The conference, enriched with diverse perspectives and innovative solutions, marked another milestone in advancing CSR practices and innovations.
PATNA (India CSR): The Centre for CSR Studies at Chandragupt Institute of Management Patna (CIMP) recently hosted a two-day International Conference on Corporate Social Responsibility (ICCSR 2023) on December 8th and 9th, 2023. The annual event brought together eminent guests and experts from various sectors to discuss and deliberate on the crucial role of CSR in today’s context.
Inaugural ceremony
The inaugural ceremony on December 8th witnessed the esteemed presence of Vivek Kumar Singh, IAS, Development Commissioner, Bihar Government; Ajay Kr. Gupta, DGM NABARD (Bihar); Dr. Amit Kr. Thakur, Associate Director, Social Transformation and CSR, TERI New Delhi; Srinivas Chary Vedala, Director Administrative Staff College of India ASCI and CEO at WASH Innovation Hub ASCI, and Keerti, State Head Office United Nations Population Fund UNFPA.
Director of CIMP, Prof. (Dr.) Rana Singh, in his welcome address emphasized the significance of CSR beyond being a buzzword, highlighting its necessity for growth and development in today’s corporate world. Dr. Jyoti Verma, the conference chairperson, underscored the importance and needs of CSR, especially in sustainable governance.
The event received an overwhelming response with a total of 101 papers submitted. A rigorous selection process resulted in the acceptance of 54 papers for presentation during the conference.
The sessions covered a diverse range of topics, from stakeholder capitalism to examining ESG scores, climate change mitigation, and analyzing progress in CSR. Speakers also discussed innovative solutions for issues such as climate change, domestic violence, and sustainable biodegradable napkins.
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A cell dedicated to CSR in collaboration with CIMP
Dr. Vivek Kumar Singh IAS, development commissioner of the Government of Bihar offered a unique perspective on CSR, emphasizing the need for consciousness and passion in social activities. He announced the Bihar government’s initiative to establish a cell dedicated to CSR in collaboration with CIMP.
Read in detail: Bihar Govt. To Institute Cell For Monitoring CSR Provisions I India CSR
Parallel sessions
Parallel sessions covered a wide array of topics, including Swachata mission in Hindi cinema, awareness of Chronic Kidney Disease, fintech’s impact on the modern financial sector, and rehabilitation of released prisoners. The presentations reflected the growing role of technology in addressing various societal challenges, from agriculture to health and justice.
Session III featured a special address by Prof. (Dr.) Miriam Erez from Technion University Israel, focusing on introducing innovation to enhance sustainability. The importance of achieving a balance between innovation and sustainability was discussed, with examples linking natural resource usage and population growth.
A panel discussion in Session IV included prominent figures from various sectors, offering insights into the increasing focus of corporate organizations towards the environment, stakeholder engagement, and the interplay between business and the environment.
Sessions V and VI continued to delve into specific topics, ranging from CSR and cyber awareness to corporate accountability, health welfare, and sustainable livelihood.
The event concluded with a keynote address by Prof. (Dr.) Luu Trong Tuan, Associate Professor at Swinburne University of Technology, Australia, who provided a detailed research presentation on CSR focusing on awareness, communication, embedding, and evaluation.
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Responsibility is a new opportunity: Rusen Kumar
Rusen Kumar, Founder of India CSR, extended heartfelt congratulations to CIMP for hosting the conference for the third consecutive year, acknowledging its commitment to advancing CSR discourse. Rusen Kumar said that Responsibility is a new opportunity. The highly regarded person in the CSR space said, “Responsibility ensures justice and protects others’ rights. CSR, ESG, and Sustainability will have to play remarkable roles in building India’s prosperity by 2047.”
Read full Article: “Responsibility Is A New Opportunity”, Says Rusen Kumar At CSR International Conference
Importance of Individual Social Responsibility
Reena Gupta, Entrepreneur & Author, TiE Silicon Valley Charter Member & Youth Chair, California, emphasized the importance of Individual Social Responsibility (ISR) alongside Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), underlining the role of individuals in contributing to societal well-being.
Need of Sustainable Environment for Next Generation
Prof. (Dr.) Sapna Narula, Dean School of Management Studies, Nalanda University, underscored the need to create a clean and sustainable environment for the next generation, emphasizing the responsibility of both corporations and individuals in achieving this goal.
Young generation’s potential and social issues: Vivek Prakash
Vivek Prakash, VP and Head, CSR at Jubilant Ingrevia, commended the young generation for its potential to present sustainable solutions to local and global social issues. He highlighted the role of CSR in supporting the youth’s endeavors and encouraged their active participation in creating a positive impact.
Role of CSR in Societal Change
The Chief Guest, Shivendra Pandeya, Chief of Field Office, UNICEF, emphasized the crucial role of a robust CSR mechanism in addressing societal challenges. His insights provided a broader perspective on the impact of CSR initiatives.
Vote of Thanks
Kumod Kumar, the Chairperson of the Centre for CSR Studies (CIMP), expressed gratitude in his vote of thanks, extending appreciation to all paper presenters, sponsors, chief guests, and guests of honor for their valuable contributions.
Professor Jyoti Verma, the Chairperson of the conference, extended special thanks to NABARD as the sponsor partner, TERI as the technical partner, and UNICEF as the sponsoring partner for their crucial support in making ICCSR 2023 a success.
Best Paper Award
The Best Paper Award was presented to Atul Ghorpade & Sabuj Kumar Mandal for their outstanding contribution in the paper titled “Mandatory CSR and Firm Performance: Evidence from India.” Additionally, the Young Scholar Award was conferred upon Pradyut Priyadarshini Mishra & Abinash Sahoo for their paper titled “Integrating Corporate Social Responsibility and Gross National Happiness: A Path to Sustainable Wellbeing.”
Young Scholar Award
Pradyut Priyadarshini Mishra & Abinash Sahoo were honored with the Young Scholar Award for their paper, which explored the integration of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Gross National Happiness as a means to achieve sustainable wellbeing.
In recognition of their outstanding achievements, both sets of winners were awarded a cash prize of Rs. 10,000 each. The awards not only celebrate excellence in research but also encourage scholars to continue contributing valuable insights to the field of Corporate Social Responsibility.
The conference facilitated rich discussions, fostering a collaborative spirit towards addressing societal challenges through CSR. The organizers expressed gratitude to the participants, sponsors, and volunteers for making ICCSR 2023 a resounding success.
Prof. (Dr.) Sivananda Senapati, Assistant Professor at CIMP, presented a comprehensive summary of the conference, highlighting key discussions and insights shared by experts from diverse sectors.
The theme for Next Year
The theme for next year’s ICCSR is CSR, Responsible Leadership, and Social Entrepreneurship for value creation, and the dates for the conference have been decided to be 6th & 7th December 2024.
(India CSR)
