WestBridge Capital and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies in research centre tie-up

October 1, 2019
Article

Share

Private equity firm WestBridge Capital and Rohini Nilekani Philanthropies have jointly committed Rs 5.5 crore to set up two new centres at the Bengaluru-based research institution, Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology and the Environment (ATREE).

The two will engage with policy leaders on issues such as climate change and look at using the research grant to offer sustainable business opportunities for local communities.

The Centre for Policy Design and Centre for Social and Environmental Innovation — to be set up at ATREE’s campus — will focus on research and formulation of sustainable and scalable policies to address socio-environmental problems. They are expected to tackle critical problems such as invasive species, climate management, and food systems.

“We need to do more research and also create an environment where the research leads to better policy making,” Rohini Nilekani, who is also a board member of ATREE, said. ATREE is among India’s few environmental organisations that do research over long periods to understand the impact of shifts in environment, which is valuable when faced with climate change, she said. Sandeep Singhal, MD of WestBridge Capital, said the growing conversation about climate change triggered the grant to promote environment related issues.

“The situation is like everyone’s house is on fire,” Singhal said. “(Influencing) policies take time, it requires investment”. ATREE, besides providing policy inputs to tackle environmental degradation, is also looking to provide sustainable income for local communities living near forests. It also has set up programmes to commercially exploit invading species such as Lantana in Biligiriranga hills in Karnataka.

“With biodiversity, water and climate change being our focus areas, we intend to look at issues from an interdisciplinary standpoint and to put the research to use to address real world problems. In fact, the Westbridge and Rohini’s initiative to fund the project has triggered interest among other funders too, with whom we are seeing potential participation in future,” Nitin Pandit, director of ATREE, said.

You may also want to read

July 14, 2025
Interview

The New Indian Express | A ‘tail’ of the wild: Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani on her debut documentary

Philanthropist Rohini Nilekani dives into the very essence of her award-winning debut documentary Nilgiris – A Shared Wilderness, which is set to release on July 18, and its alarming reminder[...]

July 9, 2025
Article

The Indian Express | Rohini Nilekani Writes: Why Heat Action Plans must factor in access to ‘smart’ fabrics

Natural fibres have served India well – but climate extremes demand innovation in what we wear, especially for those who can’t escape the sun. The monsoon arrived early this year,[...]

June 5, 2025
Article

Hindustan Times | Rohini Nilekani writes: India’s biodiversity is a strategic advantage

Biodiversity markets are deepening, with a growing demand for high-quality carbon credits with biodiversity safeguards As India’s geopolitical future sways with the swings of the global political pendulum, it is[...]