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IOD Special Talk - Empowering Change CSR for a Sustainable Future
I stand here as part of the family IOD. And naturally all of you are quite aware of the width and amplitude of CSR. What wonders it can do to the upliftment of the society. What kind of windows of opportunities can it open? So you are well aware, I need not bother you, I need not sort of repeat that. There is only to sort of plant a seed in your mind. I had an occasion to be considering the appointments of Vice Chancellors in state of West Bengal and what I found, university after university in West Bengal is actually starved of funds and that's not the scenario only in West Bengal, it is the scenario everywhere. So, therefore, consider yes, you are building infrastructure in the society in the forms of, say, schools, hospitals, and of other opportunities. You are empowering people, maybe coming from disadvantaged sections of the society, which is equally important. But at the same time you are the creators of wealth, you are the producers of opportunities.
which says that. Yes, you must invest in creating manpower or creating say, researchers in the society. But if you do a bit, that is something which will help. As for a better future better tomorrow, I have just two or three other ideas which I am trying to plant in your minds.
1. As Lt. Gen. Nath said about the environment in Delhi, we have been noticing it. We have been seeing that for last almost 10-15 years, there does not appear to be a solution for that. Every year, the indexes are rising, so the problems are mounting every year. Perhaps, I think some innovative approach from the captains of the industry on the research front may see some light of the day. That is one part to concentrate on, i.e. 'Environmental issues'.
2. Go to any countryside in the country and you will see plastic getting littered almost everywhere. That is one giant issue, which is actually like a red flag sitting on the horizon. And the situation is going to worsen every year, every day. So, think of finding a solution for single-use plastic, and to the extent that we can minimize the impact of that on the environment, that's the second part.
3. We did salutations to our country in the form of National anthem, which says 'Vindhya-Himachala Yamuna-Ganga', but are we really proud of the level of water? The level of sort of purity in Ganga and Yamuna, for instance.
So, these are some of the ideas that perhaps I think as captains of the industry, as the persons who direct mind, the persons who say that very well direction, the work should be done in a particular manner.
You can in the form of CSR try to do a bit and perhaps, I think that will change the nature of what is looming large on the horizon and will perhaps be ever thankful to what is called 'Corporate Social Responsibility' which is shouldered by some of the industries in the country.
Thank you so much. Thank you!
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Hon’ble Justice Uday U. Lalit
Co-Chairman, Institute of Directors
former Chief Justice of India
Owned by: Institute of Directors, India
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in the articles/ stories are the personal opinions of the author. IOD/ Editor is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, suitability, or validity of any information in those articles. The information, facts or opinions expressed in the articles/ speeches do not reflect the views of IOD/ Editor and IOD/ Editor does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.
