Skill building has emerged as a major CSR activity under Companies Act, 2013 for industry to offset the adverse impact on workforce caused by COVID-19
Corporate Social Responsibility
With most of CSR funding going to PM CARES Fund, a majority of NGOs face budget cuts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Rohini Nilekani’s book ‘Uncommon Ground’ seeks to find middle ground between industry and civil society leaders.
Enlarging the scope of CSR, revised National Voluntary Guidelines on Social, Environmental & Economic Responsibilities of Business (2009) cover not only social, but also environmental and economic responsibilities of businesses and emphasise on promotion of inclusive growth.
Top corporate leaders Ajay Shriram, Arun Bharat Ram, Harsh Pati Singhania, Onkar S Kanwar and YC Deveshwar are all for shouldering corporate social responsibility (CSR), but without the government bringing in legislation to make CSR spend mandatory.
Anu Aga, Sminu Jindal, Sushma Berlia and Amrita Patel, who are known for their CSR thought leadership, speak on the government and civil society face-off on the draft of the Lokpal Bill and related issues and the role business leaders need to play in the current situation.
While corporate India’s performance on sustainability indicators may be debatable, its quantitative reporting is not. Global Reporting Initiative’s chief executive Ernst Ligteringen talks about the relevance of sustainability reporting in the global marketplace.
Wildlife conservation is more of a mission than hobby for industry captains like Naina Lal Kidwai, Hemendra Kothari, S Ramadorai, Dilip Khatau and Meera Sanyal. Caring about nature is second nature to them.
Mobile telephony and network operator Uninor’s CSR project was the only Indian initiative chosen by the GSMA mWomen programme for showcasing at its launch event in Washington. The listed speakers included US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and Cherie Blair.
Whether it’s steelmaker ArcelorMittal, biscuit major Parle Products or global bank HSBC, big businesses across sectors are increasingly partnering with millions of schoolchildren on green corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives and strengthening their brands.