Corporate Social Responsibility in post Covid19 scenario

CSR is everywhere – there is no Corporate website or brochure or any communication matter that is bereft of the customary platitudes. There are laws mandating corporates to perform their Social Responsibilities (no that is not an oxymoron). There are professionals specialising in CSR matters. And there are the reports that speak of Corporate India failing to do even the minimum that they are supposed to. On the other end of the spectrum, though, there are cases where corporates are more socially responsible and inclusive than what is expected from them. Fact remains, CSR is a hot potato and naturally, when the webinar on CSR was announced by the Bhawanipur Education Society College (BESC), seats were booked faster than packages could be declared and before long, eight hundred registrations had poured in.

One of the reasons behind the surge in registrations was the start-studded speakers list that the BESC had lined up for the webinar. There was Sudhir Banthia, the Vice Chairman of ICSI (EIRC) as a speaker while Priyadarshi Nayak, Chairman ICSI (EIRC) was the Chief Guest. Other speakers included CS Sneha Agarwal and CA Priti Modi. CA Vivek Patwari and CS Mohit Shaw were the teacher coordinators for the programme while the programme itself was coordinated by students Jinal Shah and Gaurav Killa.

Prof Dilip Shah, the Dean of Student Affairs of the College welcomed the virtual guests and set the tone of the discussions spelling out the meaning and efficacy of the Corporate entity as a Socially Responsible person. He also explained how every one of us can and should embrace the dictum of CSR, to make the nation and the world a better place.

The visiting speakers talked at length, waxing eloquent about the BESC and its ability to stay ahead of the curve, pointing out how the college is beating the lockdown despite all the odds and congratulating the students for the dedication as put on record by their attendance. They also put on record their appreciation of the efforts of the teachers who had tirelessly worked to make the event a possibility saving the best compliments for Prof Dilip Shah who, like litmus, changes everything that is touched by his sheer positivity.

Sudhir Banthia made a presentation which not only explained the concept of CSR but also traced its history with live examples from corporate India which was a revelation of sorts to the students attending the webinar.

The next speaker, Sneha Gupta talked about her experience in the field, especially relating to education and explained her points with examples drawn from the Tata group, which is known for its ethical conduct, from which stems everything.

Priti Modi then came on screen and dissected a CSR project explaining the numbering system that is ascribed to it. She, to underscore her point and make it as relevant as possible talked about a CSR project linking it to Covid19 and explained the finer nuances of CSR accounting to the students.

As the programme was getting prolonged way beyond the time it was originally scheduled for, the organisers had to reluctantly bring it to an end.

Prof Dilip Shah did the honours, thanking all the students who had participated and the dignitaries who had graced the occasion and blessed the students with their invaluable insight into a matter that is of such great interest and importance.

(This report has been filed by Siddhi Pancholi of the Expressions collective of the BESC).