SCOPE has organized a two-day Workshop on “Preparing for Global Climate Change and Sustainable Development Goals” which was attended by a large number of senior executives of public sector enterprises.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Nirmal Sinha, Chairman, SCOPE said that climate change is the greatest environment threat mankind has ever faced. The public sector enterprises have initiated a number of initiatives to mitigate the adverse environmental impact. He said the conservation of nature and protection of our environment is a collective task, involving citizens and the government, the corporate sector and all other stakeholders in our complex and diverse society.
Mr. Sinha said that ‘Going Green’ has assumed a whole new meaning with corporates adopting Green Economy and using social media to reach out to their consumers.
Mr. Ravi Shankar Prasad, IAS, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change in his address informed that the UN General Assembly adopted 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and its 169 Targets in September 2015 as part of 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development. To monitor the implementation of SDG Targets, indicators are being developed at the global level. In order to achieve SDGs, global community needs to provide finance, technology and capacity building avenues. Incremental finance required to implement SDGs is crucial, he added.
Mr. Damandeep Singh, Director, CDP India & Lead Resource Person shared the programme perspective.
CSR in India
Furthermore, speaking in a National Seminar on “Is CSR Working in India?”, organized by Mature Media Pvt. Ltd at the Constitution Club, Dr. U.D. Choubey, Director General, SCOPE emphasized for better implementation of CSR funds allocated by Central Public Sector Enterprises to NGOs. He mentioned that 2% mandatory CSR provision has been taken by PSEs in letter and spirit.
Public sectors are implementing it through a robust mechanism which include inter alia Board approved policy. They take up baseline survey, identify the needs but the real issue comes with regard to implementing agency. Dr. Choubey mentioned that in order that the benefits of CSR fund reaches at the end point, it would be better that all allocated funds from CPSEs should be subjected to accountability check for NGOs under RTI, CAG and social audit.
Dr. Choubey emphasized that the fund should be better diverted towards upliftment of the rural area for internal roads, health and sanitation, drinking water, primary and secondary education, skill development, internet and overall betterment of standard of living in villages.
