Hinduja Global Solutions has tied up with Jaldhaara Foundation to provide access to safe and clean drinking water to underserved communities in Bengaluru. Through this tie-up, HGS will set up three WaterHealth centers in the city by August 2017, with the first being inaugurated at Hosur Road, Bengaluru.
India, with a population of over one billion citizens, continues to grow rapidly with nearly 76 million people across the country still surviving in unhygienic living conditions, and without access to safe and clean drinking water. Specific to Bengaluru, a report submitted to the World Bank by Karnataka Slum Clearance Board said that the city accounts for 862 slums out of 2,000 slums in Karnataka. Over 60% of these slums lack water supply lines and are served by intermittent Bengaluru Water Supply and Sanitation Board (BWSSB) tankers and community piped water supply.
The HGS-sponsored WaterHealth centers are being set up by Jaldhaara along with technical partner WaterHealth India (WHIN). Leveraging WHIN’s award-winning water purification and disinfection technology, the centers are expected to provide safe drinking water to approximately 90,000 – 100,000 people within a radius of 5-10 kms. Each WaterHealth center can produce 1,000 liters of water per hour and about 8,000 liters in a day. The production of water can be optimized depending on the needs of the community. The resultant reduction of water-borne diseases can help decrease women drudgery, improve children’s health and reduce absenteeism at school and work.
Speaking on the development, Smita Gaikwad, Sr. Vice President – Corporate Communication & CSR, HGS said, “As a socially responsible corporate, HGS believes in enabling significant impact in the communities we serve – through initiatives in education, healthcare and skill development. The setting up of three WaterHealth centers in Bengaluru is part of the same agenda. We believe that access to clean water will help pave the path for a healthier society and their economic development.”
“This tie-up is an opportunity for Jaldhaara Foundation (JF) to celebrate and reaffirm our commitment to working together with various corporates and development partners. It will ensure safe, clean and affordable drinking water to marginalized communities and create a healthy future while also improving sanitation and hygiene,” said Madhu Krishnamoorthy, Head, Jaldhaara Foundation.
