the future of girls in the field of STEM,” said Ajay Durrani, Managing Director, Covestro (India) Private Limited.

Covestro (India) has been working towards empowering the girl child in line with the Government’s mission of Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao through STEM Learning Workshop for girls in partnership with Chandra Mohan Foundation since 2016. The STEM initiative started with just 100 students in the year 2016 and has received immense success over the years with the workshop empowering over 4500 girls today in the field of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics.

Hero Motocorp Unveils The Xtreme 1.R Concept at EICMA 2019

Hero MotoCorp Ltd., the world’s largest manufacturer of Motorcycles and Scooters, presented a glimpse into the future of its premium motorcycle range at the EICMA 2019 in Milan .

The New Delhi (India)-headquartered Company showcased the Xtreme 1.R concept at the EICMA this year, like it had showcased the XPulse 200 and XPulse 200T concepts in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the motor show respectively.

Hero MotoCorp – that has rapidly expanded its global footprint to almost 40 countries across Asia, Africa and South & Central America – also revealed a Rally-Kit specifically developed for the acclaimed adventure motorcycle XPulse 200, integrating the learnings from its Dakar Rally experience.

The Xtreme 1.R is inspired by the precision of an arrow - It boasts of an aggressive stance.  Ensuring agile and responsive handling – the motorcycle carves out corners with pinpoint accuracy – be it on urban roads or while negotiating fast corners.

Aimed at the youth of tomorrow, the Xtreme 1.R offers a sneak-peek at the next generation of the Xtreme brand. With a kerb weight of less than 140 kg, it makes every ride engaging and sheer fun. The unapologetic design, LED headlamp, signature LED tail-lamp makes for a combination that is sure to entice the racer in everyone.

The new Rally-Kit for the XPulse 200 has been developed and tested at Hero MotoCorp's R&D hub – the Centre of Innovation & Technology (CIT) - in India. Developed by incorporating the expertise of Hero MotoSports Team Rally, which has proven its mettle in some of the leading rallies around the world, the XPulse 200 Rally kit, will serve as a catapult for young talents across the globe improving on their riding technique as well as participating in Rally motorsport events with a competitive machine.

The kit consists of fully adjustable, taller front and rear suspension, flatter seat for easy position change while off-roading, extended gear pedal to suit off-road boots, handlebar risers or greater maneuverability while riding standing up, extended side stand for the additional ground clearance, front sprocket 12T, rear sprocket 40T for greater grunt, and rally tyres for relentless traction.

The *kit is ready-to-fit on the XPulse 200, which transforms the street legal motorcycle into an all-out rally machine. This kitted version adds to the already-proven capabilities of the XPulse 200 and provides a new avenue to the growing off-road, motorsports enthusiasts around the world.

*Rally kit not homologated for road use.

Unveiling the Hero MotoCorp pavilion here, Malo Le Masson, Head of Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said “We are continuously innovating to enhance the customers’ riding experience. The Xtreme 1.R concept offers a glimpse into the future of Xtreme styling DNA, a concept packed with fun and bold styling. While the XPulse Rally-Kit is focused on youth across the Globe seeking the perfect machine to jump-start their rally racing potential.”

Displaying its latest lineup of motorcycles at EICMA, Hero MotoCorp’s pavilion showcased XPulse 200T, XPulse 200 Hunk 200R, Hunk 200S, Ignitor 125 and the Splendor iSmart.

Underlining its focus on a diverse product offering across segments, Hero MotoCorp also showcased its new range of scooters – Duet 125, Dash 125 and Pleasure+.

Three special signature editions of Hunk 200S, XPulse 200T and Dash 125 were also on display.

Developed for customers across the globe, the products exude youthful styling, premium features and superior technology. Compliant with the stringent Euro IV emission norms, these scooters and motorcycles meet the market demands in several geographies across the world.

Fueled by innovation and evolution the Hero MotoCorp pavilion showcased diverse technologies, including the indigenously developed i3S technology (Idle Stop Start System). The EU-5 powertrain display, portraying the Company’s technology readiness to comply with the EU-5 emission norms, highlighted by an animated engine cut section and key elements of the Catalytic Converter.

Appealing to the tech-savvy visitors, the Company displayed a Connected Section, showcasing the potential applications of connected technologies in two-wheeler riding. With the aid of a VR Riding Simulator, riders get an opportunity to ride XPulse 200 in an exciting and challenging ON-OFF track and interact with various Connected features such as Turn by Turn Navigation, Weather Alerts, Service Alerts, Call and Message Alerts, Real Time Alerts.

Hero Motocorp Unveils The Xtreme 1.R Concept at EICMA 2019

Hero MotoCorp Ltd., the world’s largest manufacturer of Motorcycles and Scooters, presented a glimpse into the future of its premium motorcycle range at the EICMA 2019 in Milan.

The New Delhi (India)-headquartered Company showcased the Xtreme 1.R concept at the EICMA this year, like it had showcased the XPulse 200 and XPulse 200T concepts in the 2017 and 2018 editions of the motor show respectively.

Hero MotoCorp – that has rapidly expanded its global footprint to almost 40 countries across Asia, Africa and South & Central America – also revealed a Rally-Kit specifically developed for the acclaimed adventure motorcycle XPulse 200, integrating the learnings from its Dakar Rally experience.

The Xtreme 1.R is inspired by the precision of an arrow - It boasts of an aggressive stance.  Ensuring agile and responsive handling – the motorcycle carves out corners with pinpoint accuracy – be it on urban roads or while negotiating fast corners.

Aimed at the youth of tomorrow, the Xtreme 1.R offers a sneak-peek at the next generation of the Xtreme brand. With a kerb weight of less than 140 kg, it makes every ride engaging and sheer fun. The unapologetic design, LED headlamp, signature LED tail-lamp makes for a combination that is sure to entice the racer in everyone.

The new Rally-Kit for the XPulse 200 has been developed and tested at Hero MotoCorp's R&D hub – the Centre of Innovation & Technology (CIT) - in India. Developed by incorporating the expertise of Hero MotoSports Team Rally, which has proven its mettle in some of the leading rallies around the world, the XPulse 200 Rally kit, will serve as a catapult for young talents across the globe improving on their riding technique as well as participating in Rally motorsport events with a competitive machine.

The kit consists of fully adjustable, taller front and rear suspension, flatter seat for easy position change while off-roading, extended gear pedal to suit off-road boots, handlebar risers or greater maneuverability while riding standing up, extended side stand for the additional ground clearance, front sprocket 12T, rear sprocket 40T for greater grunt, and rally tyres for relentless traction.

The *kit is ready-to-fit on the XPulse 200, which transforms the street legal motorcycle into an all-out rally machine. This kitted version adds to the already-proven capabilities of the XPulse 200 and provides a new avenue to the growing off-road, motorsports enthusiasts around the world.

*Rally kit not homologated for road use.

Unveiling the Hero MotoCorp pavilion here, Malo Le Masson, Head of Global Product Planning, Hero MotoCorp, said “We are continuously innovating to enhance the customers’ riding experience. The Xtreme 1.R concept offers a glimpse into the future of Xtreme styling DNA, a concept packed with fun and bold styling. While the XPulse Rally-Kit is focused on youth across the Globe seeking the perfect machine to jump-start their rally racing potential.”

Displaying its latest lineup of motorcycles at EICMA, Hero MotoCorp’s pavilion showcased XPulse 200T, XPulse 200 Hunk 200R, Hunk 200S, Ignitor 125 and the Splendor iSmart.

Underlining its focus on a diverse product offering across segments, Hero MotoCorp also showcased its new range of scooters – Duet 125, Dash 125 and Pleasure+.

Three special signature editions of Hunk 200S, XPulse 200T and Dash 125 were also on display.

Developed for customers across the globe, the products exude youthful styling, premium features and superior technology. Compliant with the stringent Euro IV emission norms, these scooters and motorcycles meet the market demands in several geographies across the world.

Fueled by innovation and evolution the Hero MotoCorp pavilion showcased diverse technologies, including the indigenously developed i3S technology (Idle Stop Start System). The EU-5 powertrain display, portraying the Company’s technology readiness to comply with the EU-5 emission norms, highlighted by an animated engine cut section and key elements of the Catalytic Converter.

Appealing to the tech-savvy visitors, the Company displayed a Connected Section, showcasing the potential applications of connected technologies in two-wheeler riding. With the aid of a VR Riding Simulator, riders get an opportunity to ride XPulse 200 in an exciting and challenging ON-OFF track and interact with various Connected features such as Turn by Turn Navigation, Weather Alerts, Service Alerts, Call and Message Alerts, Real Time Alerts.

ITC Earns the Highest Global Recognition for Water Stewardship

Highlights

* ITC and WWF-India have been working on watershed management in the area benefitting 149 villages and 14000 rural households
* ITC is the only company in the world to be water positive for 17 years and its Water Stewardship Programme has cumulatively covered 10.87 lakh acres benefiting over 3.20 lakh people in 15 states

ITC’s Kovai Paperboards factory in Tamil Nadu has earned the unique distinction of being the only facility in India to be awarded the Alliance for Water Stewardship Platinum-level certification – the highest recognition for water stewardship in the world. The prestigious certification marks a global acknowledgement of ITC’s large-scale and impactful water management programmes benefitting millions.

ITC Kovai is the first site in India and only the second in the world to be awarded this certification based on international benchmarks in water stewardship. The fact that the ITC Kovai was awarded AWS Platinum level certification – only awarded to those sites that meet the very highest standards – is testament to the extensive actions directed beyond the site’s own water use to supporting communities, vulnerable groups and local agencies to build a sustainable future.

ITC’s Paperboards factory in Kovai produces 103,000 tonnes per annum of recycled boards. The factory obtains water from a stream which is part of Upper Bhawani river basin, in Tamil Nadu. This area is under water stress due to erratic climatic conditions (inconsistent rainfall), excessive unplanned and unsustainable groundwater usage, water intensive cropping pattern as well as a steep declining trend of water table.

ITC’s water stewardship approach involves interventions both within the factory premises as well as the catchment level. Within the factory, continued efforts are made to minimise fresh water consumption, while maximising reuse and recycling of treated effluent.

At the catchment level, ITC and World Wide Fund for Nature - WWF-India have been working towards a watershed management strategy using a multi-stakeholder approach in the Upper Bhawani basin, since 2015, benefitting nearly 149 villages and 14000 rural households.

This involves both demand side management, where ITC works with farmers across the catchment to improve irrigation efficiencies in agriculture (since >90% of the water use within the catchment is by agricultural sector) as well as supply side management through creation of check dams, farm ponds and other water harvesting and recharge structures, strengthening of water governance in the catchment through creation of water user groups etc.

Over the years, more than 385000 cubic metres of water harvesting potential has been created across the catchment, benefitting tens of thousands of farmers.

Commenting on the certification to ITC Kovai, Mr. Adrian Sym, Chief Executive Officer, Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) said, “For many years, ITC has been at the forefront of business engagement in water stewardship, understanding the need for business to contribute to the sustainability of the water catchments on which they depend. The AWS certification awarded to ITC’s Kovai paper mill provides deserved global recognition to ITC in the field of water stewardship. ITC Kovai is only the second site worldwide to achieve AWS Platinum certification. This achievement and ITC’s corporate commitment to transparent and inclusive engagement on water sets an example not just for India but for companies worldwide. I look forward to supporting ITC on the next stage of its journey on water, and to encouraging others to follow their example.”

“This certification is indeed a source of encouragement to all at ITC and will inspire us to scale up our efforts to ensure water security to our stakeholders around our factories,” said Mr. Chitranjan Dar, Group Head of EHS, Projects and R&D, ITC Limited.

The Alliance for Water Stewardship (AWS) is a global membership collaboration of businesses, NGOs and the public sector driving water stewardship, which is defined as the use of water that is socially and culturally equitable, environmentally sustainable and economically beneficial, achieved through a stakeholder-inclusive process that involves site-and catchment-based actions.

At the centre of the development of the AWS Standard was a 15-member group called the International Standard Development Committee (ISDC), of which ITC was a part. The ISDC had representatives from three stakeholder groups (businesses and water service providers, civil society, and public-sector agencies) across eight regions (Africa, Asia Pacific, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, North America, Northern Asia, South Asia, and Western and Central Asia).

The 1.0 version of the AWS Standard was launched in April 2014 as part of the deliberations of ISDC. In order to ensure that the Standard continues to reflect stakeholder perspectives and the best global thinking and practices in water stewardship, it underwent a revision process through multi-stakeholder consultations and a result, The AWS Standard v2.0 was released on 22 March 2019.