CSR Conference 2015

A 2-Day Conference on “Corporate Social Responsibility – Approaches and Practices for Inclusive Growth” was organized by SDMIMD during November 5 & 6, 2015. The conference provided a platform for academics, practitioners, researchers and students to deliberate and reflect on issues pertaining to CSR strategies and building socially responsible businesses. 
 

Mr. Muthuraman, Former Vice Chairman, Tata Steel, in his keynote address during the inaugural session of the conference, called for affirmative action by the industry to bridge the gap in the unequal opportunity society.  It is regrettable that the government should mandate CSR spending, he felt. Tracing the history of CSR, Mr. Muthuraman said that the earth is four to five billion years old but the corporate, which is the product of industrial revolution, is about four centuries old and systems are just evolving. But the contribution of corporates to the GDP is exponential.  Even the purpose of business, which was earlier considered as generating profit for the investors, is being challenged. Is the purpose of business mere profit or, improving the quality of life, he asked.. Further, Mr. Muthuraman opined that business is meant for the society and urged the business to choose between profit and human face to doing business.  
 

Eminent personalities who graced the conference as speakers and panellists were: Mr. Robert Grubbier, MD&COO-AT&S; Rd. Stephen Aro-Gordon, Department Chair, Base University, Nigeria; Rd. P. Kamath, Director-SDC Kola; Dr. K. Rajalakshmi, Head, Audiology-AIISH; Dr. Indira Ramarao, former Professor, University of Mysore; Ms. N.R. Indrani, DGM-Powergrid; Mr. T.A. Dayalan; Mr. Ganesh Sharma from Rane Group, Chennai; Ms. Richa Bajpai, Director-NextGen PMS; Mr. Biren Bhuta, Chief-CSS - Tata Steel; Mr. Muralidhar Reddy, VP-Jubilant; and, Ms. Usha Rangarajan, Founder-Unleash. 
 

Dr S Peppin, Dean-Xavier University, Bhubaneshwar, was the Chief-guest for the valedictory session and delivered the invited talk on the conference theme. 

Former Vice Chairman, Tata Steel

MD & COO - AT&S

Director, SDC Kola

Head, Audiology-AIISH

Former Professor, University of Mysore, Mysuru

DGM, Powergrid

Chief - CSS - Tata Steel 

VP-Jubilant

Founder-Unleash

Dean-Xavier University, Bhubaneshwar