Decade long journey towards encouraging CSR amongst Indian Corporates……

Corporate Social Responsibility is slowly, but surely, being recognised as a priority area the world over. The general understanding on CSR, till sometime back, was deeply rooted in the concept of philanthropy. However, the emerging concept to CSR is focusing on going beyond charity. The companies are now expected to integrate social, environmental and ethical concerns, in addition to financial concerns, into Company’s business process.

Over the years, with changing times, companies have moved away from charity and dependence to empowerment and partnerships. This is necessary not only for growth of business, but for “inclusive growth” in the country, which is a priority with the government and FICCI also strives to help the country achieve this inclusive growth.

Realising the need for promoting the CSR agenda within the Indian corporate, FICCI Socio Economic Development Foundation (FICCI-SEDF) joined hands with Businessworld to institute the ‘Businessworld-FICCI-SEDF Corporate Social Responsibility Award’ in the year 1999. The award aims to identify and acknowledge the efforts of companies in integrating and internalising CSR into their core business operations. It is a way to honour companies engaging and integrating CSR with their overall corporate strategy. The initiative gives organisations a chance to showcase exemplary one-of-their kind models taken up by them towards upliftment of the society, which can be replicated for the benefit of larger segment of society. In the past decade the Award has grown not just in size but in popularity of being rated as one of the most coveted awards in the area of CSR, among the Corporate.

The award has been given away be eminent persons like Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam, Late Shri K R Narayanan, Shri P Chidambaram, Shri Yashwant Sinha, and Shri Arun Shourie, amonst others. Recipients of the CSR award in the past include both public as well as private sector companies like Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), Mahindra & Mahindra, Tata Tea, Tata Steel, Tata Motors, Nevyelie Lignite Corporation, HINDALCO, Gujarat Ambuja Cement, Kinetic Engineering, Canara Bank, Titan Industries etc.

The award has a unique three-tier assessment process. The entries received would be thoroughly scrutinised by Grant Thornton, India, reputed international accountants and business advisors, who will shortlist few companies at first stage. Subsequently, Partners in Change, a well known NGO in the area of CSR, will visit these shortlisted companies to conduct ‘onsite assessment’ of their CSR Work. Finally, independent Jury comprising eminent persons from the relevant spheres will select the awardees from the shortlisted companies.

We now solicit nominations for the 10th edition of the ‘Businessworld-FICCI-SEDF Corporate Social Responsibility Award-2009’. The nominations for the current year shall be considered under the following three major categories:

Category I: CSR Award for Large Companies with turnover
(a) Upto Rs. 1000 crores per annum
(b) Above Rs. 1000 crores per annum

Category II: CSR Award for Small and Medium Enterprises (SME’s) with turnover
Upto Rs. 100 crores per annum

Category III: Award for Exemplary Innovation promoting CSR

Please remember that the last date for receiving the duly filled-in nomination forms accompanied with all the relevant documents and application fee is 31st October 2009.