Mumbai, September 5^th, 2023.

The Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods Initiatives (CInI), an Associate organisation of Tata Trusts, is among one of seventeen outstanding organisations delivering innovative climate solutions that have reached the finals of the prestigious 2023 Ashden Awards, supported by the UK Department for Energy Security and Net Zero.

240 organisations applied for the 2023 Ashden Awards, and CInI is one of just two finalists in the category of ‘Powering Agriculture-Tackling hunger and poverty in the Global South’ category, after a rigorous assessment and judging process involving on-the-ground visits and input from sector experts.

Collectives for Integrated Livelihoods Initiatives (CInI), Jamshedpur, established on May 17, 2007, is a nodal agency of Tata Trusts, anchoring the Central India Initiative. This initiative is the outcome of a quest to find a comprehensive response to issues of development in the central Indian tribal belt, through building knowledge and scaling up programmes in the areas of agricultural productivity stabilization, forest-based livelihoods, water resource development, renewable energy, drinking water and sanitation, microfinance and strengthening community-based organisations.

In the past few years, CInI has successfully designed and implemented the audacious Lakhpati Kisan programme, within which it has been able to integrate decentralized renewable energy focused technologies through the Production Hub approach. This has enabled small and marginal farmers to move towards the ‘Lakhpati pathway’ in a systematic manner.

Speaking about the nomination, Mr Ganesh Neelam, Executive Director, CInI and Zonal Manager, Tata Trusts, said, “The Ashden Awards hold worldwide prestige, and CInI is honoured to be among the two finalists in the theme of Powering Livelihoods. CInI’s approach of integrating ‘Decentralized Renewable Energy’ within the agriculture-and-allied-livelihoods value chain through the Production Hub model is its most recent programme innovation and has been well received by nearly 20,000small and marginal farmers across four states of Central India. This integration of focus areas enables us to centreon ensuring economic security as well as addressing climate-based challenges in the tribal hinterlands. We sincerely thank thejury for appreciating our efforts and hope to be able to continue to make sustainable and irreversible changes in the lives of the communities we serve”.

Ashden, a UK charity, has been spotlighting transformative climate solutions for more than 20 years through their prestigious Ashden Awards scheme.

Dr Stephen Hall, Head of Awards at Ashden, said: “Our finalists are boundary-pushing pioneers cutting emissions and restoring nature. Crucially, they show how green jobs and community projects can drive a just transition and more equal society.”

The finalists for all Awards will be judged by international specialists on each award category. The winners will be announced in London in-person/online on 14 November 2023. Winners will receive financial and strategic support.