NCU Organizes Seminar on ‘Sustainability Education: Sensitizing Students Towards Societal Needs’

NCU’s School of Management organized a one-day seminar on ‘Sustainability Education: Sensitizing Students towards Societal Needs’ on 27 October 2017. After context setting for the seminar by Dr Sushmita Waraich, Pro Chancellor, Prof Prem Vrat and Dean-SOM, Prof. R. Narasimhan highlighted the need for sensitizing students towards societal needs. In the first session - Mr Hitesh, National Manager, Ricoh India Ltd drew attention to the role played by MNC’s in fulfilling societal needs.  He also discussed various frameworks and models used by Ricoh in implementation of CSR initiatives. Ms Sweta Bhattacharjee, Senior Manager, Volunteer Action, North - CRY explained the role of NGO’s in helping corporates meet their social obligations. She also discussed the reasons by citing examples of volunteers working for CRY. 

In the second session, Ms Mamta Saikia, COO, Bharati Foundation, discussed the importance of strategy, short term and long terms goals and the role of organizations like Bharati foundation in achieving sustainability. She focused on the various initiatives taken by Bharati Foundation towards the same. Mr Jitendra Routray, Head CSR, ReNew Power spoke on ‘Driving Socially Responsible Business at ReNew Power’ and explained the ways in which the company was fulfilling its social responsibility by providing infrastructure to the local communities which are devoid of basic amenities like electricity. He cited numerous examples of how ReNew Power had empowered 92 villages by its initiatives like Lighting Lives, Women Empowerment, improving access to safe drinking water, etc. Ms Ranu Kulshreshtha, Group Head, CSR Hindustan Power Projects Pvt Ltd (formerly Moser Baer) explained the involvement of HPPPL in CSR activities despite facing tough competition. She highlighted the role of need assessment and community engagement for sustainability of CSR efforts. The seminar was an initiative of the Social Club of SOM and received participation of around 125 students from NCU and other academic institutions. The seminar was coordinated by Dr Sushmita Waraich and Dr Saumya Dixit.