Return
to Story Page
To print: Select File and then Print from your
browser's menu
Nivedita Mookerji
Social development goes much beyond building schools, hospitals and tubewells. That appears to be a firm view of many in the corporate world. And employment generation, they say, should be the foremost in a corporate's agenda towards social development.
Suresh Nanda, executive vice-president and zonal manager, ICICI Bank, says that in today's world, creating employment is what matters. And nothing can contribute more towards social development, Nanda adds. Although ICICI Bank has been involved in a number of welfare activities, Nanda feels a lot more can be done in the sphere of job generation.
One example of its welfare activities is an ATM branch easily accessible to the physically disabled. This branch is at the Spinal Injury Centre in New Delhi. But Nanda dismisses the effort. He says: ``Only if we are able to offer a job to a disabled person at our bank can we even think of talking about it.''
A Sudhakar, director, Human Resources, Ernst & Young, agrees with Nanda on employment generation as afocussed area in social development. Says Sudhakar: ``Over the years, corporates have created employment opportunities in far-flung areas of the country.''
Take for example, JK Industries and Ranbaxy, he says. These two business houses have contributed in a major way towards employment generation by first setting up factories in remote districts of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and then adopting villages over there.
Explains Sudhakar: ``Social development depends a lot on where one is situated. And one can add to society by developing one's own surroundings. Set a standard first, and lots of things will follow.''
So, keeping this principle in mind, Indian corporates have contributed tremendously to the growth of the places where they have set up factories-they've generated jobs in plenty, made housing colonies, built hospitals, schools and theatres.
But, adds Sudhakar, public sector companies also have a major role to play in the development of remote areas. BHEL, he says, led to the development ofHardwar, Bhopal and Trichy, to name a few.
Sudhakar adds that there has been a gradual shift in the philanthropic attitude of the corporates because of intense competition. Earlier, he says, the well-being of society was a part of corporate concerns. But now the corporate world looks at social development only if it's a necessity.Sudhakar maintains, however, that corporates have an immense potential to work for the society. As a suggestion, he says, industry should spend more time and money to develop the skills of the local population, thereby preventing the hiring of manpower from outside the region. This step, he says, will not only lessen the strain on ``agriculture living'' in rural areas, but also enable the villagers to see the results of modernisation.
Although employment generation is shrinking in the country, Sudhakar feels there's still hope. For instance, the international insurance companies that are waiting to set up shop here, are looking at the skilled staff who have been retrenched inthe finance sector. These insurance companies, according to Sudhakar, are already app- ointing some of those retren-ched recently. He says that is part of social development, and more corporates should focus on re-employing the recession-hit skilled workers. Anil Bhatia, manager, TimesBank, though agreeing that employment generation should be looked upon as an essential part of social development, holds a differing view on what they're actually doing. He says: ``Companies generally create jobs to meet their own requirements, and not for the sake of social development.''Sujoy Roy, vice-president, Personnel & HRD, Gestetner, however, looks at social development as a very positive contribution by the corporate world.
And employment generation, says Roy, is a major step in that direction.Citing the case of Gestetner, Roy says: ``Our company has recruited 190 people all over India in the past three years despite the recession. And it plans to recruit another 50 in 1999.''
In a related note, Roy mentions thatconcern for one's employees also contributes to the growth of the social structure. In that respect, Gestetner has a unique insurance package for all its employees-from the vice-president to the lowest rung. In case of fatal accidents, the widow gets 40 months' salary (according to the last salary drawn by the deceased employee), adds Roy. And this benefit becomes applicable as soon as an employee joins the company as a permanent staffer. Plus, all employees of the company are covered for medical expenses. The unique social security net in Gestetner, Roy believes, helps spread a social message.
Roy adds: ``No corporate is a separate entity, rather it is a part of the social structure. Therefore, corporates need to care for the society at large.'' And caring for employees is a good way of indicating support for the community, Roy says.
L N Jhunjhunwala, chairman of the LNJ Bhilwara group, backs Roy in his beliefs on social development. Says Jhunjhunwala: ``I don't delink social development from thedevelopment of the company.'' And since the company is doing well, social development must follow.
Jhunjhunwala adds: ``The Bhilwara training institutes teach young boys and girls to produce apparel of global brands.
He says: ``You look at the smiles on these workers' faces, and you know the success stories behind them.''
As an extension of his faith in mysticism as the essence of all human values, Jhunjhunwala concludes: ``Social development does not just mean good of the society, but also our own good.''
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
------------------------------------------------------------
This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
------------------------------------------------------------