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Coca-Cola Foundation in association with The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT), a well renowned scientific NGO & Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) has undertaken a one year project for sustainable & equitable management of Rural Water Resources Infrastructure & other Natural Resources Management (NRM) through ‘Watershed’ interventions in Dungarpur district in Rajasthan & Thirunelveli district in Tamil Nadu.
The one year project outlay is US$ 140,000 supported entirely by Coca-Cola Foundation. The mission of the Foundation is to improve the quality of life in the community & it is a well serving tradition of Corporate philanthropy which begun more than a century ago by the Coca-Cola Company.
According to Dr William Dar, Director General of ICRISAT, “The objective of the collaboration is to improve the  livelihood of poor & marginal farmers in the project villages & also to strengthen ICRISAT’s partnership with Coca-Cola to help the farmers in the dry lands of India.”
“To achieve food & fodder security & to tackle the water scarcity problem in the country requires efficient use of rainwater & an overall water management plan. We are sure that our initiatives in Dungarpur & Thirunelveli will definitely reap benefits”, said Mr Deepak Jolly, Vice President, Public Affairs & Communication, Coca-Cola India at a conference held on April 4, 2006,in Hyderabad on Backward Areas Development through Strategic Intervention in Watershed Development.
Mr S Sen, Deputy Director, CII, appreciated the efforts of Coca-Cola India in forging a link between Coca-Cola Foundation & ICRISAT.
‘Inclusive Growth’ is the CII slogan for the year 2005-2006 wherein it is taking whole slew of initiatives in the Public-Private partnership model to improve the livelihood of the Bottom of the Pyramid (BOP).
ICRISAT has a long standing experience in watershed development research & has undertaken various projects all over the world including India, Thailand, Vietnam, China & Ethiopia. |
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