Premature birth causes almost half the child deaths in India

May 4, 2012

Nearly half of all child deaths in India are caused due to premature births, making it the second leading cause in the country, claims a report by international NGO Save the Children. The number one cause is pneumonia.   The report, ‘Born Too

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Ranbaxy introduces Rs 130 anti-malaria drug as its CSR

Apr 26, 2012

Synriam is India’s first indigenously developed drug for malaria treatment and a tablet a day for three days costs only Rs 130. Launched on World Malaria Day as part of Ranbaxy’s corporate social responsibility (CSR), Synriam is expected to become a part of

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Indian consumers pay extra for ‘responsible’ brands?

Apr 20, 2012

In an interesting research, it is found that that 55 per cent of Asia Pacific (APAC) consumers will not mind paying extra for products and services of companies that have credible corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes and engage in activities that give back to

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Bandhua 1947: Advocacy campaign against bonded labour system

Bandhua 1947: Advocacy campaign against bonded labour system

Feb 1, 2012

A national-level advocacy campaign – Bandhua 1947 – has been launched to mobilize people against the bonded labour system. The campaign will also urge the government to strengthen the Bonded Labour Abolition Act through amendments. ‘Even after 65 years of Independence, hundreds and

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Human Rights: Clean investigation sought in Eelam War; WB unit not educating; AP forum against mining; Officers trained in Karnataka

Dec 27, 2011

India has asked Sri Lanka to develop ‘independent, credible as well as transparent mechanism to investigate allegations of human rights violations that were reported during the end of Eelam War IV. Colombo has also been asked to give a deadline for the presentation

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CSR: Companies failing to spend ‘mandatory’ sum will not be penalized

Dec 23, 2011

The much-talked-about Companies Bill 2011, which has finally been introduced in the Parliament, has strict expenditure and disclosure guidelines for corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities of companies. Despite major protests by corporate groups, the bill makes disclosure of CSR spend mandatory for companies

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Companies may not fear CSR Section 135; it is just an ‘oversight clause’

Dec 17, 2011

Addressing a question on how intensely will the new Section 135, which is part of Companies Bill 2011, affect management of companies, ‘union corporate affairs minister Veerappa Moily said, ‘We are not interested in micro-management of a company. It is (section 135) just

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CSR of ports to negate their social and environmental impacts

Dec 7, 2011

In a communiqué to all government-run ports, the shipping ministry said, ‘Considering the economic, social and environmental impact the activities of ports have on the society and the environment, it is felt that the ports should serve the interests of the society by

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Get women on-board for successful CSR initiatives

Nov 22, 2011

In an interesting research, a team from Harvard Business School found that companies with gender-inclusive leadership teams contributed, on average, more charitable funds. The team had examined how corporate leadership and organizational structure influence corporate social responsibility (CSR) by utilizing the most visible

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GAP, Walmart, C&A, H&M raise the ‘child and bonded labour’ flag with their Indian suppliers

Nov 17, 2011

Multinational retailers such as GAP, Walmart, C&A, H&M, Primark, Mothercare and Tesco have instructed their Indian suppliers to stop sourcing raw material from textile mills that employ girls under the so-called Sumangali system, a contractual arrangement that labour watchdogs allege involves unfair practices

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