HYSEA launches the 2nd phase of its ‘Go Green’ Initiative at Manikonda

~APIIC donated another Rs. 2.5 lakhs for the initiative, in addition to the Rs. 2.5 lakhs donated last week~

P. Venugopal, Director, STPI, addressing the gathering during the launch of the
2nd phase of the Go Green Initiative from HYSEA

Hyderabad|India|August'2009: Hyderabad Software Exporters Association (HYSEA) organizes the second phase of its extensive Tree Plantation drive today at Manikonda. The drive is an effort by the HYSEA CSR Forum to reaffirm the commitment of the IT Fraternity to help stop global warming by reducing greenhouse gases and improve human health by improving air quality. More than 460 saplings have been planted so far, covering a stretch of almost four kilometres in the city.

P. Venugopal, Director, STPI, Hyderabad and P. Raghuveer, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, were the Chief Guests for the occasion. Also present on the occasion were Narsimha Rao, President HYSEA, Sanjeev Jain, Head of HYSEA CSR Forum, Kedarnath Udiyavar, VP & Center Head, Polaris and Brig. Harikumar, Executive Director, HYSEA. Further appreciating the drive, Durga Prasad, Zonal Manager, APIIC donated an additional Rs. 2.5 lakhs to the initiative. This is in addition to the Rs. 2.5 lakhs donated by Pardhasaradhi Rao, Advisor in the role of Chief Engineer, APIIC, when HYSEA had successfully organized the first round of plantation drive last week on 22nd August near Hitec City .

Mr. P. Venugopal, Director, STPI, Hyderabad, commended the effort of the association in taking up this important environmental issue. He expressed serious concerns over the increasing exposure to environmental hazards that can have an adverse impact on the health and development in life. He emphasized that the main cause of the current environmental crisis is human nature and only human can help themselves to make a major impact on their carbon footprint. The need of the hour is to increase the awareness of the responsibility towards the environment. He also requested the IT fraternity to maintain eco-system of their campuses.

Speaking on the occasion Mr. Narsimha Rao, President, HYSEA said, “ India is a developing economy and it cannot afford to ignore broader impact of development on its Environment. Human activities inflict harsh and often irreversible damage on the environment and resources. Deforestation and changes in biosphere growth have contributed to the atmospheric destruction and global warming, and their net effect is high in magnitude. It is indeed possible to have robust growth and at the same time use energy efficient and environmental friendly technologies. It is important that adverse environmental threats are addressed in their own right and a drive like this can be considered as the step towards combating those threats.”

Mr. P. Raghuveer, IFS, Chief Conservator of Forests, Andhra Pradesh, appreciated the effort of the association in the tree plantation drive and assured continued support from the Forest Department for such plantation drives. He said, “It is equally important for us to think about global warming, as we think about the global meltdown. Ignoring global warming will be at our own peril.”

Sanjeev Jain, HYSEA CSR Forum Lead, thanked all the member companies, employees, active volunteers and appreciated sponsorship from the member companies, namely, Progress Software, SumTotalSystems, Invensys Development Centre, Polaris, TCS, Infosys and GE. He also thanked Greenpeace for their partnership in helping with supply of tree saplings.

Hyderabad Software Exporters Association (HYSEA) is a registered apex body with more than 300 members representing software industry in AP under the Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act. HYSEA aims to place Andhra Pradesh as the leading intellectual capital of the world, by nurturing entrepreneurship, research and innovation, to achieve global excellence in IT products and services. HYSEA also works for the growth of IT industry via participations in overseas and domestic promotional drives and close liaison with visiting delegations overseas. HYSEA can be reached at www.hysea.in