Corporate Sector plays Important role in Effective Implementation of SDGs
Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla in collaboration with Global Forum for Sustainable Rural Development (GFSRD) organised a weeklong online training programme on Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 10-16 April 2024.
Among the total registered participants 112 attended this course in all seven days on virtual mode from India and abroad. Within India there were participants from Himachal Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu Assam, West Bengal, Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand and Jammu Kashmir. There were few foreign participants from Senegal, Malawi, Ghana, Nairobi, Bangladesh and Nepal.
During the inaugural session the Keynote Address was delivered by Dr. K.K. Upadhyay, Professor and Chairperson, Centre for Sustainability & CSR, BIMTECH, Greater Noida. The coordinator of the training programme Dr. Baldev Singh Negi presented the broad theme of the programme and Dr. Jayanta Choudhury, Founder & Secretary General, GFSRD and Faculty, Department of Rural Studies, Tripura University (a Central University) presented the broad talked about the aims and mandate of the GFSRD with special reference to the CSR and SDGs. In the inaugural session, Dr. Randhir Singh Ranta presented the formal vote of thanks.
The training programme covered the topics during this one long duration such as Fundamentals of CSR, Achieving SDGs in India: A study on CSR initiatives of Indian Companies, CSR and Development Sectors: Tracing the Journey from Past to Present, CSR for Sustainable Agriculture, Due Diligences of CSR Project, CSR and Sustainability with reference to SDG-12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), CSR and Community Engagement, Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation of CSR: UltraTech Cement Co. Experiences, CSR to ESG: Social Impact and Equality,CSR Initiative Experience of SBI Foundation, Role of NGOs in CSR implementation and CSR Project Proposal and Report writing and documentation.
Prof. K. K. Upadhyay from Centre for Sustainability & CSR, BIMTECH, Greater Noida, Dr. Randhir Singh Ranta from DIS, HPU, Padmaja Tamuli from Amity University, Rajesh Sharma from Ambuja Cement Foundation, Dr. Shashank Dattatray Kulkarni from Central University of Jharkhand, Adil Firoze from Corporate Affaire & CSR, GFSRD, Dr. Manish Das from Tripura Central University, Dr. Ranvir Singh from Central University of Jammu, Ankush Rana from UltraTech Cement Ltd., Dr. Sudhir Joshi a development practitioner from Vodara Gujrat, Ritesh Sain from SBI Foundation, Dr. Mool Raj from CBLU, Bhiwani, Pradeep Singh from Steel Strips Wheels Ltd., Dr. Jayanta Choudhury from GFSRD and Tripura Central University and Dr. Baldev Singh Negi for the Department of Interdisciplinary Studies, Shimla acted as Resource persons for the training programme.
In the closing session the valedictory address was given by Dr. Pranjal Phukan, Global Head (Training), GFSRD who said that CSR and SDGs are interrelated. Through the attainment of SDGs, the nation can achieve its growth by incorporating the various targets of SDGs with CSR initiative and the corporate sectors can contribute to nation-building by integrating CSR with their business strategy.
For this, academia and the public have its role in spreading awareness and play its role as an important stakeholder in the CSR implementation process. The corporate can generate a good image among society as a whole by adhering to all corporate governance rules and regulation including of CSR implementation. It can create a huge employment opportunity for young CSR professionals in corporate sectors and good CSR professionals can create an impact for development, especially rural development, health, education, women empowerment, nutrition, and climate change.