CII’s social summit begins in Pune today

Rajiv Tikoo

Business with responsibility seems to be the flavour of the season. Soon after a session on the subject at the India Economic Summit in the capital, the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) is holding its fourth social summit beginning today till December 12, 2001, in Pune.

The theme this year is ‘Convergence on Social Issues: Promoting Responsible Corporate Citizenship’. Says S Sen, deputy director-general of CII: “This year’s summit will particularly focus on women’s empowerment and rural development in addition to our usual thrust areas like health, population and literacy.”

The summit will strive to bring the government, non-governmental organisations and corporates together on a common platform not only to sensitise them on the issue of community responsibility, but also to identify avenues for enhancing industry’s participation in development projects through partnership with other players, adds Mr Sen.

Noting that India has achieved considerable success in some areas of social and economic development, the summit background paper points out that, in spite of these achievements, a large proportion of the population still lives in poverty with limited access to income, resources, nutrition, education, or healthcare.

Stating that it cannot be improved merely through administrative decentralisation or increased investment, the paper adds that it requires people’s participation. And there is an urgent need for industry to play its role towards social development.

Says Mr Sen: “Though the awareness about corporate social responsibility is increasing, there is a long way to go. We want all our members, numbering 4,200, to do something or the other for the community. Till now 150 members are involved in one way or the other in such initiatives. We are also urging our members to implement out social code for business. In fact, 100 companies have already implemented it.”

In this backdrop, the objectives of the conference include creating an enabling environment aimed at promoting more equitable access to income, health and education; exploring ways and means to strengthen policies and programmes that will improve, ensure and broaden the participation of women in all spheres of life, and improving access to resources needed to secure their fundamental rights. More importantly, the conference will aim at an action plan for industry.

Considering the list of eminent participants, this should not be difficult. The speakers include industry captains like Madhur Bajaj, vice-chairman of Bajaj Auto; Jamshed J Irani, director of Tata Sons Limited; Rajashree Birla, director of Aditya Birla group; B K Jhawar, chairman of Usha Beltron Limited; A Ramakrishna, president (operations) and joint managing director of Larsen & Toubro Limited; Rati Forbes, managing director of Forbes Marshall Ltd, and Nachiket Mor, executive director of ICICI Bank Ltd.

Politicians like Digvijay Singh, chief minister of Madhya Pradesh; Narendra Modi, chief minister of Gujarat, and M Venkaiah Naidu, minister of rural development, are also expected to attend.

Dr Brenda McSweeney, UNDP resident, and Dileep Ranjekar, chief executive of the Azim Premji Foundation, complete the list of prominent participants.