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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 sustainability 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 7th Sustainability Summit continued its legacy of bringing thought provoking leaders together to share the challenges, long term strategies and best practices for sustainable and inclusive development. It featured senior politicians, bureaucrats, best brains of Indian industry and MNCs around the globe. The Summit and Exhibition were attended by over 300 participants. 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. The winners of the Awards 2012 were announced at an imposing function in Vigyan Bhawan, New Delhi on January 14, 2013, in front of an audience of 1,500 people. The occasion was graced by the Hon’ble President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee, as the Chief Guest.
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. It has been engaged with various stakeholders for advocacy on Clause 135 of the new Companies Bill 2012, which refers to the CSR activities of a company. 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.
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 36 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. 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.