India & UK To Work Hand in Hand For Social Empowerment - Seema Malhotra

By 121 News Reporter

Chandigarh 12^th February:---- “UK is more than keen to share the best practices and successful social projects implemented in UK with positive social outcomes with our Indian counterparts. We need to explore opportunities for promoting social innovation and create a common platform for businesses, professionals, social entrepreneurs and passionate individuals from the two countries to collaborate and share their learnings and implement here”, shared by Mrs Seema Malhotra, MP, Chair of Parliamentary Labour Party, Business Interest Group, UK, while addressing the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Symposium – Making Businesses more Responsive : 2% & Beyond, organized by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Chandigarh Council here today. A compendium of CSR Case Studies by CII member companies in the Chandigarh Region was also released at the Symposium.

Appreciating the induction on CSR Clause in the Companies Act, 2013, She added, that in UK, a lot of corporates who spent on CSR benefitted financially and saw their market shares rise tremendously. Alike India, in United Kingdom as well, social instability is a big concern and to contest it, responsible corporate governance, strong government leadership & societal support is the need of the hour. The entire globe is experiencing economic slowdown, which has led to rising gap between rich and poor and in order to address this gap, the corporate houses need to restructure their CSR models.

Rajesh Jogpal, Director-Social Welfare, Chandigarh Administration emphasised, to achieve social equilibrium in the society, it is highly imperative that Industry comes forward and collaborates with the Government in the key areas of health, education, skills upgradation, HIV / Aids, employment opportunities to Persons with Disabilities (PwD) and participates actively in various social welfare schemes and urban development measures as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Further explaining variant facets of CSR, he said that with the changing times, streams of CSR have also changed and industry should now specifically combat societal issues like Poverty and Hunger, Inclusive Education – General and Vocational, Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women, Combating Female Foeticide, Maternal and Child Health – Nutrition, Disability, Combat juvenile crimes, Creation of Safe Spaces, Skill development and placement opportunities.

While sharing his view Man Mohan Singh, Chairman, CII Chandigarh Council & CEO, Aroma Group said that we are living at a time when the social context of business is being redefined. Growing civil rights and consumer movements have strengthened this demand for equitable development and a fair sharing of resources and benefits. In its own enlightened self-interest, it is essential that business play a proactive and supportive role in the communities to which they belong. The Companies Act, 2013 has introduced the idea of CSR to the forefront by making it mandatory to spend 2% of the 3 years’ average profits towards social spending, and through its disclose-or-explain mandate, it is promoting greater transparency and disclosure. Schedule VII of the Act, which lists out the CSR activities, suggests communities to be the focal point.  The corporate sector treats it as an investment to organizational development.

 Pikender Pal Singh, Regional Director, CII NR, shared that CII has been in the forefront in sensitising industry on CSR and creating necessary enablers for promoting CSR for more than a decade. We believe and will constantly strive towards inclusive and sustainable economic growth. CSR is about how companies manage the business processes to produce a positive impact on society. In Northern Region, CII is involved in many CSR initiatives like HIV/ AIDS intervention projects for migrants in Mandi Gobindgarh and has set up HIV / AIDS Toll free help lines in collaboration with State AIDS Control Society in Punjab and Haryana. Ability placement fairs for differently abled candidates are also organised to promote their employment in CIOI members with participation of NGOs. CII will continue to play its role in driving the promotion of CSR in the Indian business environment towards making CSR a core part of their business strategy.