TFP Bureau, New Delhi, October 8, 2025: The Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA), under the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, successfully concluded a two-day National Conference and Exhibition on “Leveraging CSR Excellence for Tribal Development” in New Delhi. The event, which marked the second IICA CSR Day, emphasized the importance of inclusive, collaborative, and sustainable growth through community-centric Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.
The conference brought together more than 400 delegates from the government, industry, academia, and civil society to discuss aligning CSR strategies with national priorities for tribal development and sustainable livelihoods. The event also featured an exhibition and cultural performances celebrating India’s rich tribal heritage, symbolizing the strength and diversity of indigenous communities.
Addressing the valedictory session, Shri K. Moses Chalai, Secretary, Department of Public Enterprises (DPE), highlighted the need for long-term, sustainable CSR engagement by Central Public Sector Enterprises (CPSEs) to strengthen tribal economies. He urged companies to focus on skill development, entrepreneurship, and digital inclusion as drivers of self-reliance among tribal populations in line with the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047.” Chalai underscored that CSR initiatives must have clear objectives, measurable outcomes, and defined milestones to ensure tangible social and environmental impact. He called on CPSEs to collaborate with state governments, corporates, and civil society organizations to ensure effective planning, monitoring, and execution of projects.
In her address, Smt. Deepti Gaur Mukerjee, Secretary, Ministry of Corporate Affairs, commended IICA for creating a collaborative platform that unites policymakers, business leaders, and community practitioners. She proposed the creation of an interactive digital “CSR Exchange” platform to facilitate collaboration between government and corporate stakeholders, enabling project mapping, sharing of best practices, and identifying impact-driven partnerships. She emphasized that CSR initiatives must prioritize community participation and ownership to ensure long-term sustainability, calling for approaches that respect tribal culture, promote self-reliance, and empower local leadership.
Shri Gyaneshwar Kumar Singh, Director General and CEO of IICA, stressed that CSR should move beyond financial donations and focus on delivering technological and managerial expertise. He called for data-driven and outcome-based CSR aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), advocating for geographically balanced interventions and greater inclusion of underserved regions such as the North East. Singh also encouraged the adoption of artificial intelligence and analytics for real-time impact monitoring and emphasized the need for convergence between government, private sector, and civil society to accelerate tribal development.
Addressing the gathering, Mr. Bo Beiskjaer, Chief of Resource Mobilization and Partnerships at UNICEF India, described CSR as a transformational tool for advancing human and children’s rights within tribal communities. He highlighted UNICEF’s commitment to improving health, education, and employability outcomes for tribal children and stressed that CSR initiatives must ensure equity, dignity, and inclusion.
Dr. Garima Dadhich, Head of the School of Business Environment at IICA, presented the session-wise report, emphasizing the importance of integrating technology, data, and cultural sensitivity in CSR projects. She advocated for supporting traditional crafts, geographical indication (GI)-tagged products, and locally relevant enterprises to create long-term social and economic impact.
In her vote of thanks, Dr. Dadhich acknowledged the support of the Ministry of Corporate Affairs, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region, and Department of Public Enterprises. She also recognized the contributions of lead partner HCL Foundation, exhibition partner TRIFED, and other collaborators including GAIL (India) Ltd., Indian Oil Corporation Ltd., UNICEF, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Spark Minda Foundation, and 34 exhibitors who showcased impactful CSR initiatives.
The conference concluded with a collective call for transforming CSR into a strategic driver of inclusive and sustainable tribal development, ensuring that corporate responsibility directly contributes to India’s vision of a developed, equitable, and self-reliant nation.
