Aims to conserve soil and water resources within watershed project area

28 August 2024, India – Tata Steel Foundation and Standard Chartered Bank have announced a new collaboration to implement the Integrated Watershed and Climate Proofing Project in the Noamundi Block of West Singhbhum district in Jharkhand. This initiative aims to conserve soil and water resources and enhance the socio-economic status of communities within the watershed project area, covering 1500 households from 15 villages.

This programme aligns with Standard Chartered Bank’s sustainability interventions which include an ambitious WASHE programme that tackles water scarcity and sanitation issues across 11 Indian states. Focusing on aspirational districts, Standard Chartered Bank aims to make 32 districts drought-free and has reached over 1.5 million beneficiaries, with a strong focus on empowering women.

This watershed management programme in Jharkhand is poised to have a positive impact on water management, soil conservation, and community engagement in the region. These intensive efforts aim to bring significant changes to the landscape and address the Sustainable Development Goal of clean water and sanitation. Key initiatives include educating the community on water harvesting and conservation, leading to the widespread adoption of water-saving practices. Soil conservation techniques such as farm bunds, farm ponds, trench-cum-bunds (TCB), and contour trenches have been effectively employed to reduce soil erosion and enhance water retention, providing a crucial resource for agricultural activities during dry periods. These interventions aim to restore ecological balance in a drought-prone agrarian population, which has struggled with poor health and sustenance.

Over next three years, the programme will include the treatment of 1500 hectares with various soil and moisture conservation techniques, the creation of 19.43 million cubic feet of water storage, and the engagement of 1500 farming families in agricultural activities to increase their annual income by INR 1 Lakh. Additionally, 656 acres of land will be converted into irrigated land, and farming families will receive weather-based advisory services and engage in climate-resilient agriculture. The project will also involve forming seven Village Watershed Committees to plan and execute watershed activities, aiming to increase groundwater levels by 2 to 3 meters.

Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation, said, “We believe in co-creating lasting solutions through deliberations that lead us to combat challenges in effective ways with communities. As water conservation has been the central theme for activities related to sustainability, agriculture, and ecological balance, we have embarked on a journey that will create optimum groundwater recharge potential in the coming years. We are thankful to Standard Chartered Bank for reposing faith in us and collaborating in the implementation of this change model that will enable lasting environmental sustainability alongside enhanced livelihoods for our communities.”

Karuna Bhatia, Head – Sustainability, Standard Chartered Bank and Global Business Services, India, said, “This collaboration with Tata Steel Foundation on the Noamundi Integrated Watershed and Climate Proofing Project is a powerful example of how partnerships can drive transformative change. By combining Standard Chartered Bank’s commitment to impactful WASHE initiatives with Tata Steel Foundation’s deep understanding of the local context, we will not only improve water security and agricultural productivity but also empower communities to build a more resilient future. This project perfectly aligns with the Bank’s commitment to sustainable development and building a more equitable world.”

Ends

About Tata Steel Foundation: In order to recognise the shifts that will govern the next decade in the development space and to take forward our ambition of emerging as a thought leader of this space, the Tata Steel Foundation – a section 8 Company – was established in 2016. With over 1,500 members spread over ten units and six states of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Punjab, the Foundation is a community development implementing organisation focused upon co-creating solutions with tribal and excluded communities in order to address their development challenges. In FY24, the Foundation reached 4.77 million lives through its consolidated programme portfolio effectively positioned under Impact Pathways on Public Health, Education, Livelihoods, Gender and Community Enterprise, Infrastructure and Tribal Identity, at a commitment of over 607 crores. It is committed towards playing a larger role in India’s sustainable development as roadmap to achieving its vision to create ‘an enlightened and equitable society.

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About Standard Chartered Bank: Standard Chartered Bank has been operating in India with a continuous presence of over 165 years making it one of the oldest foreign banks in the country. The Bank has a network of 100 branches across 43 cities. Key business segments include Corporate and Investment Banking and Wealth and Retail Banking. For more information, visit https://www.sc.com/in/.

Globally, Standard Chartered Bank is a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serving clients in a further 64. Standard Chartered Bank’s purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through its unique diversity, and heritage and values are expressed in its brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at www.sc.com.

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For further information please contact: 

Tata Steel Foundation

R Shuvra
Sr. Manager, Communications
Tata Steel Foundation
Email: r.shuvra@tatasteelfoundation.org

Standard Chartered Bank

Rahul Virkar
Head, External Communications, India
Standard Chartered Bank
Email: rahul.virkar@sc.com