Responsible Business
As an international firm we are rightly held to high standards in all we do. We believe that our license to operate, the sustainability of our business and the achievement of our vision are dependent on our ability to inspire trust and earn the confidence of all our stakeholders. To do this, we must act responsibly, creating long-term, sustainable value and supporting their future success. We use our commitment to the UN Global Compact, and associated global frameworks, to help shape our approach.
The concepts that are integral to Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) are embedded in our Responsible Business strategy. For instance, we align our operations to contribute towards a number of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), focusing on those areas where we can make the greatest contribution, and we intend to continue to do so through to 2030.
Responsible Business Report 2024
Our progress towards our Responsible Business objectives during the financial year ended 30 April 2024 (FY24) was guided by our focus on understanding the evolving needs of our stakeholders – our people, our clients and our communities – and translating them into actions which deliver positive impact.
Corporate social responsibility
We have always endeavoured to go beyond our business focus and contribute to the well-being of all stakeholders, including the community at large. We believe that sustained economic growth cannot happen without social progress and the well-being of the communities we operate in.
Our Corporate social responsibility (CSR) philosophy is focused on four principal areas:
- Our people are central to everything we do. We realise our potential by creating a safe, healthy and inclusive workplace, and by broadening our skills and experience.
- Our community, where we live and make our living. We focus our efforts on three themes: widening access to justice, access to finance and access to education. Our community initiatives span from pro bono work and volunteering in the community to charitable donations.
- Our environment and contributing to a more sustainable world is important to how we advise our clients and manage our business.
- Doing business responsibly through market-shaping practices in relation to ethics, professional standards and risk management is a top priority.
Vision and objectives
In alignment with its CSR philosophy and through various CSR programmes, the firm focuses on the areas of education, environment and women empowerment. We aim to achieve the firm's CSR objectives in the above focus areas by establishing guidelines and creating opportunities for employees to engage in socially responsible initiatives.
Women empowerment
Karigari Project
To increase greater social inclusivity and economic empowerment, the Karigari project was started to ensure that underprivileged women from rural and semi-urban areas can gain access to skill training. The project aims to increase the number of skilled women and young people from marginalised communities, empowering them economically for the socio-economic upliftment of their families, communities, and the country at large.
The project is structured into two skill segments, each with distinct employability objectives. The Grassroots Skill Development focuses on enhancing traditional skills among women and young people, while the second segment, Future Skill Development, targets the development of digital skills to promote employability in the current job market. By targeting these two segments, Karigari aims to create a more inclusive and sustainable workforce that can drive social and economic progress.
Over the years, we have collaborated with Literacy India to implement the Karigari project's Grassroots Skill Development programmes across various states in India. Impacting thousands of young people, adolescent girls, and women, the project aims to enhance their job readiness and employability through training on a diverse range of skills, including information technology enabled services, stitching and dressmaking, beauty and wellness, and traditional skills such as painting and embroidery.
Bhagyalaxmi Project
We have partnered with the Nirmaan Organisation since 2023, to further advance our commitment and contribution to women’s empowerment by providing women from financially weaker families with the skills and confidence to lead both economically and socially independent lives.
Under the Bhagyalaxmi project’s vision, we seek to identify women in need of scholarships and offer financial assistance, along with mentorship, to guide them towards successful entrepreneurial paths. The Skill Development Centres offer a three-month training programme to selected women. Those chosen have the option to receive training in various vocations such as tailoring, embroidery, bag making and beautician services, among others. Before completing the programme, an independent examination assesses the beneficiaries who then receive certificates upon successful completion. In addition to regular training, the women also attend workshops and learning sessions focusing on income generation programmes and value-added skills development.
Education
Gurukul Project
Since 2015, we have partnered with Literacy India to support the education of tribal children in Purulia (West Bengal). The Gurukul Project evolved from the need to educate children who have potential but cannot access mainstream formal education due to a lack of access, resources, and opportunities.
Some of the gains from this project include: an awareness about the importance of education and skill development especially among women and young girls, a positive impact on the school dropout rate among children, especially girls, and the control of widespread child marriage in the focused areas.
Every year new students are enrolled for education sponsorship; child marriages of girls at the age of 13 have become less from villages with tribal communities; parents have a better understanding of the significance of education for girls and have also become more aware of various government educational schemes.
Through the Gurukul Project, we have provided much-needed support to these underprivileged students, enabling them to continue their education and improve their prospects for the future. The project's efforts are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Goals.
Pardada Pardadi Educational Society
In 2023, we began our partnership with Pardada Pardadi Educational Society (PPES). PPES provides free education, job opportunities, healthcare, and livelihood enhancement for girls from marginalised sections of society, enabling them to break out of the cycle of poverty. On completing their schooling, students are encouraged to opt for courses and universities which guarantee 100 percent placement.
As part of this partnership, we donated over 200 laptops to support digital learning initiatives amongst students at PPES, enhancing their education and improving their job prospects. In addition to the laptop donation, we organised training sessions on laptop use and cyber security for students, providing them with the necessary skills and knowledge to safeguard data, devices, and networks from cyber threats and attacks through basic cyber security concepts and principles.
The India CSR team also visited the society's facility in Utter Pradesh to celebrate Children's Day with the students, sharing their knowledge and experience of studying and working to help the students gain an insight into the challenges they may face.
Environment
Rainwater Harvesting and Tree Plantation Drive
Tarun Bharat Sangh is an NGO working in the field of water security for people from villages in the Mewat region. The major objectives of the projects undertaken by the NGO include the creation of rainwater harvesting structures, building water tanks for the community, and the installation of sprinklers to promote water conservation and water-use efficiency.
We also partnered with Tarun Bharat Sangh for a tree plantation drive in Neemli, Rajasthan. The tree plantation programme entailed the planting of Anaar, Nimbu, Amrood, Shahtoot and Kaccha Badam trees by our employees. The aim of the programme is to promote biodiversity by planting native species to create a self-sustaining ecosystem and natural habitat through the long-term engagement of village communities in growing and nurturing trees, and to make an environmental, social and rural impact by empowering village communities.