Indian diaspora givers becoming a powerful force in global philanthropy

An emotional link to their roots means causes in the homeland are a principal target for their philanthropic funding. “Certainly they have been giving to charities that are close to home, whether in education or health, or something they were connected with emotionally,” says Rohini Nilekani, a prominent India based donor and champion for philanthropy in the country.

Cauvery row shows why India needs a low-water economy

All over the country, every day, there are a million conflicts around water, right from the jostling over the local tap to the sharing of big rivers. Once in a while, one spills from the courts into the streets and, amplified by media, flows across the troubled conscience of the nation. The Cauvery dispute is only one of these conflicts, though more severe than most.

Water shortage increasing due to climate change, says Chief Secy Shatrughan Singh – Uttarakhand

Rohini Nilekani and Uttarakhand Chief Secretary Shatrughan Singh at a workshop on ‘Reviving springs in Uttarakhand’ organised by the Peoples Science Institute in Dehradun on Wednesday.
“Drinking water shortage will become grave in Uttarakhand especially in the rural mountain areas due to climate change,” said Shatrughan Singh, while speaking at a workshop on “Reviving Springs in Uttarakhand” organised by People’s Science Institute, Dehradun, with the financial support of Arghyam, Bengaluru, here today.

Revitalise our aquifers: India can be water secure, but for that we need to act urgently

This parched country will be blessed with rain soon. It is the final but worst stretch of the hot, dry summer. A good time to commit that, post monsoon, we will never forget one of the most widespread droughts in recent memory. Three years running, many states have declared drought conditions. A normal monsoon may come soon. But what about the following years? Climate scientists warn us of severe variability. India may be water stressed as early as 2025.

Azim Premji tops India philanthropy listing: Hurun

Premji contributed about 80% of the total donations made by 36 Indian philanthropists who together gave away nearly Rs.35,000 crore. Wipro Ltd chairman Azim Hashim Premji, unsurprisingly, was ranked the most generous Indian for the third year in a row on the Hurun India Philanthropy List 2015 released on Friday.
Infosys Ltd’s co-founder Nandan Nilekani and his wife Rohini Nilekani donated Rs.2,404 crore, primarily towards the causes of urban governance, public policy and education, making them the second most generous.