Csr Tata

Executive summary and recommendations: CSR in India – perspectives for business May 2007 1 May 2007

Prepared for: Collage Article 13 56-58 Community Centre East of Kailash New Delhi - 110 065 INDIA Phone: +91 26436810 / +91 98 1007 1292 Email: latikakhaneja@collageindia.com

Prepared by: Article 13 Group 71a The Grove London W5 5LL UNITED KINGDOM

Phone: +44 20 8840 4450 Email: janefionac@article13.com

Registered in the United Kingdom No. 03624247 Registered Office: 52 High Street, Pinner, Middlesex, HA5 5PW

Introduction If the purpose of a company is to deliver profit to shareholders what role does Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) play? Why has the topic risen up corporate agendas over the last 15 years? Why now? What does the term actually mean? CollageArticle 13 – a new joint venture consultancy considered these issues as part of this launch piece of research particularly focussing on India. There is little consensus on the definition of CSR. A useful pointer is provided by the UK Department for Trade and Industry who define CSR as a company’s response to the issues on the sustainable development agenda. Sustainable development can be further defined as comprising the social, environmental and economic agendas (sometimes called the triple bottom line). The reason for sustainable development has been classically stated in the Brundtland Report as “meeting the needs of the present without compromising the choices available for the needs of the future”. But why should this matter to business? What are the business drivers to take on the agenda? The World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) defines CSR as "The continuing commitment by business to behave ethically and contribute to economic development while improving the quality of life of the work force and their families as well as of the local community and society at large”. Is this rhetoric or practice-based reality? In KPMG's International Survey of Corporate (Social)... [continues]

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