Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrated by IICA

During a major Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) event, top firms in the country display their ESG and CSR policies. Thousands of industry leaders witness the transformative growth of Environment-Social-Governance (ESG) and Corporate-Social-Responsibility (CSR), during the event. Around 30 leading businesses also displayed their practices in the areas of sustainability, along with ESG, as well as CSR.

Dr. Ravi Raj Atrey as well as Dr. Garima Dadhich hosted the event at the IMT Manesar campus of IICA, a Ministry of Corporate Affairs think tank. The same is well hosted by Dr. Lata Suresh, a media coordinator.

Among other things, IICA, a Ministry of Corporate Affairs think tank, works to enhance India’s ESG-CSR ecosystem. Its School of Business Environment (SoBE) is helping firms. To become more responsible in their relationships with society, the economy, as well as the environment.

Chief Guest Shri Rao Inderjit Singh speaks at the event

Shri Rao Inderjit Singh the Union Minister of State for Corporate Affairs has attended the event as its Chief Guest. He shares his opinion while participating electronically, that the Ministry’s efforts to promote Good Corporate Governance are boosting the ease of doing business in India. The government prioritizes the promotion of “minimum government and maximum governance,” public trust, and ease of doing business. The government has cancelled around 25000 compliances and approximately 1500 union statutes.

The Amrit Kaal will focus on the following stages of Ease of Doing Business and Ease of Living. This is due to the government’s pursuit of ‘trust-based governance’ in order to boost capital and human resource production efficiency. He stresses that Sustainable Development is now recognized as a Basic Human Right. The Supreme Court of India has asked to view sustainable development as an intrinsic aspect of existence under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution.

As a result, adherence to the concept of sustainable development has become a constitutional requirement. He emphasized that everyone holds a tremendous degree of responsibility as an individual. Individual mindsets must transform before massive revolutions may occur.

IICA CEO delivers welcoming address

The welcoming address was delivered by Shri Praveen Kumar, Director General and CEO of IICA.

Shri Praveen Kumar said “It is a well-accepted fact that every nation has economy as its backbone. The corporate sector predominantly drives this backbone. They have played a significant part in India’s extraordinary economic narrative. They must also continue to make great contributions to guarantee that the economy grows. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) fosters a climate in which companies may contribute to national development productively. The IICA is the country’s sole organization that has to strengthen business affairs.”

30 ESG-SDG-CSR exhibitors demonstrated their best practices in action.MCA Secretary Sh Rajesh Verma officially launched the show. Around 30 businesses participated and exhibited their Best Practices.

Ms Nandita Mishra and other panellists also expressed their opinions during the technical sessions.

Corporate Affairs Secretary releases a new book

According to Shri Rajesh Verma, Secretary, of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, “the Ministry is making a significant contribution.” He further states that the Ministry is introducing a mandate for CSR in the Companies Act. As well as the National Voluntary Guidelines on Business’s Social, Environmental, and Economic Responsibilities. Shri Rajesh Verma adds that his Ministry also releases a revised version of the National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct (NGRBC). The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) requires Business Responsibility and Sustainability (BRSR) reporting for India’s top 1000 publicly traded companies based on market capitalisation. The Ministry of Corporate Affairs’ Report on Business Responsibility Reporting (BRR) and National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct aided the development of BRSR.

The Corporate Affairs Secretary has released a compilation of the case studies. WHich is on identifying practices on sustainable development projects by the firms through their ESG and CSR activities. The compilation is called “Benchmarking ESG & CSR.” Dr. Garima Dadhich, Head of the School of Business Environment, as well as Dr. Ravi Raj Atrey edited the book.

The Technical Session 1 of the Corporate Governance Panel has been presided over by Shri Inderdeep Singh Dhariwal, Joint Secretary MCA. He discusses the role of youth in the revolutionary transformation in corporate governance. Shri Manoj Pandey, Joint Secretary, stresses Women’s Financial Literacy while chairing the 2nd Technical Session.

IICA hosts “Corporate Governance: Evolving Vision For New India” essay contest

IICA also hosts an essay contest, with the Secretary of Corporate Affairs awarding three prizes. The competition had “Corporate Governance: Evolving Vision For New India” as its topic. During the first event, the Essay competition winners are announced. Students and young professionals under the age of 30 who could write in either Hindi or English are eligible to enter the contest.

In terms of entries, the Essay Competition receives a fantastic response. Mr Sartaj Singh secured the 3rd Prize, and Ms Nandini Agarwal secured the 2nd Prize. The 1st prize is bestowed to Mr Samyak Sanghvi from Ahmedabad. All the three winners receive a monetary reward and a certificate.

Ms Anita Shah Akella leads a technical session on Impactful CSR towards Strengthening ESG

Ms Anita Shah Akella, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, led the technical session on Impactful CSR towards Strengthening ESG. She stated that businesses are playing an important role in contributing to society’s well-being through their CSR initiatives. They are now experiencing a transitional strategy in their operations from CSR to ESG. Every attempt must include a women-centric, gender-sensitive approach, especially when considering CSR and ESG concerns.

Women’s rights are a highlight in the organizational governance components of ESG. Among the other prominent panellists are the most distinguished.

Dr. Inderjeet Singh, Mr. Shrabjeet Sahota, Dr. Suranjali Tondon, Dr. Garima Dadhich, Ms Naina Lal Kidwai, Ms Namita Vikas, and Ms Neetu Ahuja. According to the panel, such IICA initiatives promote people. Those doing good work and encouraging others to follow are destined to achieve a paradigm shift in ESG and CSR.

The forthcoming Certified ESG Professional Course from IICA will also be a watershed point in the country’s ESG sector.

Emphasizes the need for women’s empowerment 

Another technical session focuses on financial inclusion and literacy among women. Dr. Naveen Sirohi emphasizes the need for female empowerment and financial awareness. Sushmita Phukon, Seema Singh, and Namita Vikas spoke, as did Shri Manoj Pandey, Joint Secretary, MCA. Mr Arjan De Wagt, Deputy Representative of Unicef India, Smt Nandita Mishra, Economic Adviser MCA, Mr Agrim Kaushal, Adviser DPE, and Shri Vishram Kumar Meena, Additional Dy Commissioner Gurugram also present.

The event is ‘Promoting Impactful CSR and Good Governance’ organises in response to the Amrit Kaal recommendations. The event happens in collaboration with NITI Aayog, the Department of Public Enterprises, and Unicef India.

Dr. Garima Dadhich conducted the program, with help from Dr. Lata Suresh, Head of KRC, Ms Sudha Rajagopalan, and Dr. Ravi Raj Atrey. Shri Praveen Kumar, DG & CEO of IICA, presided over the event.

Dr. Garima Dadhich and Dr. Ravi Raj Atrey, Faculty of School of Business Environment at IICA, are also the organisers of this event. While giving their interview describes the book releases. Further added, “our sincere contributions today will witness a great revolutionary change tomorrow and will have far-reaching effects the following day.”

Indeed, the Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav celebrated by IICA is a new beginning. Towards making our corporates in sync with the ESG and CSR at IICA. And so, the beginning of the new India has started.