Conrad Saldanha
KURLA, MARCH 09, 2012: Don Bosco Institute of Technology - MMS held a 'Social Business Summit 2012' on March 2. The theme of the Event was 'Creating a New Humanity'. The rationale was to evaluate how companies are perceiving and practising the triple bottom line (Community, Environment, and Profits) approach and in that context to evaluate whether and to what extent is a new paradigm of business emerging.
The various areas which were discussed included the understanding of Social Business and the various models of Social and Financial Inclusion, Assessment of CSR activities of Corporates, Innovation in Social Business, India's report card on the Millennium Goals, what will the Future organisation look like and how NGOs are addressing the problems within various target groups.
The eminent speakers included Chairman, Entrack International Trading Ltd., Senior Advisor, M&M, Head of Global CSR, TCS, Head of South Asia CSR CitiGroup, MD of Grameen Capital, Trustee of GTL – Global Foundation, CEO, Elephant Design, NGOs like HelpAge India, Stree Mukti Sanghatana, Sanmitra, and Avanti Fellows.
The event was also the occasion for announcing the establishment of a 'Centre for Social Change'. This Centre will attempt to be the bridge between two worlds; the rigorous private sector and the conscious social sector. It will have an Incubation Cell which will encourage students who would like to bring business solutions to social problems. The other focii would be to become a Training Centre for Capacity Enhancement for NGOs, a Research Resource Centre, and a Centre offering Consultancy.
During the event there were also two students' presentations on their experiences with NGOs. The presentations were highly appreciated.
The event also afforded an opportunity for some NGOs to put up their stalls and use this as an opportunity to create awareness among various constituencies about their work.
The Don Bosco Institute of Technology - MMS is engaged in creating students who have excellent functional competencies as well as a sensitivity towards the disadvantaged, underprivileged and challenged. Events like the Social Business Summit help the students to imbibe this perspective.