CSR Show 2015: Gurgaon to become the CSR Hub of India

Hundreds of corporate firms, PSUs, social organizations and NGOs congregated at the CSR Show 2015, the biggest event of its kind being organized in Epicenter, Gurgaon. The two-day event aimed to showcase 'the best of sustainable and social practices adopted' by the industry and the welfare organizations alike, with Reliance Foundation, Max Foundation, Jindal Steel & Power limited, DLF Foundation, ONGC, MMTC, Hero Motocorp, Maruti Suzuki, Samsung, FICCI, GMR, Tata, JSW Foundation and Indian Oil among the participants.Mrs. Rajashree Birla, Chairperson, The Aditya Birla Centre for Community Initiatives and Rural Development was the chief guest present on the occasion. Mrs. Shallu Jindal, Director, Jindal Steel & Power Ltd, Mr. Jitendra Kalra, COO, Reliance Foundation,Lt. General Rajender Singh, CEO, DLF Foundation , Mr. Deepak Arora, CEO, Essar Foundation, Ms Neelima Khetan, Director, CSR & Sustainability, Coca-Cola, Mr. Sumantra Sen, JSW Foundation and Mrs. Mohini Daljeet Singh, CEO, Max Foundation  were amongst the other dignitaries present at the show.

The exhibition-cum-seminar opened on Tuesday, and was thematically built around the idea of 'building sustainable business through CSR. The event was organized by the Live Week in association with DLF Foundation as their event partner. The show hosted a number of speakers from the corporate world. The seminar started with an exhibition on some of the prominent and effective corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives conducted by those participating, along with a series of panel discussions on the side about CSR, sustainability and Swachh Bharat.

The first round of plenary discussion was on “PSU, Corporations, Governments and Development Sector’s role in Inclusive Growth with focus on Swachh Bharat.” Speaking on the occasion Lt General Rajender Singh, CEO, DLF Foundation said “We need to introspect that are we going the right way which will benefit our country, our society and humanity at large.

The latest company act and mandatory 2% expenditure on CSR has been a landmark as far as the social initiatives are concerned. Unemployment is the biggest problem that our country is facing today, our country is the youngest in the world with an average age of 28. Government has rightly laid down the priorities and our first priority as of now is to skill our youth and get them jobs, second is health, then education and after that comes our community development initiatives and Swachh Bharat. I believe that our responsibility as a Corporates is to act as a catalyst and boost the efforts of Government. Corporates have a great role in creating employment, lets create a kind of environment where people are skilled have jobs, let us educate them and make them the future leaders of the country. DLF Foundation has been extensively working on Skill Development, we aim to create a network of large no of skill developmental centres and train under-privileged youth and help them get jobs. Our target is to skill a million youths in the next decade. ”

The second day of the show witnessed discussion on the Swachh Bharat Mission and sanitation practices. The Corporates and NGO’s shared views and lessons on companies and PSU’s ambitious National Sanitation Mission, state of affairs in CSR post the companies Act, and Integrating Human Rights into Business Practice.

Ms Mugdha, one of the organizers, Live Week said “CSR show is an assembly of the strongest and most socially responsible organizations and NGOs. We aim to bring the best CSR practices together in a common platform for the welfare of the society. 

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This Week: Corporate Social Responsibility News Aug 12-19

The following releases focus on Corporate Social Responsibility and moved during the week of August 12, 2015 – August 19, 2015.

TACOMA, Wash. -- Give an Hour Receives $1.6 Million from United Health Foundation to Support Mental Health Care for Military Service Members Source: United Health Foundation

HOUSTON -- NAPE Partners Donate $100,000 to IPAA Educational Foundation Source: NAPE

APOPKA, Fla. -- Sam’s Club Set to Open in Apopka Thursday Source: Sam’s Club

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- Axalta Coating Systems and Ducks Unlimited paint a bright future for wetlands Source: Axalta Coating Systems and Ducks Unlimited, Inc.

NEW YORK -- American Express Announces Grant to the Student Conservation Association to Help Preserve More Than 200,000 Acres of Parkland as Part of the Find Your Park Movement Source: American Express

BOULDER, Colo. -- Aurora Organic Dairy Publishes 2015 Corporate Citizenship Report, Progress Made toward Baseline Year Goals Source: Aurora Organic Dairy

DENVER & MONTREAL -- Molson Coors Releases ‘Our Beer Print’ Corporate Responsibility Report Source: Molson Coors Brewing Company

CHICAGO -- 100,000 Opportunities Initiative Launches in Chicago with More than 4,000 Participants and 600 Immediate Job Offers to Young People Source: Schultz Family Foundation

AUSTIN, Minn. -- Hormel Foods Awards First International Winner for Its Environmental Sustainability Best of the Best Award Source: Hormel Foods Corporation

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Business Model: Corporate Social Responsibility

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the best business model for success in the mixed economies like India. The role of corporate is not only to earn profit but also to serve the society through its self regulated –corporate social responsibility. It has been part of business over many decades.

The contribution through the CSR could bring many changes in the society, and could prove bliss for the poor people. The high rise buildings, highly skilled staff, and corporate cultures too think about the society, it is not that they have been only earning profit.

There are many multi-national companies run major CSR programs and have been successful too in their bid for the improvement in the society and addressing social evil.

No the article is not aimed to praise the corporate but to encourage their active participation in CSR. For a better society, there is need of better business model and success stories.

These are possible if the companies would be social accountable towards the development of the society. Many do follow the CSR as the best business model, why not, if you want to do business in a society and the company or business not a part of the society itself.

The social, cultural activities from a corporate would have positive impact on its human resources, that those are associated with the policies would consider their significance and role in the development.

The CSR is not only applicable for the external affairs in terms of development, but this will help to have a conducing and strong work environment inside too.

Here are the some of the major companies started the CRS:

Renault

Renault has long been aware of its own social responsibility to its employees, its customers and the planet, and has actively taken this responsibility for many years. The creation of the Corporate Social Responsibility Department (DRSE) in May 2009 represents the continuation of this policy.

Indian Oil

At Indian Oil, corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been the cornerstone of success right from inception in the year 1964. The Corporation’s objectives in this key performance area are enshrined in its Mission statement: "…to help enrich the quality of life of the community and preserve ecological balance and heritage through a strong environment conscience.

Cognizant

At Cognizant, we know that we cannot prepare any business — our clients’ or our own — for the future of work without also considering the future of our society and our planet. It is our responsibility to apply our collective knowledge, talent and energies to the challenges we all face in our workplace, our communities and our environment.

MphasiS

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at MphasiS strives to build bridges between: the company and the communities we live in; our employees and social issues and our skills and society's needs

Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited

BPCL mentioned “We are a Model Corporate Entity with Social Responsibility. Build a Powerful Partnership with Society for ‘Sustainable Development’”

Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts

The Leela Palaces, Hotels and Resorts is committed towards prevention of pollution and continual improvement in environmental performance by controlling the impact of activities, products and services on the Environment.

There are many companies, corporate and industries having best CSR policies in practice for the development of the society. And they have been contributing much more in form of taxes also. CSR has been the best business model to follow.

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