Roundglass Foundation

Roundglass Foundation

Roundglass Foundation

To build a thriving rural Punjab with wellbeing of human capital, economy and ecology

Sahibzada Ajit Singh Nagar, Punjab, India

India

Nonprofit

Punjab, ‘the food bowl of India’, contributes 51% of wheat and 21% of rice produce in India thus ensuring the food security of the nation. However, this state is at a tipping point due to unsustainable agriculture practices and socio-economic crisis that includes: • Depleting groundwater: The unregulated and excessive utilization of water resources over the years have created a “Water Emergency” like situation, some sources indicating that Punjab’s usable groundwater may be completely exhausted in the next 14 years. • Soil degradation: High cropping intensity coupled with excess use of fertilizer and agro chemicals has degraded the soil leading to environmental and health issues in rural areas. • Crop residue Burning and Pollution: About 10 million tons of paddy residue is burnt in the open field every winter, causing severe air pollution, leading to respiratory diseases, and excessive carbon emissions • Loss of Green Cover and biodiversity: tree cover has reduced to 3.67 % resulting in loss of biodiversity • Waste Mismanagement: 50% of solid waste remains untreated, leading to uncontrolled dumping and open burning. In 2024, the National Green Tribunal, India imposed a ₹1,000 crore penalty on Punjab Govt for violations of Environmental laws, highlighting the severity of the crisis.

The ecological threats that Punjab is facing makes it imperative to take quick actions to avoid an impending crisis. These threats not only raise concern on the food and health security of India but also impact it globally given Punjab’s significant contribution in agri-exports. This environmental crisis has evolved into a socio-economic issue of youth unemployment, mass migration, drug epidemic —threatening an entire generation. Our holistic solution addresses each of these problems through separate programs led by experts and implemented by the community itself. Our main activities include: • Environment and Sustainability The Billion Tree Project- aimed at planting 1 billion indigenous species across Punjab through mini-forests Waste Management- aimed at making Punjab litter-free Regenerative Agriculture- aims to Conserve natural resources, Improve the quality of farm produce, and farmers income Our holistic approach of addressing the localized issues of one geography together have a very powerful impact on environmental action. Each program promotes climate resilience, restoration of nature and efficient use resources, waste reduction by lowering carbon and methane emissions. Additionally, our solution is highly sustainable by mitigating climate changes risk, Biodiversity Conservation, water table enhancement, Pollution Reduction, ensuring a culture of sustainability.

Roundglass Foundation, founded in 2018, has worked over the years to customise their solutions to the indigenous needs of people of Punjab, India to demonstrate workable and implementable outcomes. We today have presence in 2,500 villages impacting more than 2.5 million lives. We have demonstrated that our solutions are • reducing climate risk and vulnerability • have a positive impact on the quality of peoples' lives • resilient to potential social, economic, technological, and environmental challenges • Ensure good governance and fair practices • future plan on achieving higher impacts Our programs are designed and implemented in collaboration and partnership with various grassroots stakeholders including the village council, district and state government, community, youth clubs and women. Our beneficiaries include farmers, women, children, youth and men. We drive behavioral change in the community by actively engaging and educating them. By Creating local employment opportunities for women and marginalized communities, we promote inclusion and prosperity for the under-served. We aim at reducing substance abuse, migration, unemployment among the youth of Punjab. We aim to increase women participation that today stands extremely low at 17.3%.