Tag: Sustainability

National

Right to Menstrual Health Is a Fundamental Right Under Article 21: Supreme Court

Tanisha Cardozo

In a historic judgment on January 31, 2026, the Supreme Court of India declared that menstrual health and hygiene are integral to the right to life and dignity under Article 21 of the Constitution, issuing a series of comprehensive directions aimed at ensuring dignity, health, gender equality and educational access for adolescent girls. The ruling acknowledged that inaccessibility to menstrual hygiene management measures, such as sanitary products and proper sanitation, undermines the dignity and participation of girls in education and daily life.

A bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan emphasised that access to menstrual hygiene facilities is essential for dignified living and cannot be treated as a welfare benefit alone. The court noted that barriers to menstrual health disproportionately affect girls’ education, leading to absenteeism, stigmatization and unequal opportunities.

Under the directions, all states and Union Territories are required to ensure that every school — government, government-aided and privately managed — is equipped with functional gender-segregated toilets with usable water supply, hand-washing stations with soap, and privacy and accessibility that also cater to the needs of children with disabilities.

The bench further ordered the free provision of oxo-biodegradable sanitary napkins compliant with applicable standards to girl students. These pads should be made readily accessible, preferably within toilet premises through sanitary napkin vending machines, or, where vending machines are not feasible, at a designated point or with a responsible authority in the school.

In addition, schools must establish Menstrual Hygiene Management (MHM) corners, stocked with spare uniforms, innerwear, disposable pads, sanitary waste disposal systems compliant with environmental rules, and emergency supplies. The Court also directed the establishment of safe, hygienic mechanisms for sanitary waste disposal in line with Solid Waste Management rules.

The Court emphasised the need for periodic inspections of school infrastructure and facilities, including toilets, availability of menstrual products, and proper sanitation maintenance. It also called for gender-responsive education and awareness programmes, suggesting inclusion of information on menstruation, puberty and related health topics, to break taboos and stigma.

The judgment stemmed from a Public Interest Litigation filed in 2024 by social activist Jaya Thakur, seeking nationwide implementation of the government’s Menstrual Hygiene Policy for school-going girls and highlighting gaps in access to sanitary products and sanitation facilities.

The Supreme Court made it clear that non-compliance with its directions — including failure by private schools to provide mandated facilities — may lead to deregistration of institutions, and that state governments and authorities will be held accountable for implementation lapses.

Legal experts and educationists have described the verdict as a major step toward gender justice, public health, and educational equality, with the potential to reduce school dropouts among adolescent girls and promote healthier, stigma-free environments across educational institutions nationwide.

Social

Nandakumar E. Parab Conferred Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Governance

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Written by Intern Rency Gomes || Team Allycaral 

Heartiest congratulations to Nandakumar E. Parab, IFS, on being conferred the Chief Minister’s Award for Excellence and Innovation in Governance and Public Service Delivery, in recognition of his outstanding leadership and commitment to public service.


During his tenure as Managing Director and General Manager of the Goa Forest Development Corporation, as well as Deputy Conservator of Forests, Parab spearheaded impactful reforms that strengthened eco-tourism initiatives, ensured financial transparency, and addressed long-pending audits. His efforts laid the foundation for sustainability-driven growth within the forest sector.

Under his leadership, several landmark initiatives took shape, including the Goa Cashew Fest—now recognised as a State Festival—and major eco-tourism projects across Dudhsagar, Bondla, Netravali, Salaulim, Canacona Nagar Van, and other regions. These initiatives successfully integrated conservation goals with community participation and responsible development.

The award recognises a dedicated officer whose vision and administrative acumen have left a lasting imprint on Goa’s forests, governance framework, and sustainable future.

Finance

HDFC Bank Releases First Standalone CSR Report, Spends ₹1,068 Crore in FY25

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

HDFC Bank, India’s largest private sector bank, has released its first-ever standalone annual Corporate Social Responsibility Report, marking a significant milestone in its decade-long journey of social impact through its umbrella initiative, Parivartan. The report highlights the Bank’s sustained commitment to inclusive and sustainable development across the country.

In FY 2024–25, HDFC Bank spent ₹1,068.03 crore on CSR initiatives, reflecting an increase of nearly ₹123 crore over the previous year. As of March 31, 2025, the Bank’s cumulative CSR investment stands at ₹6,176 crore. Over the past ten years, Parivartan has touched 10.56 crore lives across 28 states and eight Union Territories, with projects implemented in 102 of the 112 Aspirational Districts identified by the Government of India. The Bank has also extended its rural development initiatives to 298 border villages.

The CSR Report outlines HDFC Bank’s work across six core focus areas that address critical social and environmental needs. Its flagship Holistic Rural Development Programme follows an integrated, cluster-based approach to improve infrastructure, education, natural resource management, health and sanitation, positively impacting over 14.92 lakh households. In education, the Bank has strengthened access and quality through scholarships, digital learning and infrastructure, disbursing over 29,000 scholarships, setting up more than 2,600 SMART schools and establishing 930 community libraries.

Through skill training and livelihood enhancement programmes, HDFC Bank has enabled 7.2 lakh individuals, including youth and women, to secure sustainable livelihoods. Its healthcare and hygiene initiatives have expanded access to preventive care, maternal and child health services and hygiene awareness, benefiting over three lakh individuals through mobile clinics, cancer care support and maternal health initiatives. Financial literacy and inclusion efforts have empowered individuals with banking awareness and digital safety, with the Bank’s Vigil Aunty campaign on fraud awareness reaching over 21 lakh followers online.

The newest focus area under Parivartan, natural resource management, promotes sustainability through water conservation, afforestation, solar energy solutions and biodiversity conservation. To date, the Bank has created 14,520 water conservation structures and installed more than 69,000 solar lights, supporting long-term environmental stewardship.

Aligned with 10 of the 17 United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, HDFC Bank’s CSR initiatives reflect an integrated approach to development that balances economic progress with social equity and environmental responsibility. Commenting on the milestone, Kaizad Bharucha, Deputy Managing Director, HDFC Bank, said that Parivartan represents the Bank’s sustained effort to work alongside communities in unlocking their potential, guided by a philosophy of inclusive, locally relevant and future-focused development.

Events in Goa

Panjim Transforms into a Living Canvas for the 10th Serendipity Arts Festival

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

The Serendipity Arts Festival, India’s premier multi-disciplinary arts festival, returns to Panjim, Goa for its landmark 10th edition from December 12-21, 2025. This year, the festival transforms the city into a living canvas with immersive exhibitions, dynamic performances, interactive workshops, and public art installations across multiple iconic venues.

At Miramar Beach, the festival unveiled Terra Grove, the latest installation by renowned architect Vinu Daniel. This architectural marvel reimagines public spaces, making them inviting, responsive, and sustainable within Goa’s tropical landscape. Crafted from terracotta Guna tiles, the pavilion provides cooling shade while blending seamlessly with the beachfront, creating a space for both humans and animals. Terra Grove, sometimes called the Kulhad Pavilion, repurposes discarded mud cups, turning waste into a thoughtful, functional work of art. The project builds on Thukral and Tagra’s 2024 initiative, Multiplay, and is supported by Milton and Panjim Smart Cities, emphasizing sustainability and innovative design.

Milton, as the Festival’s sustainability partner, highlighted how installations like Terra Grove align with their commitment to reducing single-use waste and encouraging reusable solutions. Meanwhile, Imagine Panaji Smart City Development Limited emphasized the festival’s contribution to Panjim’s evolution as a citizen-friendly, culturally vibrant smart city. The festival’s presence over a decade has enriched the city’s social and cultural fabric, connecting contemporary art with Panjim’s historic identity.

Public art takes center stage this year, bringing creativity into everyday spaces and heritage venues across the city. Diptej Vernekar’s Beasts of Reincarnation: Mythical Beings in the City reinvents Goa’s living traditions of effigy-making, while venues such as Art Park, Azad Maidan, and the Old GMC Complex host workshops, performances, and interactive exhibitions. From Multiplay 02: Soft Systems by Thukral & Tagra to craft-focused showcases like Home is Where the Heart Is and Infinite Drape, the festival demonstrates how art in public spaces can spark dialogue, curiosity, and shared ownership.

The festival’s programming extends across multiple nodes of Panjim, including the Directorate of Accounts, PWD Complex, Captain of Ports Jetty (Old Goa), Santa Monica Jetty, and SAG Ground, forming a vibrant cultural circuit that blends installations, performances, culinary projects, and craft exhibitions with the city’s architecture and natural landscape. By integrating formal and everyday spaces, the festival creates an open gallery that welcomes residents, travelers, families, and students to experience art as part of daily life.

Celebrating its 10th edition, the Serendipity Arts Festival continues to champion the belief that art belongs to everyone. From architectural innovation and immersive performances to craft-led exhibitions and hands-on workshops, the festival encourages participation, sparks curiosity, and fosters a sense of community. Visitors can explore the transformative power of art across Panjim’s streets, heritage spaces, and waterfronts, making this edition a truly unforgettable celebration of creativity, culture, and sustainability.

Automobiles

India Goes Electric: Maruti Suzuki Unveils One India, One EV Charging Platform

Tanisha Cardozo

Written by Tanisha Cardozo || Team Allycaral

Maruti Suzuki has officially entered the electric mobility landscape with a comprehensive, nationwide EV ecosystem designed to make charging seamless, accessible, and reliable for customers across India. With the launch of the One India, One EV Charging platform, the company introduces an end-to-end digital solution that integrates home charging, public charging, and a unified payment experience. As part of this transformation, Maruti Suzuki has collaborated with 13 leading Charge Point Operators and aggregators to create a consolidated national network, ensuring a frictionless user experience across all partner-operated charging stations. The company has already established more than 2,000 exclusive Maruti Suzuki charging points across its extensive sales and service network spread over 1,100 cities, making EV ownership more convenient than ever before.

Aligned with Suzuki’s global sustainability vision, Maruti Suzuki aims to enable a nationwide network of over 1,00,000 public charging points by 2030 in partnership with its dealers and CPOs. To demonstrate the strength and readiness of this ecosystem, four e VITARA Born EVs embarked on a unique pan-India ‘e drive,’ starting from Gurugram and travelling to Srinagar in the North, Kanyakumari in the South, Dibrugarh in the East, and Bhuj in the West. This symbolic journey reflects the brand’s commitment to building consumer confidence through real-world proof of charging accessibility and range reliability. The e VITARA itself has undergone rigorous testing over more than one crore kilometres in conditions ranging from scorching 60°C heat to freezing –30°C cold, consistently delivering a range of 543 kilometres.

Maruti Suzuki’s nationwide showroom network and over 1,500 service workshops have been upgraded to be EV-ready, supported by a trained workforce of 1.5 lakh professionals equipped to deliver top-notch EV ownership experiences. The company has also launched the ‘e for me’ app, enabling customers and prospective buyers to locate charging stations across the national network with ease. By bringing together advanced product development, widespread charging access, and digital integration, Maruti Suzuki is poised to redefine EV ownership in India and strengthen the country’s journey toward a sustainable mobility future.