Kolkata, 14th March 2024: The 6th ICC Social Impact Summit & Awards was held on March 12, at Taj Bengal to award companies who have made noteworthy achievements in creating social impacts through CSR. The event witnessed the esteemed presence of H E Dr C V Ananda Bose, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal; Dr Andrew Flemming, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata; Saikat Basu, CEO, Consultivo; Sudipta Mukherjee, ED (Generation) CESC Limited; and Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC.
The event aimed to recognise and celebrate the social impact initiatives taken by various organisations and individuals. The summit included a technical session on the role of CSR in ESG and BRSR followed by an award ceremony.
Speaking on the inaugural address, Rajeev Singh, Director General, Indian Chamber of Commerce, highlighted the contributions of Dr CV Anand Bose, Governor of West Bengal, in the field of social development, innovation and inclusive growth and said, “During his tenure as a bureaucrat, he founded several institutions in the field of affordable housing, good governance, science and technology, agriculture and rural development. Some of his initiatives are termed as the ‘best’ on the global stage. The Nirmiti Kendra initiative provided ancillary medical facilities in hospitals, which has been replicated in all districts of Kerala. There are many more such initiatives that were initiated and championed by him. His dedication to social causes has been a guiding light for many institutions advocating for the social upliftment of our country. We look forward to his valuable guidance to companies, CSR leaders and ESG champions, along with the NGOs, who are executing such projects on the ground.”
He added, “The 6th ICC Social Impact Summit and Awards felicitated leaders addressing issues in the fields of education, clean energy, health care, sustainability, hunger and poverty eradication, promoting gender equality, women empowerment, reducing child mortality, improving maternal health, skills, empowering rural population, clean water, sanitation, digital livelihood and others. It covered the entire landscape of Corporate Social Responsibility to honour leaders, who have not only identified the challenges but acted upon them with unwavering determination, creativity and effectiveness. These individuals and organisations have not only improved countless lives but have also set an inspiring example for many others to follow.”
Speaking at the event, Dr CV Anand Bose, Hon’ble Governor of West Bengal, said, “We launched the Mission Compassion programme that extended numerous initiatives along with the installation of a dedicated hotline in Raj Bhavan to make the Governor’s office more accessible to the common people. The initiative paved the way for hearing the pleas of the public pertaining to finance, health and other issues. Moreover, in light of the award function, the Governor’s office confers the Governor’s Scroll of Honour to recognise the contributions of companies that received awards for social upliftment and development, thus creating an ecosystem. We have also instituted a think tank called Golden Group that is responsible for discussing and deliberating upon various social initiatives that can be implemented in West Bengal. I invite all awardees, companies and NGOs to join the think tank for further devising social impact initiatives that can be implemented in the state.”
Commenting on the event, Andrew Fleming, Deputy High Commissioner, British Deputy High Commission, Kolkata, said, “I have been enormously impressed by the diversity of activities that CSR is delivering across the country and the social impact that it achieves. Many NGO's and civil society partners are working at the grassroot level to change lives and make a difference in many sectors. The ceremony made me think about the 2030 India-UK roadmap. I am delighted to say that the UK and India have shared many ambitions towards social development including healthcare, women empowerment and education and more. I hope that we will see even more opportunities for collaboration in the future as CSR activities are good for business and society.”
Commenting on the award ceremony, Saikat Basu, CEO, Consultivo, said, “The 6th edition of ICC Social Impact Awards stands testament to the power of collective action and the enduring spirit of contribution and innovation. The edition felicitated 48 projects from 18 plus states that benefited the lives of over 10 million people. The awards were handed out to 38 organisations, of which, 20 were implementation agencies and NGOs while the remaining 18 were corporates. I extend my sincere gratitude to the jury members for their dedicated and sincere efforts in meticulously evaluating entries and selecting the most deserving winners. As we come together to honour excellence in social impact initiatives, we are reminded of the immense potential we have to affect meaningful change in the world around us.”
Alluding to the vote of thanks, Sudipta Mukherjee, ED (Generation) CESC Limited, said, “This summit has been a celebration of the most impactful and innovative CSR projects that have significantly contributed to the welfare of the society. My deepest gratitude to corporates and NGOs throughout the nation who participated in this undertaking and contributed to the long-lasting development of our society. This award is far more than a trophy; it's a testament to the tireless efforts and unwavering dedication of individuals. Moreover, the work of the awardees stand testament towards the power of collaboration and innovation.”
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