Water For Public Good Report 2014 Tcm114 403601

Water for
Public Good
Broadening Collaborations
HINDUSTAN UNILEVER FOUNDATION PROGRESS REPORT 2014

Contents
ABOUT THE REPORT..................................................................................................................... 1
ABOUT HINDUSTAN UNILEVER FOUNDATION ................................................................. 2
HIGHLIGHTS .................................................................................................................................... 3
MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR ............................................................................................. 4
CEOs MESSAGE ............................................................................................................................. 5
OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK AT HUF ................................................................................... 6
PRINCIPLES AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ..................................................... 8
PROJECT SUMMARY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................... 10
VIEWS OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ................................................................42
INDEPENDENT ASSURANCE DATA ....................................................................................... 54

About the
Report
This report provides an overview of the water conservation projects that we have currently
undertaken in partnership with several Project Implementing Agencies (PIAs) across India
under the Water For Public Good programme. We have made good progress under each of the
projects but we know that more needs to be done to meet our ambitious target of achieving water
potential of 500 billion liters by 2020 on a cumulative1 and collective2 basis.
Through this report we acknowledge the significant contribution of our partners to the success
of our programme that has led to immense value creation for our stakeholders. This report also
highlights the concepts, strategies and key achievements of our journey so far. It also showcases
our independently assured results and views of our National Advisory Committee.
1. Cumulative water conservation is the sum of quantity of water conserved over multiple years.
2. Collective water conservation means water conserved as a result of collective action.

About
Hindustan
Unilever
Foundation
Future demand for water resources will increase significantly as populations, rate of economic development and
consumption rates grow. Estimates tell us that by 2030, the supply of water in India will be half of its demand3. The
adverse impact of climate change on agriculture will further compound problems arising due to linkages between
food, energy and livelihoods in the country. To understand and partake in meeting this challenge, Hindustan
Unilever Foundation (HUF) was formed in 2010.
HUF is a subsidiary of Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) -- Indias largest Fast Moving Consumer Goods Company.
HUF is a not-for-profit company that anchors various community development initiatives of Hindustan Unilever
Limited. HUF supports national priorities for socio-economic development through its Water For Public Good
programme. Each of our projects also complies with the requirements of the Companies Bill 2013.
By 2020, the impacts of our collective actions are expected to generate:

l Water conservation potential of 500 billion litres in a cumulative and collective way.
l Employment of more than one million person-days.
l Annual additional agricultural production of 0.1 million tones on a cumulative basis.
Read more about the Company here -- http://www.hul.co.in/sustainable-living-2014/huf/
3. Charting Our Water Future, 2030 Water Resources Group

Highlights
l We have initiated 15 projects in more than 700 villages across 13 river basins in 13 states in India since
inception.
l Our water conservation programme undertaken through collective action and in partnership with several
NGOs, communities, other co-funders and partners across India has achieved the following by May 2014:
n Water conservation potential of nearly 100 billion liters has been created in our project areas on a
cumulative and collective basis.
n More than 0.7 million person days of employment has been generated across several villages in India on a
cumulative basis.
n Over 30,000 people have been trained on various aspects of water management like building water
conservation structure, institution building for governing water use, water budgeting, better agricultural
practices and other environment related issues.
All our projects have been audited by Grant Thornton LLP who has provided an independent third party assurance
report based on ISAE 1000 and AA 1000 standards.
5
Message from the
Director
Dear Reader,
I am delighted to present to you the 2013-2014 Report on Broadening Collaborations by Hindustan Unilever
Foundation. It is indeed a privilege to be writing the foreword to a report on social investments made by Hindustan
Unilever Limited (HUL).
As you may be aware, on 20th December 2010, the United Nations General Assembly had declared 2013 as the
International Year of Water Cooperation. At its wake, this year, the UN Water set out a dedicated goal of Securing
Sustainable Water for all and detailed the following targets:
1. Achieve universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene

2. Improve by (x%) the sustainable use and development of water resources in all countries
3. All countries strengthen equitable, participatory and accountable water governance
We realised this need for water conservation and set up the Hindustan Unilever Foundation, a wholly owned
subsidiary of HUL in 2010. The Foundation focused on developing livelihoods by initiating and setting up
partnerships that drive water conservation projects for public good.
Last year, the Foundation reported its initial results and I am happy to note that its various water conservation
initiatives continue to make steady progress and make meaningful difference to a large number of people.
The number and scale of the projects have increased manifold. In fact, this year, the Foundation has taken up water
conservation projects around four key HUL manufacturing units. Along with the local manufacturing sites and the
Supply Chain leadership, the Foundation developed partnerships to promote the water agenda in these areas.
We are privileged to have three eminent personalities who have rich experience in the field of water for public
good Mr. Ramaswamy R Iyer, former Secretary Water Resources in the Government of India; Dr.Mihir Shah ,
a renowned economist, social worker and former Planning Commission member and Ms. Ireena Vittal, former
partner with McKinsey, on the National Advisory Committee for HUF. I am confident that under their guidance, the
Foundation will gain further momentum.
I would request readers to share their feedback to HindustanUnilever.Foundation@unilever.com . I am sure that

Ravi Puranik, CEO HUF will be happy to engage with you.
Warm Regards
Sanjiv Mehta
CEO and Managing Director, Hindustan Unilever Limited
Director, Hindustan Unilever Foundation
CEOs
Message
Executing Collective Action
63 year old Radhakrishnan, a member of the Poovarasan Kootam Vayalagam (Tank Association) had seen the soil
in the tank bed after nearly 30 years (it was occupied by Ipomoea weed). After a long time he was able to cultivate
paddy to its fullest potential on his entire land of 2.5 acres and further cultivate a second crop of chillies.
He practiced the inputs provided by DHAN to the residents of Rajakkal Kudiiruppu village in the Arimandapam
Cascade in Girudhumal sub basin. He is one of the more than 30000 persons trained under various projects under
the Water for Public Good a collaborative venture of Hindustan Unilever Foundation, with fourteen partners
across nearly 70 districts of India.
Issue Anchor Project Implementing Agency
Commons A crucial part of the hydrological equation Foundation for Ecological Security
Use of MGNREGS for natural resource management Multiple partners
Tapping the supply chains of companies and others involved in Solidaridad Regional Expertise Center and International
sugar, soya bean and cotton Finance Corporation
Natural Resources in Tribal areas Aga Khan Rural Support Program (India)
Water for community livelihoods around manufacturing sites BAIF Development Research Foundation Associate
organisations, Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan
During the year, the Foundation, explored various issues and deployed collaborative strategies to find appropriate
solutions.
These collaborations have multiple co-funders, complex working relationships and diverse ways to secure
community participation. With a view to know the community perceptions regarding the various projects as also
understand the Social Return on Investment to communities, our Project Implementing Agencies have initiated
exercises in selected communities.
Further, with a view to enhance the process and outcome rigor, the Foundation and its partners went in for
upgraded Assurance on some of the performance indicators. In order to facilitate collective action processes and
dialogues, the Foundation participated in a study undertaken by Council on Energy, Environment and Water for
the 2030 Water Resources Group The changing legislative landscape on CSR Rules provided the Foundation an
opportunity to get an independent view on alignment of its activities with the rules.
All in all, it was a year of intense action that explored a diverse collaborative approach to the various water issues.
I would be happy to receive feedback that would contribute further to our collaborative learning and action.
Ravi Puranik
Chief Executive Officer, Hindustan Unilever Foundation
Operational
framework at
HUF
HUFs Board comprises of Mr. Sanjiv Mehta, Director- (PIAs) such as Non-Governmental Organisations
HUF and CEO & Managing Director HUL, Mr. P. B. (NGOs) and International Financial Institutions
Balaji, Director -- HUF and Chief Finance Officer -- HUL have proven to be excellent doers for many of our
and Mr. Dev Bajpai, Director -- HUF and Executive projects.
Director, Legal HUL. l An opportunity space: Collective action requires
an opportunity space to execute initiatives. It can
We have also constituted a National Advisory
be Government schemes, business linked corporate
Committee comprising of Mr. Ramaswamy R. Iyer a
investments like supply chains, programmes run by
former Secretary Water Resources, Government of
corporate foundations, etc.
India; Dr. Mihir Shah a renowned economist, social
worker and former Planning Commission member and l A crucible for action: Solving complex issues like
Ms. Ireena Vittal a former partner with McKinsey & water management in difficult topographies with
Company. This committee advises HUF on important diverse demography and dearth of resources is a
matters related to water conservation projects, challenge for various stakeholders, including the
selection of partners and other related activities. resident communities. The focused area where
community readiness triggers the collective effort
Mr. Ravi Puranik serves as the CEO of the Foundation. provides a crucible for action.
The beauty of our operational framework lies in the
Our operational framework has the following actors: flexibility of the model which allows any entity to take
up multiple roles. It encourages both informal and
l A motivator : Who intends to make a significant formal result oriented working arrangements. There
contribution to the water agenda and has an ability are many knowledge intensive systems that have been
to foster complex relationships between various initiated as a byproduct of this framework. Some of
role players. Many a times HUF plays this role them include weather advisory systems for farmers,
by creating synergies between different parties crop water foot printing, etc.
involved in a project and presenting them with
a thought leadership driven model of action that Independent third party assurance providers are also
reaps productive results. part of our operational framework.
l A doer: Who can ride on the motivations and can
forge connections by tapping into opportunity The collective action architecture that has emerged
space applicable to a crucible of action. It may be an from the operational framework is given below. We
investment advisor or a player with a penchant for believe that this architecture will further evolve as we
action. For eg. our Project Implementing Agencies gather more experience.
Unique Constituent Illustrations Examples in HUF partnered projects
attributes Elements
Perspectives Area, Interventions, Scale, Scale
Grassroots/Policy
A few thousand hectares MITTRA
More than five lakh hectares SREC
Standards/ Group action, Commodity, Group Action
Co-created
Assurance
thought Guidelines Eleanor Ostroms eight design principles for
collective action FESStandards Bonsucro - IFC
Assurance
ISAE3000, AA1000 All projects
Systems Multi partite/Bi partite, Welfare DHAN and such other partners
Welfare/market based
Market SREC and such other partners
Transactional Build on existing networks and Networks
efficiency arrangements
Commodity Supply chains of companies SREC,
IFC
Co-created
input/strategy Shared Risk Funds, Human Resources, All projects
Knowledge, assets
Mainstream Engage with various schemes MGNREGS FES, IWMP-SPESD
Perspectives and programs
Credibility Knowledge products Unique products of each project
Assurance statement Thought based action
Feedback/
Independent Third Party Assurance
Assessments Learning Process Disclosures Project Reports authored by Implementing
partners
Community Perception Index
Deepen Public Outcome and Impact Independently assured data, KOF feedback
Good disclosures
Social Return on Investment
This will evolve as we gather more experience
9
principles and key performance
Indicators
Our Water for Public Good programme is based on
Governance Cumulative and collective
three principles: i) quantity of water ii) governance for as of
water and iii) benefits to community. March 2014
Number of community
Quantity of water: More that 70% of water used institutions involved ( 1,469
in India is for agricultural processes. Hence, the formed and existing, village
prime focus of all our projects is to contribute to and supra village)
the quantity of water used in agricultural processes
Number of persons who
both at a demand and supply level. The demand of
have undergone training/ 35,118
water is dependent on the amount of water used by exposure pertaining to
communities for agriculture and other uses. Supply water and/or agriculture
of water depends on rain water that is harvested
Number of women and
and saved. The Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) SC/ST members part of 1515
associated with this principle are provided in community institutions
Annexure 3 of the Assurance Statement.
Number of persons
influencing equitable water 102
A summary of the KPIs is given below:
distribution
Quantity of water Cumulative and collective
potential as of March 2014 ( Billion
liters) Benefits to communities: Benefits to the communities
residing in our project areas is central to all our
Supply side 61.15
interventions. We conduct additional activities besides
Demand side 38.34
our water conservation initiatives for the benefit of the
Governance for water: Governance of water is communities. These interventions help in motivating
essential to managing the quantity of water. For the people and encouraging them to actively
instance, if a check dam is not de-silted regularly then participate in managing water resources. These
eventually the volume of rain water that it can hold interventions include system of rice intensification,
will go down. Not just that, it is important to involve irrigated germ-plasm, sprinkler and drip irrigation,
different sections of local communities in the process agricultural rain water harvesting with fertigation,
of water governance to make it sustainable. Knowledge small scale irrigation infrastructure pre-harvest
systems and social equity are therefore important treatment etc.
KPIs that ensure water is properly governed. Details
about the KPIs associated with these aspects are The KPIs associated with this principle are provided
provided vide Annexure 3 of the Assurance Statement. vide Annexure 3 of the Assurance Statement
A summary of results is given below:
For detailed view please follow the link
http://www.hul.co.in/Images/HUF-Assurance-
Statement-FY%2013-14_tcm114-378034.pdf
A summary of results is given below: Community Perception Index and Social Return on
Investment
Benefits to Communities Cumulative and collective as
of March 2014 The observations from SROI and CPI help us to collect
Labor days ( direct and valuable feedback on our projects which we again
74,4457 feed in to our planning cycle so that we can serve our
indirect)
Additional Agricultural communities in a better way.
22,696.63
Production in tons
Number of women/ While the Community Perception Index primarily
landless/SC/ST/farmers 2,055 contributes to the learning element of our collective
benefitted due to project action framework, our intent to deepen public good
work
is demonstrated through the Social Return to the
communities.
PROJECT MONITORING:
We measure our impact of collective actions through However, there are limitations to the Community
a triple bottom line score card which records the Perception Index. It was observed by our NAC members
qualitative and quantitative dimensions of our -- Dr. Mihir Shah and Ms. Ireena Vittal during their field
interventions. visit to one of our project implemented by MYRADA
that the way questions and answers are framed
We use Social Return On Investment (SROI )4 during the interaction with the communities plays an
parameter to measure and record the intangible important role in developing the perception index.
returns to the community. In addition to this, we hold The questions should be asked in the right way by the
discussions with the community and capture the implementing agencies and they should ensure that it
changes in Community Perception Index (CPI). is understood in its right spirit and not misconstrued
by the villagers to reduce the margin of error in
calculating CPI an SROI.
Dr. Mihir Shah and Ms. Ireena Vittal discussing with farmers during their field visit to Myrada Project
4. Methodology after the SROI network guide Please refer http://www.hul.co.in/Images/Hindustan-Unilever-Foundation-Collaborations-for-a-shared-future_

tcm114-378037.pdf
11
Project Summary
Overview
Our Water for Public Good programme focuses on instances, village people have been appointed as office-
agriculture and allied livelihoods activities across river bearers which enhances their self respect and adds to
basins in India. their social status.
Community based groups: Water conservation structures:
We believe that the issue of water conservation is Water conservation interventions in project villages
complex due to its co-relation with social, economic, focus on augmenting supply of water, managing its
religious and cultural dimensions of our existence. demand and increasing its duration of availability
Hence a Collective Action approach is required to deal through construction and management of structures
with it at micro as well as macro level. For example, in known as water commons. These structures include
many of our projects we ensure that farmers, women check dams, stop dams, ponds, ring bunds, field bunds,
and landless laborers are mobilized to form community continuous and staggered contour trenches etc. In
based groups to promote efficient use of water. addition to this, activities such as de-siltation, cleaning
These groups are in the form of village watershed of weeds, construction and renovation of spillways,
committees, gram vikas mandals, pani panchayats, spring management are also undertaken. These help in
common interest groups, tank associations, mahila harvesting and storing water for agriculture and other
samitee etc. We have kept a sharp focus on formation purposes. Communities are encouraged to oversee,
of women self help groups in most of our projects. contribute in cash and kind, monitor and provide
all necessary support required for sustainability to
These groups or rural collectives as we call them these interventions. This in turn leads to generation
are trained to undertake activities related to water of employment of local people and contributes to
management and conservation, income generation, increasing their family income.
efficient agriculture practices etc. Activities such
as awareness camps, exposure visits, class room Improved agricultural practices:
trainings and interface with technical experts It is important to manage the demand of water or
are organised to build and develop the groups consumption of water in agricultural processes
capabilities. Our implementing partners also throughout our project cycle. We train farmers in
train MGNREGS (Mahatma Gandhi National Rural better agricultural practices such as trash mulching,
Employment Guarantee Scheme) mates and officials organic manure application, furrow irrigation, drip
of Panchayats besides members of rural collectives. irrigation etc. These not just lead to efficient usage of
We also facilitate active participation of villagers in water but also increase their crop production. Other
the whole project cycle involving them in planning, initiatives like forming compost pits, integrated pest
execution, monitoring, review and overseeing project management, providing better variety of seed etc
implementation and construction works. All these lead to better crop production. Besides these, the
efforts have helped in boosting the self confidence farmers are also trained in specialized processes
of villagers motivating them to come forward and like crop intensification practices in paddy. In many
voice their views on project related issues. In many cases less fertile land are brought under vegetative
cover and horticulture activities are also undertaken The various project activities listed about have
in some project villages. In areas where agriculture both tangible and intangible results. Improved and
is not possible, initiatives like developing kitchen increased availability of water ,demand management
gardens and bori bagichaas (garden in a sack) are of water by farmers , soil and moisture conservation,
implemented. This has arrested land degradation up generation of employment, increase in agriculture
to a great extent and has immensely strengthened the production, more area being brought under irrigation,
livelihood portfolio of villages in the project areas. increase in water level in wells etc are some of the
tangible results. Whereas building self confidence,
Woman empowerment and livelihoods: enhancement of agricultural knowledge, greater
bonding among villagers, reduction in the rate of
One of the important focus areas of our project
migration etc are some of the intangible benefits of
activities is empowerment of women. We do this
our project interventions. We have captured the key
primarily by engaging them in income generation
results for the period of April 2013 to March 2014 (in
activities. Self Help Groups of women are formed
some cases May 2014) in the project summaries below.
for this purpose. Women members of these SHGs
Besides the key results, there are several achievements
are trained on income generation activities such as
associated with each of our projects.
vegetable cultivation, goat rearing etc. In one such
initiative the entrepreneurial group members in
You can write to us at HindustanUnilever.foundation@
Madhya Pradesh took up vegetable cultivation and sold
unilever.com to read in detail about these specific
the produce in local market to earn good monetary
project achievements.
rewards. In many cases women members of SHGs
also take up loan from other women in the group for
various purposes and are able to avoid paying interest
to financial institutions.
For detailed unassured Annual Reports provided by Program Implementing Agencies, please visit us: www.huf.net
13
Water for Public Good
Influencing Practice
and Policy
Aga Khan Rural Support
Programme (India)
Region : Dang District, Gujarat
Project period : November 2013 to September 2018
Key partners : Aga Khan Rural Support Programme, Axis Bank Foundation and Government of Gujarat
Coverage : 65 villages in two blocks of Dangs district in Gujarat
Key results
l An estimated water harvesting potential of 0.56 billion litres has been created till May 2014.
l Approximately 32,845 person days has been generated through project activities.
l Over 556 hectares of soil and water conservation has been completed.
l The project was assessed for SROI achievements.
Amsarpada Check Dam
Views of our partner:

The programme aims to build the water harvesting potential of 15.61 billion litres in its five years duration
in 65 villages of Dang district. Till May 2014, gram vikas mandals were formed in 20 villages. Soil water
conservation and water resources development activities were initiated in eight villages. Community
contribution in kind and cash was ensured for each activity to increase the ownership of the project at
local level. Many meetings, trainings and exposures were conducted to motivate the community to take
part in project activities. Structures like boribandhs( check dams created with the help of sacks), check
wall, farm pond, check dams etc were built and rehabilitated to harvest the runoff water.
Mr. Apoorva Oza, Chief Executive, Aga Khan Rural Support Program (India)
15
Jal Samrudhi:
Securing Livelihoods
through community led
agriculture management
in Kansganj district of
Uttar Pradesh
BAIF Institute for Rural
Development (BIRD)
Region : Kasganj, Uttar Pradesh
Project period : March 2014 to June 2017
Key partners : BAIF Institute of Rural Management- Uttar Pradesh (BIRD-UP)
Coverage : Around 26 villages in Kasganj and Soro block of Kasganj district in Uttar Pradesh.
Key results
l Potential to save 10.63 billion liters of water has been created by using improved agricultural practices.
l Around five farmers clubs have been formed and 40 farmers have been trained in System of Rice
Intensification (SRI) techniques.
l Around 13 farmers have used maize marker (instrument to sow maize seeds in a systematic way) for sowing on
more than four hectares of land.
l Around 22 livestock rearing farmers have been trained for cattle management and fodder production.
Demonstration of Maize marker

BAIF Development Research Foundation and Hindustan Unilever Foundation have been working on the
Jal Samriddhi project in Kasganj district with a focused approach. BIRD-UP, an associate organization of
BAIF in Uttar Pradesh is implementing this project. Kasganj has ample water supply but productivity is low
as people there follow unscientific traditional agricultural practices. This project aims to promote judicial
use of water by following better animal husbandry and agronomic practices like use of SRI, line sowing,
use of bio-pesticides etc. Farmers are introduced to modern and efficient agricultural practices that result
in increase in productivity of the region. We have had a very nice experience working with HUF and we
would like to take this relationship further by replicating this project in different parts of the country.
Mr. Ramesh Rawal, Executive Vice President, BAIF Development Research Foundation
17
Integrated Water
Conservation Project
Dharampur Utthan Vahini
(DHRUVA)
Region : West flowing river from Tapi to Tadri main river basin, Dadra and Nagar Haveli
Project period : November 2013 to October 2017
Key partners : DHRUVA and project community members
Coverage : Four villages in Dadra Nagar Haveli (Union Territory)
Key results
l The project has benefitted 15 households and has generated 866 mandays of employment.
l Over 130 participants have been trained on water conservation and agriculture practices.
l Around eight water user groups have been created and 97 tribals belonging to this group have been associated
with Vasundhara dairy for accessing livestock credits. Animal husbandry has become feasible due to enhanced
availability of water.
l A couple of SHGs have also been formed for development of women of the village.
Check dam overflowing-Vansda Village Silvassa

Dharampur Utthan Vahini (DHRUVA), an associate organization of BAIF Development Research
Foundation in Gujarat, is implementing this project in Dadra and Nagar Haveli. This region receives
very heavy rainfall of more than 200 centimeters during monsoon season but still faces a drought
like situation in summers. The project aims to improve the governance of land and water resources by
enhancing soil moisture through ridge to valley approach and improve the availability & quality of water
through creation of water harvesting structures. Community institutions play a crucial role in design and
implementation of various interventions. The project will ensure availability of water throughout the year
in this region and enhance the production and productivity of crops. We have had a very nice experience
working with HUF and we would like to take this relationship further by replicating this project in different
parts of the country.
Ramesh Rawal, Executive Vice President, BAIF Development Research Foundation
19
Barsingave
Integrated
Watershed
Development
Programme
Maharashtra Institute of
Technology Transfer for
Rural Areas (MITTRA)
Region : Igatpuri block, Nashik district in Maharashtra
Project period : June 2010 to September 2016
Key partners : Maharashtra Institute of Technology Transfer for Rural Areas (MITTRA), and NABARD
(National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development )
Coverage : Three micro watersheds Barsingve, Sonushi and Mydara-Dhanoshi in Nasik,
Maharashtra
Key results
l Water harvesting potential of 2.1 billion litres has been created on a cumulative and collective basis.
l Approximately 450 hectares of agriculture land has been treated and nine water harvesting structures like
check dams have been developed which help to stabilize 542 hectares with improved availability of water. This
has resulted in increase of agricultural production by over 800 tonnes.
l Employment opportunities equivalent to over 17,006 person days have been generated.
l Over 500 farmers and women have been trained through capacity building programmes to promote better
agricultural practices.
Community story
Less cost, more yield
Khandu Sitaram Bambale is a paddy grower in Nashik. He used to grow paddy using traditional cultivation
practices. This required intense labour and high use of fertilizer.
Khandu was trained in better agricultural practices as part of HUF project to help him increase yield per acre
and reduce cost of cultivation. Due to the project interventions, Khandu is able to procure better quality seeds
and fertilizers. He has also been given technical guidance from Agri Scientists from organisations like Zonal
Agriculture Research Station.
As a result, Khandus grain yield has increased by 50% and fodder yield by 7%. His cost of production has also
decreased to a great extent.

The Barsingve watershed project entered into Public Private Partnership mode with the support of
NABARD to further the soil conservation and water resources development process initiated by HUF with
MITTRA in Igatpuri Taluka of Nasik district. It has created a positive impact in the lives of tribal families in
the region. More than 100 tribal families have adopted four step cultivation method that provide d more
crop production per drop of utilized water. Various activities of the project like developing natural springs
and other water conservation interventions have enabled the tribal families to progress and have created
a role model for other villages to follow.
Shri V.B. Dyasa, Chief Programme Coordinator, MITTRA, Nasik
21
Water conservation
for community
development around
HUL, Khamgaon Unit
Maharashtra Institute of
Technology Transfer for
Rural Areas (MITTRA)
Region : Godavari , Tal - Khamgaon, district - Buldhana
Project period : September 2013 to September 2017
Key partners : HUF, Mumbai, MITTRA, Nasik and community members
Coverage : Six villages in Khamgaon in Maharashtra
Key results
l Water harvesting potential of 0.064 billion litres has been created benefitting around 290 people in three
villages.
l The project has covered over 600 medium, small and marginal farm families during the project implementation
period.
Pier Luigi Sigismondi, Chief Supply Chain Officer, Unilever visiting Khamgaon water initiative

MITTRA and HUF are working together in Khamgaon taluka of Buldana district on a water conservation
and capacity building project. The project aims at improving water availability through water harvesting
measures. The project also focuses on checking soil erosion through soil and moisture conservation
measures, improving agriculture production and most importantly developing awareness about
importance of water and soil conservation and landscape management for sustainable livelihood through
community participation. Our relationship with HUF has been very rewarding and we would like to
replicate the project in other parts of the country.
Ramesh Rawal, Executive Vice President, For BAIF Development Research Foundation
23
Integrated
Watershed
Management
Programme
in IWMP
Watersheds
Society for Promotion of
Eco-Friendly Sustainable
Development (SPESD)
24
Region : Budelkhand region in Madhya Pradesh
Project period : January 2012 to March 2016
Key partners : Society for Promotion of Eco-friendly Sustainable Development (SPESD), Rajiv Gandhi
Mission for Watershed Management, Department of Panchayat and Rural Development,
Government of Madhya Pradesh
Coverage : 24 villages of Baldeogarh block of Tikamgarh district in Madhya Pradesh covering an
area of more than 10,000 hectares.
Key results
l Water harvesting potential of 5.33 billion litres has been created on a cumulative and collective basis.
l The project has generated more than 29,000 person days of employment.
l Over 1,000 ha of area has been treated with soil and moisture conservation measures and stabilized due to
improved availability of water and 113 acres of fallow land has been brought under agriculture.
l Over 1,300 villagers have undergone different types of training on agriculture, judicious water use, improved
agriculture practices and water management.
Community story
Better Practices, more benefits
Mr. Kanshiram Raikwar of Chakramadhosingh village has a joint family of 16 members. They are completely
dependent on their 20 acre land which they use for farming. This huge land used to meet its water requirement
from the open well owned by the Raikwar family. However the well could only irrigate 2-5 acres of the land. Due
to this, the family could not grow enough food on this land. Hence some family members had to migrate to other
states in search of alternate work.
With the help of our project interventions Kanshiram and many other farmers have formed a group and are
trained on improved agricultural practices. With the help of this training, they have constructed an earthen dam
or nallah that supplies water to their lands. Due to the construction of this dam, Kanshiram is able to irrigate
additional 10 acre of his land. He has started wheat cultivation in addition to mustard and gram. Kanshiram also
plans to grow a third crop and is hopeful that his family members will stay together once again.

HUF is making good effort for betterment of community especially for rural poor. Its work is not only limited
to CSR but efforts are made with real problem solving attitude. Its regular monitoring and critical evaluation
of activities is helpful in increasing the efficiency of project and making positive impact. As SPESD, an
associate organization of BAIF is always committed towards sustainable rural development through natural
resource management with participatory approach, for which HUF is also making positive effort. Regular
close monitoring at ground level by HUF is helping our staff to strengthen their capacity and improve their
skill sets and the problems are being solved with team spirit. The documentation of programme activities
is very analytical and its getting very useful for SPESD as well as for all stakeholders. All these factors help
in motivating our team and we hope these sincere efforts by HUF will contribute significantly for achieving
vision 2020.
S.K. Pandey, Chief Programme Co-ordinator, Society for Promotion of Eco-friendly Sustainable
Development, Bhopal (M.P.)
25
Tank Cascade
Development For
Development of
Livelihood Security-
The Revival of
Traditional Tank
Systems in Gundar
Basin, South India
Development of Humane
Action (DHAN) Foundation
Region : Gundar basin, Tamil Nadu
Project period : July 2010 to March 2014
Key partners : DHAN Foundation and NABARD
Coverage : 250 irrigation tanks in four districts of South Tamil Nadu (Madurai, Virudhunagar.
Sivagangai, Ramanathapuram)
Key results
l Over 20,000 small and marginal farm families have benefited from the interventions of this project.
l Potential to harvest and store 42.42 million cubic metres of surface fresh water resources has been created.
l Additional agricutural production of 14,150 tones boosted the income levels of farmers.
l Farmers have cultivated second crop despite of monsoon failure.
Community story
B.Radhakrishnan is a farmer in Sivagangai district. He is a member of Poovarsankootam tank association. He owns
2.5 acres of wetland in the command area of this tank.
Poovarasankootam tank is spread across 35 acres but till some time back the tank was infested with weed. Weed
infestation had drastically reduced the storage capacity of the tank.
Due to insufficient water in the tank, Radhakrishnan could not cultivate different crops and was only growing
paddy for last 10 years. The paddy crop production was also uncertain and there were frequent crop failures due to
irregular monsoon and scarcity of water in the Poovarsankootam tank.
Our project helped in reviving this tank. As part of the project intervention, the farmers formed a tank association.
The members of this association were trained and taught tank management work. Once the training was
completed and funds were mobilized, the association began the work of weed removal. Many farmers like
Radhakrishnan have benefited from this work. They can now avail water even during summer season. There is also
enough water for domestic use and cattle drinking in the village. Radhakrishnan now not just cultivates paddy but
also grows chillies as the second crop.

United Nations declared 2013 an Year of International Water Cooperation and observing 2014 as an
International year of Family Farming. We, at DHAN Foundation have the view that the partnership with
Hindustan Unilever Foundation, since 2010 till the end of Financial year 2014 could be the perfect match to
commemorate the UN declarations.
Tanks, in our experience, are excellent structures with high efficiency in terms of water demand
management and are viewed as exemplary agricultural, social, technical economical, ecological and
environmental systems. Being present in over 2000 numbers in one of the highly climate vulnerable and
drought prone Gundar basin, the systematic process oriented rehabilitation of tanks in cascade on a scale
is seen as a model by itself, since no one has ever attempted with purely community owned development
processes.
Mr. Vasi Malai, Executive Director, DHAN Foundation.
27
Integrated Water
Resource Management
and Conjunctive Use of
Water in the Command
Area of Water Scarce
Irrigation Systems of
North Gujarat
Development Support
Centre (DSC)
Region : North Gujarat
Project period : October 2012 to September 2017
Key partners : Development Support Centre, NABARD, Gujarat Land Development Corporation,
MGNREGS, Royal Bank of Scotland Foundation
Coverage : Command area of three irrigation tanks in three districts of North Gujarat (Mehsana,
Sabarkantha & Aravali districts)
Key results
l Over 350 small and marginal farm families have benefited from the interventions of this project.
l Added 0.58 billion litres of cumulative and collective water potential and saving through supply and demand
side interventions.
l More than 1600 Ha area has been covered under good agricultural practices and soil conservation initiatives.
l Crop production has increased by 800 tonnes over baseline of year 2012 through adoption of improved
agriculture practices by farmers.
Additional area brought under cultivation due to land levelling activity in Vakhatpura

The Hindustan Unilever Foundation supported project will help to demonstrate the need for promoting
integrated water resource management in water scarce irrigation systems of North Gujarat through
physical interventions, convergence and facilitation of sujal samitees. This will enable DSC to pilot
sustainable water management.
Sachin Oza, Executive Director, Development Support Centre, Ahmedabad
29
Water Commons-
Influencing Practice
and Policy
Foundation for Ecological
Security (FES)
Region : Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra
Project period : 1st April 2013-31st March 2018
Key partners : Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (MGNREGS)
Coverage : Impacted 750 habitations ( two to three hamlets form one village, here one hamlet is
equivalent to one village ) in eight districts across Rajasthan, MP, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, and AP.
Key results
l Over 10,000 families have benefited through the interventions in MGNREGS, leveraging about Rs.2.43 crores
and creating 213,034 wage days. The water resources created during the year are expected to improve
agriculture through improved soil-moisture regimes, improved water availability through assured irrigation
and thereby improved productivity. Farmers would be able to cultivate second crop in the command areas
where structures have been renovated.
l 2671 ha of common lands has been protected in 199 habitations. 89 water bodies have been brought under
community governance. FES is assisting community institutions in evolving byelaws for the functioning of the
institution and governance of the common land and water resources.
l Planning for shelf of activities/net planning has been undertaken across 111 habitations for restoration of
agricultural lands, common land and water bodies under MGNREGS. This plan has been submitted to the
panchayats & panchayat samities for approvals and implementation.
l 422 Prakriti Karyashalas (workshops that train on using natural resources) have been conducted covering
over 9520 trainees and reaching out to 3300 habitations. These trainings were delivered in Andhra Pradesh,
Karnataka and Rajasthan which included aspects of technical skills of mates and paraworkers on improving
MGNREGS, claiming and restoration of common lands and water resources, low-intensive agriculture, etc.
l Tools such as experimental games are used for improving the governance of common pool water resources, to
help understand the behavioral and institutional foundations of why people engage in cooperative behavior and
refrain from over-exploiting a common-pool resource.
l An integrated online portal is being developed to help democratize planning process through improving
access to information and impact programmes aimed at poverty alleviation decentralized governance and
management of forests, land and water resources.

A high order challenge in the management and governance of natural resources has been the dominant
mindset that - local people cannot manage their own resources and that large governments are
therefore needed to manage resources for local people. In the years to come, we shall strive to work in
building strong evidence (together with partners) on effective management of water resources by local
communities and community institutions and the legitimacy of community tenure as another viable
option.
Jagdeesh Rao, Executive Director , FES
31
Water
Sustainability
for the
Indian Sugar
Industry
International Finance
Corporation (IFC)
Region : Uttar Pradesh (UP) -- Lakhimpuri Kheri and Hardoi districts
Madhya Pradesh(MP) -- Barwani district
Maharashtra Kolhapur district
Project period : June 2013 to June 2017
Key partners : International Finance Corporation (IFC), Solidaridad Network Asia Limited,
DSCL Sugar and Olam Agro India Limited
Coverage : Over 1,200 villages of UP, MP and Maharashtra.
Key results
l The project has been able to establish business producer engagement mechanism in six locations.
l 27 billion litres of water has been saved due to adoption of various interventions like trash mulching, furrow
irrigation, drip organic manure land leveling and other good agricultural practices.
l More than 26,000 hectares has been has been stabilized (treated to reduce the demand of water)
Drip Irrigation after cane plantation Olam Hemarus, Maharashtra

Hindustan Unilever Foundation is a strategic partner for IFC for water sustainability programmes. The
noteworthy part of our partnership is the programmatic interventions in Water Use Efficiency which are
fundamentally transforming the outlook of the sugar companies regarding water as a critical input and
risk to their business and at the same time acknowledge the potential social impact it can create among
the local farming community.
Mr. Bastiaan Mohrmann, Head Water, IFC South Asia
33
Community-Led
sustainable
management of
water resources for
promotion of
livelihoods and
secured natural
resources base
Mysore Resettlement and
Development Agency
(MYRADA)
Region : Karnataka
Project period : 2011 March to 2015 March
Key partners : Mysore Resettlement and Development Agency (MYRADA) and NABARD
Coverage : Five districts in Karnataka -- Bidar, Bellary, Chitradurga, Gulbarga and Kolar, 23 villages
Key results
l Water retention capacity of water structures in the project area has increased by more than 11 billion litres.
Structures with capacity of more than 800 tcm have been developed in order to conserve soil and water.
l 3064 families have benefited from various interventions. Over 800 families out of these belong to Scheduled
Castes & Scheduled Tribes and 1200 families have benefited from bank linkage and livelihoods programs.
l Around 35,000 kgs of seeds have been distributed to the farmers for fodder development. 245 kitchen gardens
have been promoted in order to address the nutritionals supplements of the community.
l Over 200 Self Affinity Group (SAGs) and 17 federations have been formed and their members have been trained
to build their capacity in various project activities.
Community story
Livelihoods to entrepreneurship
Govindachari is 42 years old and lives in Malakanahalli, Malur Taluk , Kolar District. He does not own land in
village and was selling plastic items such as mugs, buckets etc. in the village. As he was able to only eke out
the
living of this, he had migrated to Bangalore looking for employment opportunity. He had found himself a job as a
construction labourer and was earning a meagre income of Rs.300 per day.
His wife Ratnamma is a member of SAG promoted by Myrada. When she found out that the project was giving
training for the landless and the marginal farmers under livelihood development, she requested her husband to
undergo the training. As his family was earlier involved in carpentry, he opted to undergo a training in carpentry.
After undergoing the training he has now set up an unit with the grant given by the project a sum of Rs.10,000/- to
purchase materials for carpentry work along with a credit of Rs.15,000/- from SHG through his wife. He is now
earning an income of Rs. 25,000/- per month and has also employed 3 people.

The three components of this program include designing and erecting suitable watershed structures to
increase water availability and promote soil retention; identify appropriate livelihood options for the
landless families in the working area, and to set up community level institutions that would implement and
monitor the activities in a participatory and transparent manner.
MYRADA has learnt a lot in this process. The monitoring and documentation system introduced by HUF
(Dashboard indicators and Score card as examples) has been received positively and will be applied to
other projects that MYRADA will take in future. For the first time in the history of MYRADA, SAG women
were given the task of monitoring the watershed activities and they have established that they can
manage it efficiently and effectively.
Mr. Arvind Risbud, Executive Director, MYRADA
35
Jal Samraddhi:
Reducing Vulnerability
of the community
by Securing water
management
through community
participation
Parmarth Samaj Sevi
Sansthan (PSSS)
Region : Bundelkhand Region,Uttar Pradesh
Project Period : February 2014 to December 2017
Key Partners : Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan and Gram Panchayat & DRDA, Jalaun
Coverage : Five villages of Dakor block of district Jalaun, U.P
Key results
The main results achieved in this period from Feb to May 2014 are as follows:
l Through wall paintings & regular meetings, community members have been made aware & sensitized towards
water conservation.
l Around 20 people have been trained in better agricultural practices and water management skills.
l Community members have been organized and five Pani Panchyats have been formed.
l Self Help Groups have been formed in the Rageda & Rewa blocks?, with around 15 women in each of the SHG.

Parmarth Samaj Sevi Sansthan has been implementing Jal Samradhhi project with the support of HUF
in 5 villages of district Jalaun of Bundelkhand region since Feb 2014. This is the first Annual report of the
project reflecting the project achievement & progress till March 2014. In this duration, the major attention
is focused on community rapport-building and sensitizing them towards project goal, objectives &
strategies. The community has been mobilized for collectivization process and their involvement into the
project. To strengthen the community collective power, the project has formed Community Institutions
i.e. Pani Panchayat in each 5 villages of the project area through which 78 community members have
been associated. The main objective of Pani panchayat is promoting community participation in project
planning, implementation & monitoring and ensuring community roles & responsibility in achieving the
project goal & objectives.
In all the four gram panchayats of the project area, regular interaction has been made with village
Pradhan & other panchayat officials, which help to get proactive participation of and guidance to the
project. Seeing the involvement & participation of community and other stakeholders in the project,
Parmarth team is assure towards the successful implementation of the project in line to achieve its set goal
& objectives in favor of poor & marginalized community.
Mr. Sanjay Kumar, Secretary, PARMARTH
37
Regeneration
of the Natural
Resource
base through
Participatory
Watershed
Development
Sanjeevani Institute
for Empowerment and
Development (SIED)
Region : North Maharashtra Khandesh Region
Project period : February 2014 to January 2018
Key partners : KKS (a German funding agency), NABARD & Government of India and Government of
Maharashtra
Coverage : 13 villages in Sakri block of Dhule and 13 villages in Navapur block of Nandurbar district.
Key results
35,000 person days of employment has been generated through soil and moisture conservation activities carried
out in 675 Ha of area.
Village Exposure and Training for better Governance

SIED believes that access to water is critical for rural India, for domestic needs and livelihoods. Watershed
management and water resource development for irrigation are the key thematic area of SIED. For us
HUF is a strategic partner. HUF funding is sufficiently flexible and is very much helpful for mobilizing /
leveraging the funds from other developmental agencies. Besides funding HUF works as knowledge
partner, helps in capacity building of us as well as community. HUF assisted capacity building of our
organization in different sectors like technical support, documentation support and reporting.
Since the project is in initial stage, unable to comment on outcomes and achievements of the project.
However successfully began the project activities in the selected area. Community participation is
encouraging and we are receiving support from Government very positively. We are sure that project will
deliver its objectives as planned.
J R Pawar, Executive Director, SIED
39
Water
Efficiency and
sustainability
in agriculture
Supply-Chains
Solidaridad Regional
Expertise Centre (SREC)
Region : 38 districts of 10 State in India: Andhra Pradesh (Mahbubnagar), Assam (Dibrugarh,
Sivsagar), Gujarat (Kutch, Surendranagar, Vadodra), Karnataka (Dharwad, Gadag,
Haveri, Mysore), Madhya Pradesh (Barwani, Dewas, Dhar, Jhabua, Khandwa, Khargone,
Rajgad, Ratlam, Sehore, Shajapur, Ujjain), Maharashtra (Akola, Nagpur), Odisha
(Bolangir, Rayagada), Rajasthan (Pratapgad), Tamil Nadu (Cuddalore, Dharmapuri,
Erode, Karur, Nilgris, Pondicherrry, Pudukotai, Salem, Theni, Tiruchirapalli, Villuparam),
West Bengal (Jalpaiguri).
Project period : January 2014 to December 2016 (3 years)
Key partners : Solidaridad Regional Expertise Centre (SREC)
Coverage : 3,000 villages covering over two lakh households
Key results
l 67 Water allied and livelihood oriented institutions have been formed.
l 5563 people have been trained in improved agricultural practices and water management skills.
l 13,000 hectares has been -treated using various good agricultural practices and soil conservation measures to
reduce the demand for water.
l 11.34 to 13.75 billion litres of water has been saved due to various interventions of this project.

It has been six months of HUF and Solidaridad partnership on programme Water efficiency and
Sustainability in Supply Chain. This was a beginning of one of the largest demand side water conservation
programme in the world both in terms of its extent and coverage. The project is part of four agri supply
chains and spread across 38 districts in 10 states of India. The area interspersed in various agro climatic
zones across four commodities viz. Sugarcane, Soy, Cotton and Tea. The major river basins covered
under this project are Narmada, Godavari, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Tungabhadra, Krishna, Chambal, Tawa,
Brahmaputra, Amravati and Vaigai.
During its first six months, the project made good beginning in terms of setting up systems on ground,
developing partnerships with companies and NGOs and initiation of training on demand side water
management activities. The work has been initiated on three supply chains viz. Cotton, Sugarcane and
Soybean. Through various trainings water saving component were mainstreamed. This has led to a
significant achievement in some of key KPIs of water, number of farmers trained and number of groups
formed.
Climate change, water supply limits, and continued population growth have intensified the search for
measures to conserve water in irrigated agriculture. The current project aims to create large-scale water
saving mechanisms and promote sustainable agricultural practices that would benefit thousands of
farmers and workers of four agri-supply chains i.e. sugarcane, cotton, soy and tea.
Dr. Shatadru Chattopadhyay, Managing Trustee, SREC
41
Securing Water and
Livelihoods through
Community-Led
Watershed Development
in Semi-And, Drought
Prone-Region of
Maharashtra
Watershed Organization Trust
Region : Jalna district, Maharashtra
Project period : Jan 2014 to Dec 2019
Key partners : Watershed Organisation Trust (WOTR), Government of Maharashtra, Evangelischer
Entwicklungsdienst e. V. (EED Germany)
Coverage : 75 villages in three blocks (Bhokardan, Jafrabad and Ambad of Jalna district in
Maharashtra.
Key results
l 9852 Person days generated through 341 Ha of Area treatment activities
l 12 Agromet stations have installed in project area for weather based advisory to farmers.
The Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) collect data of the local weather
conditions. Information in terms of weather forecast, crop treatments,
nutrition and health is disseminated via charts and SMSs. These weather
based advisories are specific to the crop and farm conditions. The
information package includes practices and measures to facilitate
in-crease in productivity and cost reduction in farm management

This is an interesting project as it seeks to operationalise a public-private - civil - partnership (PPCP)
to leverage complementary strengths of these key sectors - investment funds from the government;
operational funds and technical support from the private sector; mobilizational, technological and
networking skills of NGOs; and ownership, implementation and governance resources of the local
communities (the NGOs and local communities together constitute the civil sector).
With the recently announced budget strongly underlying the need for such partnerships to drive Indias
growth, this collaboration between the Govt. of Maharashtra, HUF WOTR, the local administration and
local communities is timely indeed and will help develop and validate a model and pedagogy that can
facilitate up-scaling and out-scaling of such synergistic developmental collaborations in the country.
Crispino Lobo, Managing Trustee, Watershed Organization Trust
43
Views of
National
Advisory
Committee
Addressing the Water Spectrum at Scale
After Independence, watershed structures, it will be of little use till we

Indias main thrust in learn to manage the demand-side. What all does this
the water sector was entail? And how do we take this change to scale? I
on building large dams believe these are the questions that must engage the
across our many rivers. work of the Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF).
Following the 1970s,
One, we need to adopt a more multi-
the focus has shifted to
disciplinary approach to water. Water is not
drilling of groundwater
about engineering and construction alone. It
through tubewells, which
is not merely about building dams and ponds
was the bedrock of
or digging wells and drilling tubewells. We
Indias Green Revolution.
need a greater focus on the management of
Over the years, evidence water, wherein we value every drop that we
Dr. Mihir Shah accumulated from the have. Agronomists, hydro-geologists and social
Economist and Former Member,
Planning Commission , India grave problems of these mobilisers all have a key role to play. Only
approaches. Big dams with their inputs can we ensure that the water
caused displacement of millions of people, whose we harvest is put to sustainable and efficient
resettlement and rehabilitation was not satisfactorily use. Crop water budgeting, improved agrarian
done. The dams also caused enormous ecological practices and an understanding of aquifers, as
damage. As for tubewells, they were soon caught also the way peoples institutions can be built, are
in a vicious infinite regress, wherein the solution all key elements of good management of water.
to a problem began to aggravate the problem itself.
Two, management of water requires a
Water tables began to fall and serious water quality
participatory approach, where all stakeholders
issues such as uranium, arsenic and fluoride in our
come together to understand and manage the
drinking water started to appear. This happened,
common pool character of water. Many of our
especially because 70% of Indias land mass is
problems have arisen because the extraction and
underlain by hard rocks, which have a very low rate
use of water, whether in our irrigation commands
of natural recharge.
or groundwater, is done by individuals not
The nation took stock of these problems and recognizing that what they are using is a
initiated a major change in strategy focused more resource that belongs to many. The water in
on decentralized solutions such as watershed an aquifer can be drawn by many farmers and
development and participatory irrigation the extraction done by each one of them could
management. The challenge now is to ensure even adversely impact others using the same aquifer.
this strategy does not fall into fresh errors of its This is what has happened in many parts of
own. This requires that we truly learn from the India where water tables and quality have fallen
mistakes of the past and make the real paradigm precipitously. Similarly, in irrigation commands,
shift that the 12th Five Year Plan has enunciated. water has tended to be cornered by farmers in
the upper reaches depriving tail-enders almost
The single most important lesson we need to imbibe
any access. New strategies are required, that
is a shift from an exclusive focus on the supply side
have also been demonstrated successfully in
to a more holistic demand management approach.
some parts of India, which build on the common
We must recognise that however much water we
pool character of water and ensure sustainability
may harvest, whether through big dams or smaller
45
and equity in use of water. Thus, collective The sixth element of the innovative water
groundwater management, which has been spectrum would be a move towards agricultural
converted into a massive national programme practices such as a System of Crop
under the 12th Plan and irrigation management Intensification, which can make significant
transfer of irrigation commands must be savings of water.
part of the work HUF supports. Once farmers
Seven, a shift towards non-chemical agriculture,
understand the nature of the aquifer from which
especially non-pesticide managed agriculture,
they are extracting water, they realise that they
could help save huge amounts of water, apart
need to be judicious in its use and work out
from being much more cost-effective and
sustainable and equitable management regimes
resilient to ecological shocks.
for the same. Similarly, when farmers are given
charge of their part of the command, they agree My hope would be that all HUF supported projects
to pay a price for the irrigation service, which would contain as many of these seven elements as
is now better assured and use the fees they possible, all of which should be based on a watershed
collect to maintain and manage their part of the approach to and understanding of water. HUF should
command. act as a knowledge hub making best practices in
each part of the water spectrum available to all its
These strategies try to optimize the match
partners through the live demonstrations its projects
between cropping patterns and ecological
will become. This knowledge would also be available
conditions. The difficulty is that farmers also
to all other stakeholders, including governments and
need to be assured a good price for what they sell.
PRIs.
A lot of this depends on macro-economic policies
on pricing and procurement, where an urgent This is where we need to address the question of
shift is required towards less water-intensive scale. How do we convert the small work we support
crops. But large groups of farmers coming into something that can be replicated at scale
together can also try to solve this problem by without loss of quality?
collective marketing of their produce. This I propose two key elements of the scaling of impact
requires powerful institutions of small and strategy. One, partnership with government.
marginal farmers that can enable them to secure Each project supported by HUF should include an
a good price in the market. This is the third element of leverage. Today, the government spends
change required. over Rs. 200,000 crore every year on its flagship
These farmers would also benefit through programmes of social inclusion. Sadly, the utilisation
value-addition before sale. Thus, local agro- of this money leaves a lot to be desired. One way
processing before sale could be a fourth of improving the quality of this massive spending
element, incentivizing movement towards less by government is for civil society organisations to
water-intensive crops, assuring a remunerative partner government in improving implementation,
price for what is sold, even in the absence of especially by working as support organisations
government support. This means that social to Gram Panchayats (GPs), who are the main
entrepreneurship is also a key element of sound implementing agency in many of these programmes.
water management. This would also help strengthen GPs, thereby
strengthening grass-roots democracy in India.
Water saving also requires a shift in technologies
of agriculture. Drip and sprinkler irrigation The other key element of the upscaling strategy
is a fifth element of the change we need. is of capacity building that requires support to
Farmers must move away from flood irrigation be provided to those institutions, which have the
towards these economical technologies of water requisite capability and experience of doing capacity
application. building at scale. Such organisations should become
46
HUF partners. Each of them needs to be not only Thus, HUF would support projects that not only
trainers but implementers first so that what they harvest water, increasing its availability to farmers
teach can be demonstrated in living laboratories but also projects that help save water through
of learning they have helped develop over the new practices, technologies and institutions, as
years, where both their successes and their failures also an architecture of partnerships with GPs and
can become schools of learning for others. These government. HUF should also support partners
partners may have experience in all of the innovative who can build capacities of stakeholders in the
elements listed above or only some of them. HUF water sector so that the small work done by HUF
could think of devising a multi-location, multi- partners could make a massive impact at scale both
partner training module for water implementers through wider implementation as also the impact
across the country, where different modules are of this work on programmes and policies of the
taught by different capacity building partners, government, which could greatly benefit from this
across locations. We could think of a system of proof-of-concept that gains critical mass over time.
certification of such courses.
47
Water For Life, Livelihoods, Agriculture:
Private Sector Participation
Before we get into the held in public trust by the state for the community.
subject, a few introductory The last view has been stated by the Supreme Court in
remarks about water some cases but it is not clear whether the matter stands
may be in order. Water conclusively settled. We have to wait for a crucial
is many things in one: a landmark judgment. There are also ecological, equity
basic life-need and right; and social justice perspectives, and very clearly, there
an amenity; a cleaning is a womens perspective of growing importance.
agent; a social good (e.g.,
Thirdly, it is now common ground internationally that
for firefighting, hospital
the world faces an imminent water crisis; many think
use, use in schools and
that the crisis is already upon us; and it is also common
public institutions, etc); a
ground that the crisis is going to be complicated
requirement for economic
and exacerbated by the phenomenon of climate
Mr. Ramaswamy R. Iyer activity (agriculture,
change. Without questioning these propositions, one
Former Secretary, Water industry, commerce); a
Resources, Government of India might ask: what is the nature of this crisis? Broadly
means of transportation;
speaking, there are two answers to that question. The
a part of our social, political and cultural life; and a
Establishment or mainstream view is that the growth
sacred substance. It is also a part of the ecological
of population, the pace of urbanisation, the processes
system, sustaining and being sustained by it; and
of economic growth, and higher standards of living,
it plays a vital role on Planet earth. Even if we are
combine to generate an increasing demand for water
concerned with only one aspect of water in a given
which brings the finite availability of water under
context, it is necessary to keep in mind the larger and
mounting pressure. The other view, held by many
more complex whole of which it is a part.
thinkers and commentators outside the government
Secondly, the complexity and multi-dimensionality of (including myself), and also by some in government, is
water leads to multiple perspectives on water, which that while there is indeed pressure on a finite resource
need not be gone into here, except to note that different by growing demand, the crisis is to a considerable
perspectives could be valid for different purposes extent the result of gross mismanagement and
without necessarily contradicting one another. For wasteful use of water in all uses, and a pattern of
instance, water as a basic life-support need is a development that inexorably creates a competitive,
fundamental right under Indian law and a human right unsustainable demand for water; in other words,
in the UN system, and from this perspective, water is the crisis is largely one of our own creation. The two
not a commodity subject to market forces. At the same diagnoses will lead to two different responses: (i)
time, water as an input into economic or commercial augmenting the supply of water to meet the projected
activity is indeed an economic good, i.e., a commodity. demand, which has been the implicit policy for a
All that one can say is that water as life-need i.e., a century and a half, and (ii) restraining the runaway
fundamental right, takes priority over economic and growth of demand and managing the requirements
commercial uses/rights. There is also the engineering within the finite availability, which implies a reversal of
perspective of control and manipulation of nature, that implicit policy. The latter response represents my
which has increasingly come under question. There is own position.
further an important question whether water is private
Private corporate sector participation needs to be
property or state property or a common pool resource
considered against that broad background. Two kinds
48
of participation immediately come to mind, namely, We have so far been considering cases of negative
the privatisation of water supply (or water services), relationship between industry and agriculture. There
and private corporate entities undertaking investment are of course cases of positive relationship. Apart
in and execution of major water resource projects. from purchases of agricultural produce by industry,
These are strongly advocated by many thinkers and agriculture, particularly large-scale agriculture, gets
institutions, but considered unacceptable by many a wide range of inputs needed for production from
others including this writer. industry sources: chemical fertilisers and pesticides,
fodder for livestock, agricultural implements,
In the case of privately owned projects, the ground for
equipment such as threshers, tractors, harvesters, etc,
the objection is that the transfer of control over natural
tube-well and bore-well motors and pumps, and so on.
resources from the state and the community to private
Alas, even seeds may have to come from industry, as
hands seems wholly undesirable. There are indeed
under the prevailing legal dispensation our farmers
cases of the kind in other countries, and there is the
are losing control over their own seeds and have often
Maheshwar Project in this country, but the objection
to pay fees or royalties to foreign companies. The Green
stated above remains. This will not be discussed
Revolution, with its heavy stress on high-yielding
further here.
varieties of seeds, chemical fertilizers and pesticides,
The privatisation of water supply is slowly and has not only brought about a vulnerable dependence
unobtrusively making headway in several States in of farmers on industry, but has focused on a few
the country. That seems an unfortunate development HYV seeds to the detriment of large local, indigenous
for several reasons. First, under the 73rd and 74th varieties, and has led to a loss of bio-diversity. Now,
amendments to the Constitution and the related desperate efforts are being made by some individuals
schedules 11 and 12, local water management is a and NGOs to find as many of the lost seed varieties as
subject to be devolved to panchayati raj institutions possible and save them. Thus, what at first sight looked
or PRIs. Against that constitutionally mandated like a healthy relationship between agriculture and
democratic decentralization, the entrustment of the industry turns out on closer examination to be very
water supply function to a private entity or even a different. The kind of agriculture-industry relationship
public sector corporate body or parastatal seems quite that Green Revolution brought about was a
wrong. Secondly, as a fundamental right, the citizen is pathological one.
entitled to ask for the provision or assurance of water
In any case, the Green Revolution, which brought about
from his/her elected representatives. If it is privatised,
a dramatic surge in production in the short run but has
this fundamental right becomes a contractual right
also generated a whole range of long-term problems,
to be received on payment to the supplier. Thirdly,
has more or less run its course. It is often said that
it is difficult to privatise the supply without some
we need a second Green Revolution. If so, it will have
degree of transfer of control over a water source to
to be a very different kind of GR; and here is where
private hands. Fourthly, in so far as water for life is
the scope lies for a new, positive, healthy relationship
a fundamental right, the state has a responsibility
between the private sector industry and agriculture.
that cannot be shed. If the private supplier fails, the
The 1970s GR brought about a high-capital, water-
responsibility will shift back to the state.
demanding, high-energy, centralised, chemicals-
There are several instances in which private corporate intensive, soil-health-endangering, biodiversity-
entities, pursuing their own objective of profit, have reducing, inequitable, conflict-creating, unsustainable
depleted and/or irreparably damaged water for agriculture. If we need a new GR, it must be the
agriculture, drinking water, and water for modest opposite of the old GR in every respect. What we need
livelihoods in the surrounding area. These are cases of is a low-capital, low-tech, decentralised, sustainable
a wholly negative relationship between industry and agriculture. The movement initially known as LISA and
agriculture and rural livelihoods. later simply as Sustainable Agriculture or Alternative
49
agriculture started in the USA and spread further, What can HUL do in relation to water? This falls
and is particularly relevant for developing countries. under three heads: (a) reduction of water-use and of
A similar movement known as LEISA (Low External the generation/disposal of polluting effluents in the
Input Sustainable Agriculture) was of Dutch origin and production process; (b) reduction in the demand for
has some following in India. It is not necessarily the water related to the consumers use of its products,
same thing as Organic Agriculture but the two could and in the pollution potential of that use; and (c) going
come together. Kudumbam, Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) beyond its production and marketing, engaging with
runs a magazine on LEISA. The late K. R. Datye had civil society and NGOs in widespread local initiatives
been urging a transformation from centralised fossil- in augmenting the water available for use without
fuel-based energy-intensive development (which adverse impacts, conserving the water so garnered,
is unsustainable) to a decentralised, biomass-based and using it economically to the best advantage in a
livelihoods approach to development. He advocated sustainable and harmonious manner.
a low external input, sustainable regenerative
In so far as the production process is concerned, HUL
agriculture. LISA or LEISA or regenerative agriculture
is already trying to reduce the water requirement and
or organic agriculture: these are overlapping ideas that
minimise the generation of effluents (and also trying
have many elements in common. If there is to be a new
to obtain its requirements from sustainable sources).
GR, it will probably be on these lines.
However, as long-term goals, HUL could consider
However, this is not really a private-sector adopting zero effluent and zero net water budget.
participation question. Pesticides, whether produced Zero effluent is already the corporate goal of many of
by a public sector company or a private sector HULs constituent units, but it could be universalised.
company, will have the same effects on soil, produce As for water requirements for production, the efforts
and agricultural discharge. Similarly, dying units to bring these down probably do include multiple
and hide-processing units will be equally polluting, use of the same water, but I am suggesting that
whether publicly or privately owned. The question these be pushed further to the point that water once
here is one of a relationship between agriculture supplied and used is repeatedly treated and re-used
and industry, particularly in the context of the Green so that there is virtually no need to ask for a further
Revolution; and this in turn is part of the larger issue supply. This is what I mean by net zero water budget.
of the kind of development that we have chosen. If Undoubtedly this will be a very difficult aim to achieve,
we need a new kind of GR, we also need a new kind but I suggest its adoption as a long-term goal. Apart
of industrial development benign, non-polluting, from reducing HULs draft on the water resources
non-toxic. It is only under those conditions that we can of the country and minimising if not eliminating the
conceive of a healthy relationship between industry pollution of those resources, these two goals will also
and agriculture. make excellent economic sense from the point of view
of profitability.
Let me return from that larger question to the more
specific one of what HUF and HUL can do in relation to As for the water requirements relating to the use of
water and agriculture. This is a positive story indeed. HULs products by the purchasers, and the pollution
HUF is already doing so much under its Water for that such use contributes, HUL is no doubt already
Public Good project that it is very difficult to offer trying to reduce/minimise these, but I suggest that
any new ideas for their consideration. However, with going beyond efficiency, innovation is called for.
some hesitation I am putting forward a few points that The objectives of (i) making the products less water-
occurred to me as I reflected on what HUL as a leading demanding in use, and (ii) eliminating or at least
corporate entity and part of a global organization can minimising the pollution arising from that use, call
do in relation to water, a vital substance that is under for R&D. Perhaps HUL is already pursuing R&D in
growing pressure because of unsustainable demand, these matters, but an increase in and intensification
wasteful use and heavy pollution.
50
of R&D would be both highly desirable and eminently Local initiatives run the risk that the water so added to
worthwhile. the aquifer might be captured by someone else, say, a
rich farmer, through tube-wells or bore-wells. I dont
Turning to HUFs very commendable activities at the
know whether HUF has actually come across any such
local level in collaboration with several NGOs, there
case, but this is a danger to be guarded against.
are many further valuable contributions that HUF can
make. First, local initiatives in rainwater-harvesting HUF could undertake, wherever possible, a promotion
and other forms of augmentation of available water of SRI (System of Rice Intensification) which is said
for local use need to be governed by some minimal both to save water and to increase yield. This is already
knowledge of hydrology and possible impacts on making some headway, but it would be a good idea for
downstream areas. Both the choice of the right HUF to promote it.
locations for water-harvesting structures, and the
Going a bit beyond this, HUF could explore the
extent of harvesting that can be done without undue
possibility of promoting Low Input Sustainable
interference with the hydrological cycle and without
Agriculture and organic farming which would
harm to downstream areas, are decisions that must
eliminate the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
be informed by knowledge. HUF could strengthen
and the attendant pollution of soil and water sources,
the knowledge base on which such initiatives are
and of course the crops themselves.
undertaken. Local initiatives are very necessary, but
must be in harmony with the overall hydrology of the Where the local initiative is based on groundwater,
watershed/basin. some idea of the aquifer would be useful. Mapping
aquifers is a governmental activity, but HUF could
Secondly, the water so augmented needs to be
do some local delineation in collaboration with
conserved and economically used to the best
government agencies.
advantage. Here again some contribution not only from
traditional knowledge but also from modern science Similarly, in urban areas, HUF could collaborate with
might be useful. In the past, S&T was called upon to find government agencies in trying to revive defunct urban
ways of making more water available. In future, S&T water bodies, reduce distribution losses, design and
may have to play a different role, namely, to get the implement better water supply solutions for slum
most out of available water - to make a little water go a areas, etc. (Arghyams work on Mulbagal in Karnataka
long way. HUF can not only strengthen the knowledge is an example of a sustained initiative).
base here, but also perhaps look for innovative ways I hope HUF will find these suggestions relevant and
of getting more out of less, including funding research useful and consistent with what they are already
in this direction. I am not making definite suggestions doing. Through partnerships with various NGOs, HUF
in this regard, but merely indicating a possible line of is supporting local initiatives in water-harvesting
action. and conservation, the economical use of water,
Guidance may also be needed to ensure the avoidance better agricultural practices, and the generation or
of water-intensive cropping patterns. Further, enhancement of livelihoods. In these initiatives, it will
conflicts between upstream and downstream users be a good idea to explore possibilities of promoting
in a watershed need to be obviated. Rules governing the emergence of a new, alternative, sustainable
water-use have to be devised and voluntarily adopted agriculture. HUF could thus align itself with an
by the farmers. Here, Rajendra Singhs idea of a water emerging transformation.
parliament on the Arvari stream in Rajasthan (Arvari
Sansad) might be a useful example.
51
Ensuring impact from social investments
The recent CSR clause rarely recalled. As is the urge to give back to a society
in Indias new Company that enabled their individual success. Often these
Act has triggered a quiet successful entrepreneurs see themselves as great
debate on how companies problem solvers who now take responsibility to solve
should think about social big issues in their societies. Whatever the reason,
investments. This note most philanthropists chose a cause and focus on it.
shares emerging lessons Sometime this is linked to their business but often
on what it takes to ensure not. There is little link between the work of the Gates
such efforts lead to foundation and the business of Microsoft. Or the
sustainable impact. passion for education at the Wipro Foundation and the
IT company. Or even the various causes of Tata Trusts
Why invest in the and the Tata group companies.
Ireena Vittal
community?
However individual philanthropy is very different
Former partner The new CSR clause
with McKinsey from corporate CSR. Companies support communities
invites corporates
too. And the primary reason for this is often
to invest in society.
enlightened self-interest. In the past, this investment
However, giving is not new to India. Indeed, India has
took many forms. Textile mills in Bombay in the early
a rich history of philanthropists, often businessmen,
part of the last century built affordable housing for
investing in communities around them. Multiple Tata
their labor, the famous chawls that still dot the Parel
Trusts (the first of which was set up in 1919, almost a
area in the city. Mining and steel companies run
hundred years back) have quietly offered scholarships
townships in Rourkela and Jamshedpur to attract
to poor students, supported rural livelihood initiatives
and retain talent far away from large towns. And
and communities and offered grants for research
dairy players, in Punjab and Gujarat, invest in animal
into preventive health etc. In addition, they have a
(& human) hygiene and skills, to improve animal
rich legacy of institution building for India including
productivity and reduce
TISS, TIFR, IISC, NCPA and the Tata Memorial Cancer
sourcing risk.
Hospitals.
But is this just a legacy of the past? To the contrary.
But it is not just the modest Tatas. Other business
Going forward, companies are only going to increase
families such as Birla & Godrej, Mahindra & Bajaj,
their investment in society. Indeed, as awareness
have supported temples and schools, the girl child
about sustainability increases and the implicit trust
and women, culture & classical music. And it is
between citizens and business reduces, the social
wonderful to see the next generation of business
license of business has come under threat. As a result,
leaders stepping in now. Businessmen who have
CSR efforts of companies will move from a nice to do
created wealth from new areas such as Private
to perhaps a must do. While a certain share of the
Equity and IT are now supporting areas as varied as
CSR fund will still be kept aside for areas of passion/
governance, liberal education and water.
interest (of the CEO and his wife!) to enable them
Why do these business leaders invest in society? to participate in events in the local community &
Values is often a reason. Jamshetji Tata said, In a influencers, an increasingly large share of the funds
free enterprise, the community is not just another is likely to focus on areas of strategic relevance to
stakeholder in business, but is in fact the very the company. This could be place based i.e. investing
purpose of its existence. Legacy is another: John in the society/ geography around their factory or in
Harvard is still remembered, even if his first name is their core market. It could be along the value chain
52
they play in i.e. to replenish inputs they use in large (including crops grown and usage or not of bore
quantities such as water or energy or air. Or to create wells); pricing water appropriately (by and for
enablers: talent and skills, demand drivers and the local villages) and investing in right societal
consumption rituals. organization forms & technologies to measure &
reward right behaviors.
Clearly investing in communities is good for business.
The critical issue, unlike philanthropy, is to ensure a The implication of this thematic focus is on
business rationale/link between CSR efforts and self- focus and time commitment needed upfront
interest of the company. This gets more critical as the from the best minds in the company. From day
shelf life of CEOs reduces and only a sharp strategic one, it is critical that companies diagnose the right
link between the CSR effort and the business ensures solution space and commit to addressing all the
these investments survive a change of guard at the themes. As a result, they soon realize that their
CEO level. CSR effort is best targeted at 1-2 areas rather than
supporting 50-60 small grants. This focused effort
Making it work
then requires a different approach: tap (external
Starting a CSR effort is easy. Making it work requires domain) expertise, bring the same rigor as they
careful thought. Successful efforts have three would to entering a new market/investing in a
common characteristics. new factory and ensure that the best minds in the
1. Be thematic: Most societal issues are complex. top team commit some time to this upfront, rather
If they were easy to fix, the government or the than relegating it to the PR/CSR team of a few
society would have done so already. Take the good men.
example of creating livelihood in an area. Issues 2. Commit for long: Linked to this mindset is
that a company will need to address will include recognizing that efforts of this kind take years
the obvious ones: igniting aspirations in the to fix. Sometime decades. Even if the company
local community, building skills & capabilities choses to execute through external partners
(including soft skills), creating linkages with job (whether arms of the government or NGOs),
opportunities, ensuring successful on-boarding their investment commitment to these partners
etc. But at scale, it is also likely to include issues should be in sync with the time it takes to solve
such as creating new organization forms that the issue and not the annual accounting cycles
create local jobs, de-risking investors, creating of the company. By the way, this does not mean
new forms of risk-financing to kick-start new giving the delivery partners money upfront. But it
organisations and managing the political does mean having a clear set of mutually agreed
context of the change. Few business companies milestones (both input and output), measuring
understand these realities. And often, the best of them every year and then releasing the next
NGO partners they work with focus on specific tranche of investment once these milestones
issues and rarely look at the whole system. It have been met. In the absence of this matching
is therefore essential for a company to think of investment horizons, too many NGOs spend
through the system solution required to address a disproportionate amount of effort and time on
the issue they have chosen to focus on. In the case raising funds, rather than on driving impact
of Hindustan Unilever Foundation, for example, on the field.
a focus on water will include saving billions of
3. The implication of this is that companies need
litres of water in the short term. But overtime,
to set expectations for patience, have clear
this is likely to also include at-least four other
milestones and create a mechanism to measure
themes: improving and renewing the water table
achievements. The bar on impact is obviously
in their geography of focus, modifying water
higher when the focus of the CSR effort is the same
usage & consumption norms in these villages
53
area, year on year. Often working back from what forward to HUF & its water efforts setting standards
the 2 page report on CSR in the annual report is for such a tough but rewarding journey.
a great forcing device for companies to demand
Secondly, the water so augmented needs to be
higher impact from their delivery partners!
conserved and economically used to the best
4. Invest money plus: Finally, impact often requires advantage. Here again some contribution not only
more than money. NGO partners need capacity from traditional knowledge but also from modern
to help them scale up: IT systems, governance science might be useful. In the past, S&T was called
processes, project execution skills, specialist HR upon to find ways of making more water available.
skills. Government partners need rigor to help In future, S&T may have to play a different role,
trigger and sustain change: right processes to namely, to get the most out of available water - to
procure, alignment of multiple stakeholders, make a little water go a long way. HUF can not only
project management systems. Indeed, especially strengthen the knowledge base here, but also perhaps
in India, often the biggest gap is not of funds but look for innovative ways of getting more out of less,
of skills. And companies naturally have these including funding research in this direction. I am not
skills. In a great win-win, some of the CSR efforts making definite suggestions in this regard, but merely
could also be a great talent retention/training indicating a possible line of action.
opportunity where a certain number of high
Guidance may also be needed to ensure the avoidance
performing managers rotate into these efforts for
of water-intensive cropping patterns. Further,
1-2 years, transfer skills and then go back to their
conflicts between upstream and downstream users
regular jobs.
in a watershed need to be obviated. Rules governing
5. So it might be helpful for companies to not water-use have to be devised and voluntarily adopted
relegate CSR efforts to just the CSR team but treat by the farmers. Here, Rajendra Singhs idea of a water
it as a growth opportunity for their talent. In the parliament on the Arvari stream in Rajasthan (Arvari
process, their delivery partners will build more Sansad) might be a useful example.
solid organisations, the company will increase
Local initiatives run the risk that the water so added to
the probability of impact and their talent will
the aquifer might be captured by someone else, say, a
appreciate working for an organization with a
rich farmer, through tube-wells or bore-wells. I dont
bigger purpose.
know whether HUF has actually come across any such
Making a start case, but this is a danger to be guarded against.
Most companies in India are perhaps thinking of how HUF could undertake, wherever possible, a promotion
to craft a winning CSR strategy. Five things might of SRI (System of Rice Intensification) which is said
help them: one, commit to something core i.e. chose both to save water and to increase yield. This is already
an area of focus that is connected to their business to making some headway, but it would be a good idea for
funnel 80% of their CSR commitment; two, design HUF to promote it.
the solution space upfront i.e. diagnose what will
Going a bit beyond this, HUF could explore the
drive impact carefully looking at the system root-
possibility of promoting Low Input Sustainable
cause of these complex issues and not just the surface
Agriculture and organic farming which would
symptoms; three, commit to a long journey i.e.
eliminate the use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides
multiple years and four, bring capacity & innovation
and the attendant pollution of soil and water sources,
to the table, in addition to just money. Finally, given
and of course the crops themselves.
impact needs a marathon and not a sprint, baseline
the start, identify milestones along the journey and Where the local initiative is based on groundwater,
have a transparent measurement & assurance system some idea of the aquifer would be useful. Mapping
to reward, celebrate and recognize success. We look aquifers is a governmental activity, but HUF could
54
do some local delineation in collaboration with doing. Through partnerships with various NGOs, HUF
government agencies. is supporting local initiatives in water-harvesting
and conservation, the economical use of water,
Similarly, in urban areas, HUF could collaborate with
better agricultural practices, and the generation or
government agencies in trying to revive defunct urban
enhancement of livelihoods. In these initiatives, it will
water bodies, reduce distribution losses, design and
be a good idea to explore possibilities of promoting
implement better water supply solutions for slum
the emergence of a new, alternative, sustainable
areas, etc. (Arghyams work on Mulbagal in Karnataka
agriculture. HUF could thus align itself with an
is an example of a sustained initiative).
emerging transformation.
I hope HUF will find these suggestions relevant and
useful and consistent with what they are already
55
Independent
AssuranceData
Annexure # 3 Performance against the Key Collective Non-Financial based Triple Bottom Line Performance Indicators
3
Cumulative inclusive of the cur-

Key Non-Financial based Triple Bottom Line Performance
Sl. # Unit rent assessment period as defined
Indicators
in the Scope of Work *
1 Governance for Water
1.1 Institutions Set Up
(A) Village Level
Number of Village Institutions formed/in existence - Water
1.1.1 Number 294
institutions5
Number of Village Institutions formed/existing - Water allied
1.1.2 Number 833
and livelihood oriented institutions1
(B) Supra-Village Level
No. of Cluster/Block and District level Community institutions
1.1.3 Number 328
formed9
1.1.4 Business producer engagement mechanism Number 14
1.2 Knowledge Systems
Number of persons who have undergone exposure/ training
1.2.1 pertaining to - Improving agricultural practices and/or Water Number 35118
management skills
1.2.2 Number of experience sharing newsletters documented Number 14
1.2.3 No. of articles published in state/national forums Number 6
Number of persons engaged in water related issues with state
1.2.4 Number 500
government or participated in state forums
1.3 Social Equity
Number of persons having an influence for equitable distribu-
1.3.1 Number 102
tion of water
1.3.2 Number of Women members benefitted Number 44
1.3.3 Number of SC/ST members/families benefitted Number 1471
56
2 Quantity of Water4
2.1 Water Availability (cumulative and collective contribution )
2.1.1 Supply Side
Additional Water potential through the Project(s)2 - Due to
rejuvenation of water bodies and/or Due to new water har- Billion
2.1.1.1 59.85
vesting and/or Due to soil and water conservation measures8 Litres
(which has been subjected to rainfall)
Additional Water potential through the Project(s)2 - Due to
rejuvenation of water bodies and/or Due to new water har- Billion
2.1.1.2 1.3
vesting and/or Due to soil and water conservation measures Litres
(which are yet to be subjected to rainfall)
2.1.2 Demand Side
Billion
2.1.2.1 Water saved due to various interventions adopted6 38.34 to 40.75
Litres
3 Benefits to the Community4
3.1 Labour days Generated
3.1.1 Labour days generated due to the project works Number 496540
Labour days generated due to downstream livelihood and
3.1.2 Number 247917
other incidental activities
3.2 Additional Agriculture Production (annual)
Production achieved due to improved availability of water
3.2.1 and/or improved agricultural practices over the baseline of Tons 22696.63
the start of the project
3.3 Area stabilized
Area treated and stabilized due to improved availability of Thousand
3.3.1 16.46
water3 Hectares
Thousand
3.3.2 Area stabilised (treated to reduce the demand for water)10 39.5
Hectares
3.4 Number of beneficiaries
Number of farmers who have adopted better agricultural
3.4.1 Number 303
techniques11
Number of women/landless/SC/ST/farmers benefitted due to
3.4.2 Number 2055
project work
3.5 Social Returns on Investment & Perception Index
Number of projects which have been subjected to Social
3.5.1 Number 11
Returns on Investment assessment
Number of projects which have been subjected to Community
3.5.2 Numbers 13
Perception assessment
* This figure represents the sum of the all values that have been assured for the respective KPIs, against ISAE 3000 (Reasonable) & AA1000AS (Type 2, High)
or ISAE 3000 (Limited) & AA1000AS (Type 1, Moderate)
57
NB:
1. Comprising Community Managed Resource Centers, Executive Committees, Agricultural Committees, Micro Finance Groups, Federations,
Self Help Groups or Self Help Affinity Groups
2. Estimated on the basis of number of fillings and from rainfall data, wherever applicable
3. Comprising activities related to soil and water conservation work, land leveling and includes treatment of waste / fallow lands, inclusive of
existing cultivable land covered through irrigation and or Areas benefited by cultivation post treatment
4. The Foundation and its Implementing Partners are in the process of improving the framework to reduce the gap between the reported and
assured data
5. Comprising Pani Panchayats, habitation level institutions
6. The data does not account for any water-savings due to any pre-treatment work (Trash-Mulching, Trash Shredding or Composting) done
on the area under Drip & Furrow for Solidaridad Sugarcane Programme; the water-saving calculations are based on theoretical studies
extracted from articles/research papers submitted wrt. use of drip and furrow irrigation and not on the basis of any test, research or
experimental plots; .
7. As obtained from the Assurance Statement of the previous period furnished by Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu India Private Limited, dated 16th
September 2013
8. Data incorporates in it, siltation at the rate of 50% for last 2 years for the area treated for MITTRA Nashik
9. Referred to as Executive Committee and Community Managed Resource Centre in project implemented by MYRADA and referred to as
Sub basin Federations, Tank Cascade association, Watershed development associations and Vayalagams (Tank Associations ) in project
implemented by DHAN
10. Area covered under sugarcane cultivation
11. This figure represents the number of farmers showcasing behavioral changes, due to better agricultural practices, as a result of the
training and awareness building programmes.
Unilever House
B D Sawant Marg
Chakala, Andheri (E)
Mumbai-400 099. India
www.huf.net
About Hindustan Unilever Foundation

Future demand for water resources will increase significantly as populations, economies and
consumption rates grow. Estimates tell us that by 2030, the supply of water in India will be half
its demand. The impact of climate change on agriculture would further compound the linkages
between food, energy and livelihoods in the country. To understand and partake in meeting this
challenge, we have set up the Hindustan Unilever Foundation (HUF) in 2010.
It is a not-for-profit company that anchors various community development initiatives of

Hindustan Unilever Limited. HUF supports national priorities for socio-economic development,
through its Water for Public Good programme. Each of our projects also complies with the
requirements of the Companies Bill 2013.

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HINDUSTAN UNILEVER FOUNDATION PROGRESS REPORT 2014

ABOUT HINDUSTAN UNILEVER FOUNDATION ................................................................. 2

MESSAGE FROM THE DIRECTOR ............................................................................................. 4

CEOs MESSAGE ............................................................................................................................. 5

OPERATIONAL FRAMEWORK AT HUF ................................................................................... 6

PRINCIPLES AND KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS ..................................................... 8

PROJECT SUMMARY OVERVIEW ........................................................................................... 10

VIEWS OF NATIONAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE ................................................................42

INDEPENDENT ASSURANCE DATA ....................................................................................... 54

2. Collective water conservation means water conserved as a result of collective action.

By 2020, the impacts of our collective actions are expected to generate:

3. Charting Our Water Future, 2030 Water Resources Group

1. Achieve universal access to safe drinking water, sanitation and hygiene

I would request readers to share their feedback to HindustanUnilever.Foundation@unilever.com . I am sure that

Use of MGNREGS for natural resource management Multiple partners

This will evolve as we gather more experience

4. Methodology after the SROI network guide Please refer http://www.hul.co.in/Images/Hindustan-Unilever-Foundation-Collaborations-for-a-shared-future_

Community based groups: Water conservation structures:

Amsarpada Check Dam

Views of our partner:

Demonstration of Maize marker

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Check dam overflowing-Vansda Village Silvassa

Views of our partner:

Ramesh Rawal, Executive Vice President, BAIF Development Research Foundation

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Shri V.B. Dyasa, Chief Programme Coordinator, MITTRA, Nasik

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Jagdeesh Rao, Executive Director , FES

Drip Irrigation after cane plantation Olam Hemarus, Maharashtra

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Village Exposure and Training for better Governance

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

Views of our partner:

After Independence, watershed structures, it will be of little use till we

Cumulative inclusive of the cur-

About Hindustan Unilever Foundation

It is a not-for-profit company that anchors various community development initiatives of

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