CSR: India Inc. being generous – now Piramal pledges Rs 200 crore

Mar 28, 2011

In the last couple of weeks, with Warren Buffet and Bill Gates visiting the country, Philanthropy has become a buzz word and millions of rupees have already been pledged towards social causes. The most recent announcement has come from drugmaker Piramal Healthcare. The

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The unpalatable truth: Our foodgrains will rot again

Mar 28, 2011

Abundance is not necessarily good news. Don’t we know that all too well by now? Someone who likes to repeat his examples will refer us to the increasingly increasing wealth of the lucky few which has made the gap between the haves and

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Philanthropy gains ground courtesy The Giving Pledge

Mar 26, 2011

Thanks to two of the world’s richest men, corporate India is quite seriously talking about social responsibility, causes, development, philanthropy and sustainability. Indian businesses that are opposing the proposed mandatory spend towards corporate social responsibility are, quite interestingly, appreciating the ideas of Warren

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India’s forest cover target unrealistic

Mar 21, 2011

Looking at the growing population and demand for infrastructural development, the target of getting 33 per cent of the country’s land under green cover is not realistic, Minister for Environment and Forests Jairam Ramesh said on March 19 in Hyderabad. ‘In a country

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The Blue Delhi initiative for water conservation takes off

Mar 21, 2011

People from across Delhi filled up their tumblers with water and marched on Rajpath – from India Gate to Vijay Chowk – as part of ‘Walk for Water 2011’ on March 19. The march was a gesture to spread awareness about water conservation

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Ramesh continues to encourage businesses to be ‘environment friendly’

Mar 16, 2011

‘Businesses are using the word “low-carbon” quite often, which is a great development – it is not considered a taboo anymore… Climate change may also be looked at as a business opportunity… India will surely surpass the set target of emissions reduction (20%-25%)

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SAIL communities: Living as a coherent whole

Mar 10, 2011

A week ago, a fully equipped ambulance came on Delhi roads with the purpose of ferrying needy patients and carrying out other social welfare activities. The ambulance is funded by Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) as part of its CSR programme. Earlier,

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Because I had only five dollars for little White Jade

Because I had only five dollars for little White Jade

Mar 10, 2011

[dropcap size=big]I[/dropcap]n 1947, when for India the idea of independence had just  been realised, Robert (Bob) Pierce, a war correspondent in the Korean War, was  moving around reporting in China. Pierce’s last stop was at the University of Amoy on Amoy  (now Xiamen)

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CSR compulsion: Is it just a negotiation tool for corporate affairs ministry?

Mar 10, 2011

“It is unlikely that the corporate affairs ministry will make corporate social responsibility (CSR) spends compulsory. The ministry is using “mandatory CSR spend” as a tool that gives the corporate affairs minister a power to negotiate with corporate groups,” a senior official close

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Environment clearance system akin to ‘paying the piper to call the tune’: SC

Mar 9, 2011

The system of granting environmental clearances to industrial and other projects has come under sharp criticism from the Supreme Court (SC). According to the court, the environment ministry had been letting private companies pay ‘a packet’ to their favourite experts to assess the

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