Economic Performance

Creating Enduring Institutions

CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development

The ‘CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development’, set up by ITC jointly with the apex national chamber Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in 2006, continues its endeavours to promote sustainable business practices amongst corporates across the country. During the year, the Centre trained and raised awareness of over 2,000 business managers on various sustainability issues. It has expanded its gamut of activities to meet the core objectives of creating awareness, promoting thought leadership and building capacity amongst Indian enterprises in their quest for sustainable growth and business solutions.

The 6th Sustainability Summit: ‘Sustainability Solutions, 2011’, attracted over 350 participants representing experts from industry, government and civil society from India and several countries across the world and over 25 exhibitors participated in the first-ever Sustainability Exhibition. The ‘CII-ITC Sustainability Awards’, instituted to recognise excellence in sustainability performance, have honoured a large number of leading Indian companies and provided encouragement to many others. It is heartening that the number of aspirants for the Award is steadily increasing year on year. The Centre is today playing a major role in engaging with policy makers to create an environment that encourages the adoption of sustainable business practices. The Centre is a consulting partner in several policy interventions such as Green Guidelines for Public Procurement, Low Carbon Expert Group of the Planning Commission, National Innovation Council, Ministry of Corporate Affairs on CSR Policy, National Awards for Prevention of Pollution, Rajiv Gandhi Environment Awards for Clean Technology and Technology and Finance Committee under the Montreal Protocol. It is also represented on the Board of the Central Pollution Control Board and other bodies. During the year, the Centre introduced three new service lines in the areas of Social Responsibility based on ISO 26000, Green House Gas Emissions Inventories and Verification based on ISO 14064 and business model innovation. It is the only certified trainer for sustainability assurance professionals in South-East and South Asia.

ITC Sangeet Research Academy

The ITC Sangeet Research Academy (ITC SRA) is a true embodiment of sustained corporate commitment to a priceless national heritage. It is a unique institution recognised for being the finest repository of Hindustani Classical Music. With a commitment that has remained consistent for over 35 years, ITC SRA is the world’s first and only professionally managed modern Gurukul, blending modern day research methods with the purity of the age old Guru-Shishya tradition. ITC SRA has a mission of preservation and propagation of Hindustani Classical Music. With a galaxy of 9 pre-eminent Gurus and 50 scholars today, from 20, three years ago, the Academy is currently engaged in carrying the message of Hindustani Classical Music across our country from the metros to rural India. Recent forays into neighbouring Bangladesh have brought home another dimension of the shared sub-continental heritage.

Other Infrastructure Initiatives

Information on e-Choupals (rural digital network), watershed development etc. is detailed elsewhere in the Report.