MDGs can help guide the way for strategic CSR

NEW DELHI: The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are eight international development goals that were signed by 189 countries in 2000 with India being one of the signatories. One of the most basic aims of the MDGs was halving world poverty by 2015 besides improving other indices such as education, environment, health and so on.

Schedule VII of the new CSR policy under the Companies Act 2013 that prescribes the activities on which a Company can spend their CSR funds is almost perfectly in sync with the MDGs.

With two years still remaining before the MDGs to expire, it is imperative that all stakeholders come together to give a last push to attain these goals.

Since studies released on the state of CSR in India have pointed towards duplication of effort being a major problem in the CSR scenario, a much more strategic and methodological approach to make informed decisions is needed.

This especially becomes pertinent, as corporates will need to put information relating to their CSR activities on their websites, throwing it open to stakeholder and public scrutiny at large.

An understanding of the MDGs can help guide the wayfor identifying where CSR funding and expertise is most needed andwhat are the areas where it will have maximumimpact.

In this context, the Centre for Ethical Life & Leadership (CELL Advisory-a not-for-profit organization) led by Dr.S Y Quraishi, former Chief Election Commissioner (CEC)of India will be organizing a half-day Conclave titled ‘UN-Corporate MDG Conclave’ in association with the UNDP and the Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) on 19th December, 2013 at The Claridges, New Delhi.

MoS of Human Resource Development, Dr. ShashiTharoorwill deliver the Valedictory Address and Dr. BhaskarChatterjee, DG & CEO of IICA will deliver the Keynote Address.

MrHarpal Singh, Mentor & Chairman Emeritus, Fortis Healthcare will inaugurate the Conclave and address the august gathering.

The agenda has been grouped into three sessions: Poverty (Hunger), Health (Public Health) and Environment & Sustainability. Each session will be led by eminent persons/experts on the subject representing Government/ Policy makers, Implementing agencies like NGOs/CSOs and the Corporatesector.

The core idea is to take a strategic approach towards CSR by reviewing where we stand on various development indices and find the gaps most in need of intervention.

“Corporate India should come forward and actively participate in the development of the country’s social issues which will not only fulfill their CSR agenda but also contribute in bridging the gap in the MDG before they expire in 2015″ opined Dr S Y Quraishi,CEC and Honorary Chairman, CELL.