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India’s CSR model focuses on spending, not accountability—allowing child labour to persist deep within supply chains. Real change requires shifting from charity-based CSR to strict human rights due diligence. Introduction In the forested hills of Giridih district, Jharkhand, a 12-year-old girl named Priya helped her mother sift mica from the earth before school. On days…
India’s CSR spending has surged to ₹22,212 crore, reflecting stronger compliance and ESG alignment. However, gaps in regional distribution and lack of impact measurement mean the real social outcomes remain unclear. The Number and What It Misses NSE-listed companies poured Rs 22,212 crore into CSR in FY2024-25. That’s a 23% jump from last year’s Rs…
India’s gig economy is expanding rapidly, but millions of gig workers remain excluded from basic labour rights and social protections. The article argues that corporate CSR and policy frameworks must urgently evolve to ensure dignity, security, and accountability for this workforce. Introduction Ramesh Kumar wakes up at 5 AM every day. He has no office,…
India’s CSR spending still prioritizes post-disaster relief over pre-disaster resilience, even though proactive investments save more lives and livelihoods. To address rising climate risks, corporate strategy must shift toward long-term, risk-based resilience planning rather than reactive aid. Introduction Geeta Devi lives in Darbhanga, Bihar. In the monsoon of 2025, the Baghmati river rose for the…
The 2026 gender pay gap has widened, with women earning $0.82 for every dollar men make, revealing that progress on pay equity is reversing rather than improving. Structural issues like caregiving penalties, biased pay systems, and weak accountability continue to reinforce inequality over time. The Number on Equal Pay Day Every year, Equal Pay Day…
Britannia’s promise of 50% women on factory floors has fallen far short, with overall workforce representation at just 12.6%. The gap highlights a broader issue in India’s ESG reporting—bold targets without real accountability. Back in 2022, Britannia Industries made a big promise: half of its factory workforce would be women by 2024. Senior leaders made…
A footpath cobbler’s quiet skill and dignity reveal a life shaped by hardship, caste identity, and resilience, as he supports his family and prioritizes his children’s education despite earning barely enough to survive. “Cobbler, cobbler, mend my shoe, Give it a stitch, and that will do.” The kindergarten poem lines reverberated in my mind as…
India’s CSR sector recognizes that beneficiary numbers don’t reflect real impact, yet reporting systems still prioritize headcounts over actual outcomes. This creates a growing gap between rising CSR spending and genuine accountability on the ground. India CSR ran an interview with R. Pavithra Kumar, CEO of JSW Foundation, back in April. It hit a lot…
Global leaders at the World Bank Spring Meetings 2026 highlighted key systems to empower women economically, but progress remains slow and uneven. With massive funding gaps and structural barriers, turning targets into real transformation remains a distant goal. The 2026 Spring Meetings of the World Bank Group and the IMF wrapped up today in Washington….
Disability in rural India is widespread but underserved, with limited access to physiotherapy and rehabilitation due to infrastructure gaps, stigma, and low awareness. These challenges are further intensified by poverty, distance, and gender inequality, restricting care and social inclusion. Disability in India is both a public health challenge and a social issue shaped by geography,…
