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Issue: #11 | February 2015

A WORLD OF

PROSPERITY, EQUITY, DIGNITY, FREEDOM & PEACE

In this issue:
Fiinovation & IOD at the 9th
International Conference on
CSR

MDGs to SDGs Carrying


the Baton Forward

Shiksha Adhikar Yatra- Taking


that Fundamental Step

Mainstreaming
Responsibility in
Corporate Governance

Fiinobservation of National Days

www.inova on.co.in

01

Fiinovation & IOD at the 9th International Conference on CSR


'CSR should be in the DNA of every business' was the
popular sentiment at the 9th International
Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility held
from January 19-20, 2015 in Mumbai. Organised by
Institute of Directors (IOD), the event hosted
eminent leaders from across the business fraternity,
representing responsible business. Fiinovation was
the principal knowledge partner lending its
expertise and experience in the eld of CSR and
sustainability domain.
The event kick-started with the opening remarks
from Govind Swarup, IAS (retd.), ChairmanMumbai Region, IOD and the special address from Namita Vikas, Sr. President and
Country Head-Responsible Banking, YES Bank Ltd; Soumitro Chakraborty, Chief Executive, Innovative Financial Advisors; Ranjan
Dhawan, Executive Director, Bank of Baroda; Dr. Jaco Cilliers, Country Director, UNDP India; and The Rt. Hon. Baroness Verma,
Minister for Energy & Climate Change, Govt of UK.
Chairing the session on 'Social Innovation for Economic Growth and Business Sustainability', Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty, Chief
Executive Ofcer, Innovative Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd., said, "probably this is the best time for social innovation to take place,
which are accountable and indigenous in their own area of functions. We have a very young diaspora of youth in this country
which is about 65% of the population, that is below the age of 35. With youth comes opportunities and we need to focus on
sustainable opportunities.
He added, "corporate social responsibility is not the social responsibility limited only to corporates. It may have been dened
for companies but it needs to be an amalgamation with the government or the local government structure. We also cannot deny
the need for alignment of technology with the delivery platform as far as the social sector is concerned.
A two-day long event, the conference highlighted the need to integrate CSR in corporate strategy and revolved around how
dimensional changes are required that trickles down from top and permeates the bottom line. It also focused on the critical role
and responsibility of the CSR board. The second day was dedicated to the discussion on the role of social media as a driver of
CSR, vital HR insights highlighting success stories through case studies.
Felicitating businesses that have incorporated best practices in their operations, the event hosted Golden Peacock Awards. The
event was graced by Shri Eknathrao Ganpatrao Khadse, Hon'ble Minister for Revenue, Relief and Rehabilitation, Govt. of
Maharashtra and the Rt. Hon. Baroness Verma, Minister for Energy & Climate Change, Govt. of UK as Guest of Honour. The Chief
Guest Dr. S. S Kshatriya, IAS, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra addressed the audience and shared words of wisdom.

Food for Thought...

Hear the Inuencers Speak...

If food waste were a country, it would be the world's third

India is already showing the way on sustainable energy. The


Canal Top Solar Power Plant in Gujarat, which I inaugurated
during my stay, is a good example of India's use of innovative
technologies, and one that I urge others to follow."
-Ban Ki-moon

largest emitter of greenhouse gases!

In

1990, almost half of the population in developing


regions lived on less than $1.25 a day. This rate dropped
to 22 per cent by 2010, reducing the number of people
living in extreme poverty by 700 million.

Between 2000 and 2012, an estimated 3.3 million deaths


from malaria were averted due to the substantial
expansion of malaria interventions.

Over 2.3 billion people gained access to an improved


source of drinking water between 1990 and 2012.

By the measure of Net Enrolment Ratio (NER), India had


crossed the 95% cut-off line regarded as the marker value
for achieving 2015 target of universal primary education
for all children aged 6-10 years, in 2007-08 itself.

UN Secretary General

"It is a fact that progress in gender equality & women's


empowerment leads to economic growth"
-May-Elin Stener
UN Norway Representative

It's essential to include and empower youth so that they can


play their full part in building stronger and more inclusive and
sustainable communities.
-Helen Clark
Administrator, United Nations Development Programme

India's experience has demonstrated to the world that


combining strong disaster alert mechanisms with empowered
communities can dramatically reduce the loss of life from
disasters.
-Lise Grande
United Nations Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative

02

MDGs to SDGs Carrying the


Baton Forward
Fifteen years ago, the world came together to articulate the Millennium Declaration, a vision
to improve the existence of many and for saving the lives of those threatened by disease and
hunger. Since then, continuous efforts by governments, corporations, civil society and
individuals have ensured that we face the world challenges head-on.
While analysing our efforts, I see 700 million people alleviated and poverty being reduced to
half since 1990. Approximately 3.3 million deaths from malaria have been averted and 22
million lives were saved from tuberculosis. Our concerted efforts on improving access made
sure 2.3 billion people drink safe water for their survival. Today, as poverty continues to
decline more children are getting educated and there has been signicant increase in
political participation of women. During this journey of development, assistance was highest
ever with $134.8 billion, despite this there are some targets that are yet to be achieved.
I believe the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) have made a real difference in people's
lives accelerated by strong leadership and accountability, this progress can be expanded in
most of the countries by the target date of 2015. After 2015, as the world is in process of
adopting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), efforts to realise a world of prosperity,
equity, freedom, dignity and peace will continue unabated. The rst development towards
the SDGs came to the fore in the September 2010 MDG Summit. In July 2012, SecretaryGeneral Ban Ki-moon announced a High-level Panel of 27 members to advise on the global
development framework beyond 2015. The panel has submitted a report in May 2013 and
the UN survey My World for a better world has provided a platform to everyone for
consultations in the development process of the post-2015 agenda.
As the world tries to recover from the global economic crisis, there is a need for signicant
measures to achieve the desired goals. I believe, as we are in the process of nalization of the
Sustainable Development Goals, the major focus areas should be on ending poverty in all
forms, achieving food security for all, reduction of carbon emissions, promotion of gender
equality, access to safe drinking water and basic sanitation facilities, clean energy, promoting
well-being and healthy lifestyle for all, promotion of sustained, inclusive and sustainable
economic growth and maintaining ecological balance among others.
Climate change is one of the most talked about elements of post-2015 development agenda.
Apart from emission reduction, the world should also focus on climate smart agriculture.
There is an urgent need to build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable
industrialization and foster innovation. In the years to come, we have to ensure sustainable
consumption and production patterns with major focus on waste reduction. Protection and
restoration of terrestrial ecosystems, forests and land degradation should also be focused
upon along with sustainable agricultural practices.
The process of urbanization is creating enormous pressure on our cities and efforts need to
be directed towards making human settlements safe, resilient and sustainable. The
inequality within and among different countries need to be reduced to maintain a level
playing eld across the world. With equal opportunities for everyone, the world can
denitely strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize global partnership for
sustainable development. Finally, I will conclude by saying that it is time once again for every
one of us to come together to ensure we create the future we want.
- Rahul Choudhury

03

MDGs India Report Card


GOALS
Poverty Eradication

Universal Education

Gender Equality

Reducing Child Mortality

Reducing Maternal Mortality


Combating HIV/AIDS
Malaria and other Diseases
Ensuring Environmental
Sustainability
Global Partnership
for Development

OUTCOME
Reduced from 37.2% in 2004-05 to
21.9% in 2011-12

India has been the biggest contributor to poverty reduction


between 2008 and 2011, with around 140 million or so lifted out of
absolute poverty

Net Enrollment Ratio of 99.89% in


2010-11

India is likely to achieve 100% youth literacy by 2015

Highest ever count of women


members in India's parliament in
2014 (Lok Sabha 61, Rajya Sabha 31)

India ranks in the bottom 10 of an international list on women's


participation in the economy

52 deaths per thousand in 2015,


target was 42

India had the highest number of under-ve deaths in the world in


2012, with 1.4 million children dying before reaching their fth
birthday

Dropped from 560 in 1990 to 178 in


2010-2012

India is expected to reach MMR of 140 per 100,000 live births by


2015, falling short of target by 31 points

AIDS in 2013 dropped to 0.27 from


0.41 in 2002

The estimated number of people living with HIV was 2.08 million in
2011, TB scenario in India remains grim with 545,500 deaths in 2013
and India has halved the number of malaria deaths per 100,000
during the period 1990-2013.

Per capita CO2 emission 1.41 MT,


forest cover 21%, HH with Water
Access 90%

Globally, India continues to be the country with the highest number


of people (597 million people) practicing open defecation

Internet Penetration 19.19%, Mobile


Connectivity 73.9%

Presently, India has the third-largest Internet user base in the world.

REMARK: INDIA'S ACHIEVEMENTS WERE FAIR; HOWEVER THERE LIES A LOT OF SCOPE FOR IMPROVEMENTS

04

Shiksha Adhikar Yatra- Taking that Fundamental Step


The religious and cultural disparity between males and females have long prevailed in the Indian society. Through special
provision under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the government promoted education for girl children and employment of women
teachers at the schools. Yet, only 48.2% girls attended school (Class I-V) in 2013-14 out of the total enrolment of 61.32% children
in government managed schools (Class I- V).
Women inequality coupled with low status accorded to them in the society continues to be a source of concern. Prompted by
the need to bring a change, NACDOR (National Confederation of Dalit Organizations) launched Shiksha Adhikar Yatra (SAY).
Conceptualised in 2008 by CADAM (Centre for Alternative Dalit Media) and initiated by Haryana Prathmik Shiksha Pariyojna
Parishad, the programme was aimed at spreading awareness about education amongst masses and to shape a better world for
all communities, especially for OBCs (Other Backward Classes) including dalits and other marginalized communities in Haryana.
It gained recognition at United Nations and attained a special place to facilitate achievement in education as a part of the
Millennium Development Goals in India.

Problems:
Large number of Dalit and marginalised children are still out of school
In many cases, person in-charge of mid-day meal scheme sells the provision meant for children
Active discrimination against children from most backward communities by upper caste teachers
Operations:
A group of 15-20 highly educated, trained and committed social professionals are selected.
With an aim of inuencing the rst generation learners, their families and communities,

the team explains the

fundamentalism of education to improve their lives and welfare.

The SAY teams are trained to create curiosity and generate interest among the target population (both literate and illiterate)
that highlights of their right to achieve a sustainable standard of Universal Elementary education.

To create a ripple among the communities, the teams address the targeted areas (both rural & urban) which are vulnerable
with low literacy rates.

Process:
Team uses

interactive communication like mime acts, street


plays etc. for the campaigns. During the SAY walks (yatras), skits,
dialogues, wall writing, discussions in public gatherings in
village is also carried out.

Objectives of SAY walks are discussed and shared with the


children through mementoes and merchandise.

After interactive sessions with the target communities, SAY


workers ask for a feedback through questionnaires.

The questions framed for feedback interview are designed in a


way that the interviewee unknowingly responds to present the
real picture of the education system in the society.

Impact:
It has outstandingly performed in re-moulding Dalit community from rigid mindsets to accepting changes leading to an

improved community.
Created awareness among the masses about the signicance of education in an individual's life.

Reach: 200 grass root activists covered 80-90 villages, 5000 households each day. The Yatra covered more than 5000 villages
before coming to a close.
- Aditi Singh

05

Mainstreaming Responsibility in
Corporate Governance
Corporate governance could be dened as "a system of law and sound approaches by which
corporations are directed and controlled focusing on the internal and external corporate structures
with the intention of monitoring the actions of management and directors and thereby, mitigating
agency risks which may stem from the misdeeds of corporate ofcers. However in today's world, for
corporations the main stakeholders are the shareholders, debtholders, trade creditors, suppliers,
customers and communities affected by the corporation's activities. With CSR moving to the
boardrooms and into the main foray it has received priority among corporations and their boards. CSR
has put under spotlight a parallel 'good governance' model which puts under scrutiny the composition
and behavior of corporate boards. A related but separate thread of discussions focuses on the impact of
a corporate governance system on economic efciency, with a strong emphasis on shareholders'
welfare. There have been various thinkers who have unraveled the layers of corporate governance.
Letza, Szwajkowski & Vinten worked on broadly differentiating between the two perspectives of
corporate governance which were the shareholder and stakeholder perspective.
Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty
CEO, Innova ve Financial Advisors Pvt. Ltd.
(Fiinova on)

However, as one delves deeper in this thought, a point which must be addressed should be to
understand how to facilitate corporate governance process towards more responsible governance
which looks at both CSR and good governance mechanisms. The solution to this layered debate is of
tment or amalgamation of responsibility towards the society by a Corporation. It is a fundamental
understanding that no governance structure, corporation or otherwise can sustain itself without being
responsible enough towards the society at large.
Since time immemorial, the dichotomy between the two schools of thought has existed and will exist
for years to come. However, the confusion gets starker when the paradigm of social responsibility by
the corporation becomes an end product of the prot that is dened in percentage of its allocation but
is not a part of the process that leads to the prot. So, the way forward must look at the need of
embedding and amalgamating Social Responsibility within the system of business. It is important to
understand it cannot be taken care of as a responsibility of an exclusive department but as a
responsibility of every department working cohesively towards the goals.
There have been various events in history that showed us that corporations who have adhered to the
above mentioned philosophy have increased prots and become sustainable over a period of time.
They have also been able to withstand challenging times with the minimum negative impact.
Social Responsibility for the Corporation must not start and nish with allocation of percentage of
prot and to invest in few projects. It needs to extend into the very depth of the overall functionality of
the organization and could lead to devastating results if ignored. The stigma of not adhering to this
philosophy can be brand sustainability, brand reputation & organizational perceptions which could
include both internal and external.
Therefore, Social responsibility and Sustainability is no longer a subject of auxiliary importance but a
stage-setter for organization who are competing ercely in a given space. Hence, the matter is now no
longer a subject of philanthropy discussion but needs to become one of the primary agendas of the
corporate governance structure, to be discussed in detail by the policy makers inside the board room
and the stakeholders outside. There is enough available evidence where companies have done
exceptionally well in case of investments but very poorly on corporate governance, ethics and moral
values which was also the reasons for some of the biggest scams.
It is one thing to imbibe social responsibility through the eyes of a percentile amount of your prot and
it becomes very narrow in case of the impact is concerned. Corporations should not forget that the
consumers are the drivers of any business who are a part of the same society for which the very
existence of CSR prevails.
It is therefore the need of the hour for corporates and especially board room players to realize and
adopt the standard of CSR with a special emphasis on labour policies, transactional policies, quality
check processes, employee's welfare schemes and customer service mechanisms so on.
It is imperative for the business to understand that in such a volatile and competitive market where
survival will be not only by marketing the product but will also be in giving enough importance to the
fact that being responsible as an institution and with value proposition has gone beyond the delivery of
product and services. It is no longer a question of survival but it is now the question of leading
responsibly and surviving.

06

Fiinobservation of National Days


World Cancer Day
4

World Day of Social Justice

February

20

February

International Mother
Language Day
21 February

The world has come to a stage where


Cancer is a household word, and this
global epidemic have over the years
affected so many lives that everyone
knows someone who has been
diagnosed with cancer or is ghting
it.
World Cancer Day is celebrated on
4th February every year. The aim is to
raise awareness about cancer and
encourage people towards its
prevention, detection, and
treatment. This year, under the
theme 'Not beyond us', people are
being advised to take a positive and
proactive approach towards the
ght against cancer. The world
needs to unite in this ght. Presently,
8.2 million people die every year
from cancer worldwide, out of which,
4 million people die prematurely
(aged 30 to 69 years). The disease
seems to have taken a grip on India
with a million new cases being
reported each year. Fiinovation, a
research organization working with
corporations on CSR health projects
in India, understands that there are
solutions available and all
stakeholders have a role to play in
the battle against the disease.

It has been 70 years since the last


world war that made nations realize
the importance of peaceful and
prosperous coexistence. Despite
efforts by governments, civil society
and individuals, we still see
discrimination, inequality and social
crisis. Today, religious intolerance
has become a barrier for world
peace. Currently, 16 peacekeeping
operations led by the Department of
Peacekeeping Operations, United
Nations are trying to resolve the
humanitarian crisis across the world.
In order to promote efforts to tackle
issues of poverty, unemployment,
migration, internal displacements,
and exclusion among others, the
United Nations decided to observe
20th February as World Day of Social
Justice. It is believed that social
justice is achieved when
discrimination because of gender,
age, race, ethnicity, religion, culture
or disability are removed.
Fiinovation believes that promotion
of equitable distribution of income
and greater access to resources is
the need of the hour.

To speak a language is to take on a


world, a culture.
- Frantz Fanon
International Mother Language Day
is observed in the memory of
students who gave their lives to
make Bangla a national language,
while Bangladesh was a part of
Pakistan. It was rst announced by
UNESCO on 17 November 1999.
Widely considered as a symbol and
protector of a culture, the need to
maintain the sanctity of languages is
all the more pronounced in the era
of globalization, where immigration
has become a norm and cultural
imperialism has become a danger to
the existence of glorious cultures
around the world. Mother tongue is
the thin, but strong string which
binds a person with his roots no
matter where one is living. One's
mother language is much more than
just a tool of communication, it
speaks about hundreds of years of
existence of people and their
achievements, which shaped the
present and made us who we are
today.

Testimonial
It is indeed a pleasure to begin my day reading this newsletter. It is a well
researched and impressively designed document. There comes a small phase
often for about 2 minutes when I get a bit bored thinking about CSR and the
intensity of time it takes to bring about a change but reading such colourful,
informative, analytical and appropriately pictorial documents brings back the
CSR enthusiast in me. Thank you for your continuous efforts! Kudos.
- Nidhi Vatsa

07

Tweets of The Month


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Forthcoming Events

India Corporate Governance & Sustainability Vision Summit (3rd Mar)

Regional Dialogue on Sustainability Science Policy to Support Post 2015 Development Agenda (4th-6th Mar)

Green Summit 2015 (23rd 25th Apr)

Sustainability 24 (15th May)

Smart Cities India 2015 (20th-22nd May)

About Fiinovation
Fiinovation, a research based organization, is an integrated solution enabler in the CSR and sustainability domain. It is focused
towards enhancing quality across organizational value chain through meaningful innovation thereby ensuring sustainability. It
is Asia's rst proposal research laboratory wherein research is focused primarily on four sectors, which include health, education,
livelihood and environment. The practices: CSR-CSO Partnership, CSR Policy Design & Development, Programme
Management, Impact Assessment and Sustainability Reporting help provide simple solutions to their partners.
Fiinovation
24/30, Ground Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, Phase III
New Delhi - 110020
Phone: 011-42332200 | Fax : 011-42332205
website: www.inovation.co.in | Email: media@inovation.co.in

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