Webinar: IFCCI CSR Conclave and Awards 2020

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The Conclave showcased CSR projects of French and Indian companies and recognized their efforts by presenting awards for the Best CSR Projects with a focus on five categories based on criteria like Business-based social purpose, innovative CSR initiatives reinforcing the company’s business purpose, Clear theory of change, impact & measurement, Concentrated efforts including employee volunteering.

Capgemini Technology Services India Limited and Dassault Systèmes Foundation won in the category Education & Skill Development; Atos Global IT Solutions Services Private Ltd. And Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. won in the category Environment & Sustainability; Airbus India and IKAN Relocation Services India Pvt Ltd. won in the category healthcare, Schneider Electric India Foundation won in the category livelihoods and BNP Paribas India Foundation, Legrand India and Société Générale won in the category Most Innovative COVID Response.

Ms. Payal S. Kanwar, Director General, IFCCI opened the Session and thanked the CSR Committee of the Chamber for this initiative. She mentioned that IFCCI received an overwhelming response with over 60 applications from Indo-French companies contributing to various programs in India. She also highlighted that there were several rounds of screening by the Jury and thanked the Jury members for their support - Ms. Amal Benhagoug, Counsellor, Embassy of France in India, Mr. Anurag Pratap, Digital Inclusion & Sustainability Leader, Capgemini India & Chairman, IFCCI CSR Committee, Dr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, Former Director General & CEO, Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs, Mr. Emmanuel DE ROQUEFEUIL, VP & Country Director, Thales India Pvt. Ltd. & Vice President, IFCCI Northern Chapter, Ms. Emilia CARTIER, Attaché for Scientific and University Cooperation, Institut Francais (IFI), Mr. Shankar Ramakrishnan, Head, BNP Paribas India Foundation & Vice Chairman, IFCCI CSR Committee, Ms. Sumana Dasgupta, Director-Partnership, HelpAge India Foundation & Advisor, IFCCI CSR Committee and Mr. Sumeet Anand, Founder & CEO, IndSight Growth Partners & President, IFCCI.  

Mr. Sumeet Anand, President, IFCCI welcomed the participants, Speakers and Partners for the event. He highlighted that member companies have been doing enormous work towards the development of social sector in many ways and this year, companies have mobilized to help their communities during this pandemic. Hence, with the new emphasis on CSR, businesses across sectors are re-examining their company’s impact on society and their roles in creating sustainable and impactful policies.

H.E Mr. Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India shared a special message on the occasion mentioning that investment in CSR is key and it helps in education, livelihoods and sustainable development and acknowledged the efforts of IFCCI member companies especially in the current crisis who have contributed financially as well as non-financially to the local governments and the underprivileged and stated that Indian as well as French companies in India have been aware and supportive towards their workforce as well as the civil society during this pandemic.

The event also comprised of a Panel Discussion on ‘What CSR means to CEOs” representing their strong intent and commitment to their contribution for CSR in India. The Session was moderated by Mr. Rohit Kochhar, Founding Member & Managing Partner, Kochhar & Co. and the panellists were CEOs of French companies in India, namely, Ms. Franciska Decuypere, Head of Territory India, BNP Paribas, Mr. Ashwin Yardi, CEO India, Capgemini India, Mr. Deepak NG, Managing Director, Dassault Systemes India & Mr. Sumeet Anand, President, IFCCI.

This was followed by observations by Ms. Meenakshi Batra, CEO, Charities Aid Foundation (CAF) India who highlighted the importance of CSR for the NGOs.

Lastly, Mr. Anurag Pratap, Chairman, IFCCI CSR Committee thanked the esteemed Speakers, Participants, Jury, Nominees, Winners and Partners for associating with the event.

The event was supported by Pernod Ricard as Title Partner, Kochhar & Co as Knowledge Partner, Dassault Systemes Foundation as Event Partner, Sanofi India as Co-Partner, CAF India as Annual Patron for the IFCCI CSR Committee and Action Against Hunger, Anudip Foundation, Cornerstone India Foundation, Echo Centre of Juvenile Justice, Handicap International and TARA as NGO Partners.

Ms. Rishika Roy, Head – Committees & Events (North), IFCCI moderated the event.

The event was attended by over 100 participants including business leaders, CSR heads, policy makers, decision makers, CSR foundations and not-for-profit organizations that are at the forefront of sustainability.