CSR for Change: 71 Corporates Partner with Maharashtra Govt for Tribal Development
Mumbai, 27 February 2025: A one-day conference was held at Sahyadri Guest House to explore Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives aimed at improving living standards in tribal areas. Organized in collaboration with the Tribal Development Department and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the ‘CSR for Change’ initiative, the event saw participation from 71 companies across the country.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis inaugurated the conference. Present at the event were Tribal Development Minister Dr. Ashok Uike, Tribal Development Department Secretary Vijay Waghmare, Industries Department Secretary P. Anbalgan, Tribal Research and Training Institute Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bharud, and Tribal Development Commissioner Leena Bansod.
Seminars Focus on Tribal Welfare and Skill Development
The conference featured two key sessions addressing tribal welfare. The first seminar, ‘Opportunities for Improving the Standard of Living in Tribal Areas,’ included panelists such as Tribal Development Commissioner Leena Bansod, Tata Trusts’ Amitanshu Chaudhary, Bajaj Electrical’s Madhura Talegaonkar, NSE Foundation’s Rema Mohan, and Lupin’s Tushara Shankar. The discussion was moderated by UNDP Programme Chief Shritama Gupta.
The second seminar, ‘Brightening the Future of Tribal Youth through Education and Skill Development,’ focused on education, employment, and skill-building. Panelists included Rajendra Bharud, Commissioner of Tribal Research and Training Institute, Chandrashekhar Natarajan of TCS, Gauri Bhure of DXC, and Piyush Wankhede of HCL. The session was moderated by UNDP Regional Head Jeya Chandran.
CSR Commitments for Tribal Development
Discussions at the conference centered on education, healthcare, employment, and industry policies for tribal development. Participating corporations expressed commitment to taking concrete steps through CSR initiatives to support economic, social, and educational advancement in tribal communities.
The ‘CSR for Change’ initiative aims to foster new opportunities for tribal welfare, with large corporations collaborating to enhance infrastructure and services in tribal areas.
