Harpic Mission Paani hosts India’s largest Waterthon on

 Harpic Mission Paani hosts India’s largest Waterthon on Republic Day

 Leading policymakers, celebrities and corporates celebrated w ater heroes

• The 8-hour long Waterthon addressed the criticality of water for hygiene

 As India celebrated its 72^nd Republic Day, Harpic Mission Paani hosted its first Waterthon celebrating the country’s water heroes. The 8-Hour long Waterthon brought together leading policy makers, celebrities from all walks of life, the Armed Forces and corporates to address the criticality of water for hygiene and conservation.

India’s largest Waterthon witnessed a series of thought-provoking sessions deliberating on efficient solutions and the need to prioritize efforts towards water conservation. Mission Paani has partnered with WWF-India and Swarovski Waterschool to mobilise their Waterschool curriculum for encouraging early water conservation habits in children. 

 

 Laxman Narasimhan, Global CEO, Reckitt Benckiser Group commented, “Hosting India’s largest Waterthon on Republic Day is highly symbolic and a matter of pride for us at RB. People from all walks of life have come together today on the Harpic Mission Paani platform, united towards a common goal of saving water. This day has celebrated India’s water heroes who have selflessly led and addressed the criticality of water for hygiene. We are hopeful that Harpic with its key initiatives will successfully drive behavior change towards water conservation and hygiene with Mission Paani.”

 Speaking on building purpose-led brands, Harold van den Broek, President, RB Hygiene said “At RB, we are pioneers of Health, Hygiene and Nutrition and we deliver our purpose- to protect heal and nurture in the relentless pursuit of a cleaner and healthier world. Our brands like Harpic, Finish and Lysol have been at the forefront of driving behaviour change. We are committed to building brands with purpose with a clearly defined fight that is linked to key societal issues in line with UN’s defined Sustainability Development Goals.”

 

Actor and Mission Paani Ambassador, Akshay Kumar said, “Water is a wealth we have to conserve. The demand for water will rise by 40 percent in the next 9 years, which is something we will not be able to fulfill. Add to that, there are chances of a water crisis taking place in 28% of the country for which we all will be responsible. At the rate that humanity is going, in next 100 years, we will finish all the water available. Water can be sold at the rate of gold, it can even be costlier. We might even see a war on it. There might come a time where there won't be rivers, lakes. We will struggle to even find a drop. It is the need of the hour for us to take a pledge to save water so that we can live a life of a better tomorrow.”

At the event Narasimhan Eswar, Senior Vice President, South Asia, RB Hygiene, said, “Saving water is now more important than ever before. The pandemic has taught us that high levels of sanitation and hygiene are essential for all sections of society. Harpic Mission Paani is a defining people’s movement, aimed at creating a more direct impact on water, hygiene and sanitation. Our aim with Harpic Mission Paani’s ‘Swachhta aur Paani’ campaign is to increase awareness and encourage citizens on the urgency for efficient usage and conservation of water as well as hygienic sanitation.”

Sukhleen Aneja, CMO & Marketing Director, RB Hygiene, South Asia said, “Children hold the key to our future and are hence the best evangelists for Mission Paani. With Harpic's Mission Paani we wish to bring about a lasting behaviour change. Last year, we released the Water anthem co-created with legendary AR Rahman and rendered by an all-children's choir urging India on the need for using water responsibly. This year Mission Paani has partnered with WWF and Swarovski School of Water to launch and has mobilised the water  curriculum focused on teaching children the importance of water conservation from an early stage.”

Pernod Ricard India Foundation and WWF India announce partnership to secure the future of wild elephants in Assam

Pernod Ricard India Foundation and WWF India announce partnership
to secure the future of wild elephants in Assam

The recently published Living Planet Report 2020 outlines the unprecedented biodiversity loss the world has witnessed over the last 46 years, with a 68% decline in the population of wildlife. The Asian elephant, being a keystone species, plays an integral role in forest and grassland ecosystems and humanity’s relationship with nature. However, dwindling forest cover, loss of habitat and shrinking movement spaces have paved the way for increased conflict with humans with heavy damage on both ends.

Pernod Ricard India Foundation and WWF India aim to conserve the Asian elephant through effective human-elephant conflict management in Assam. The project will work across 150 villages in Kamrup, Sonitpur, Biswanath, and Nagaon districts and train community members on effective situation management by developing a toolkit and forming anti-depredation squads, which would help them protect their property, crops, and lives.

The project will build on WWF India’s experience on human-elephant conflict management in Assam, developed over the last two decades. These measures include the use of anti-depredation squads, innovative and low-cost fences, and diverse awareness raising measures. Some of these measures undertaken with the active participation of local communities and the Assam Forest Department have demonstrated the potential to ensure the safety and well-being of local communities and the endangered Asian elephant.

Talking about the program, Thibault Cuny, MD and CEO, Pernod Ricard India, said, “Creating a positive impact on the environment and the community that we are a part of, is a responsibility we take very seriously and we measure our growth, not only through the economic value we generate but also through the value and gains, that we create for our society and environment. Pernod Ricard’s Global Sustainability and Responsibility Roadmap 2030 outlines a clear path for us to protect and nurture our terroir; by focusing on biodiversity preservation. We are happy to partner with WWF India in this program which will help create long-term convivial relationship between humans and elephants to drive a larger restorative co-existence.”

With creation of a ‘Safe Ele-Fence’ manual, communities will also be equipped with training, supplies, and institutional support for the construction of low-cost elephant-safe solar-powered fences. The program will also include training of Forest Department staff, in partnership with the State Forest Department of Assam to ensure long-term sustainability of conservation efforts on ground.

Speaking about the partnership, Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Director, Wildlife and Habitats, WWF India, said, "We welcome Pernod Ricard India Foundation's support to conserve elephants and reduce conflict in four districts of Assam. The Asian elephant is the largest terrestrial species in India and requires vast stretches of forest and open land. This partnership will help secure the populations of Asian elephants in Assam by working closely with local communities and the Forest and Railway departments of the state."

With COVID-19 highlighting the clear link between biodiversity loss and large-scale pandemics, it has become imperative for government, businesses and non-profits to act swiftly before it’s too late. Over the past years, Pernod Ricard India Foundation has engaged more than 30,000 farmers to promote community-level biodiversity conservation with regenerative natural resource management and this strategic partnership is another step to deliver on its commitments to protect nature.