Call to integrate sustainability into business models
Experts have called for a greater integration of sustainability principles into modern business models at a recent symposium hosted at the Manakula Vinayagar Institute of Technology (MIT College).
Inaugurating the national conference on 'Contemporary Challenges in Business and Management for Sustainable Development (CIBMSD - 2025),' organised by the Department of Management at MIT, R. Kasilingam, Head and Professor, Department of Management, Pondicherry University, stressed the importance of research-based policies and ethical leadership.
He also called for collaboration between academia and industry in building a resilient, inclusive and green economy, and highlighted the urgent need to integrate sustainability into business models.
He exhorted youth to explore innovative solutions that balance profitability with environmental and social responsibility.
The various sessions under the broad theme, 'Sustainnovation 2.0' dwelt on the concept of 'Decent Work and Economic Growth' and industry, innovation and infrastructure, which represent the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8 and SDG 9) set by the United Nations.
M. Dhanasekaran, Chairman and Managing Director of Manakula Vinayagar Educational Group and the Chancellor of the Tindivanam Takshashila University, presided over the symposium.
S. Malarkkan, Principal, outlined the objectives of the event which was designed as a learning platform for students and researchers.
Narayanasamy Kesavan, Secretary, P. Baskaran, Head of the Department of Management, R. Valli, Head of the College IQAC and Head of the Department of Research and Development, and S. Vaitheeswaran, conference coordinator also participated.
The event attracted more than 200 research students, teachers and students from various colleges nationwide. In all, 55 research papers were selected for presentation out of the submissions.
Rafia Banu from B.S. Abdur Rahman Crescent College of Science and Technology, K. Kamalakannan from SRM University and Divyadarshini from Puducherry University served as the conference chairs.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
a day ago
- Time of India
Government to map NEETs by age in labour survey for targeted skilling push
This is an AI-generated image, used for representational purposes only. NEW DELHI: The Government is planning to track NEET (Not in Employment, Education or Training) youth by age in the labour survey for smarter skilling policies. The ministry of skill development and entrepreneurship (MSDE) has successfully pushed for the inclusion of age-disaggregated NEET data in India's flagship labour survey — the Periodic Labour Force Survey (PLFS). Starting July 2025, the revamped survey will include new questions to better identify and support India's disengaged youth and adult populations. Responding to the recommendations of Jayant Chaudhary, minister of state (independent charge) for skill development and entrepreneurship, ministry of statistics and programme implementation (MoSPI) confirmed that new PLFS rounds will include two questions: one to track whether individuals are undergoing any training, and another to record education or training attendance for the entire 0–59 age group. 'We need to know who the NEETs are—not just in absolute numbers, but in terms of age brackets, vulnerability, and skill needs,' Chaudhary wrote in a letter dated February 5 to MoSPI. While the term "NEET" has long been used to describe those slipping through the cracks of the education and employment systems, it has rarely been dissected beyond a general statistic. This is seen as crucial for how India plans, executes, and evaluates its skilling strategies. Responding to his Chaudhary's request, Rao Inderjit Singh, minister of state (independent charge), MoSPI confirmed on May 19 that new PLFS rounds will include two questions: one to track whether individuals are undergoing any training, and another to record education or training attendance for the entire 0–59 age group. The design was cleared after consultation with expert committees and MSDE to ensure methodological consistency. According to a senior MSDE official, the reform aligns with SDG 8 on decent work and economic growth and is critical for initiatives like Skill India Digital Hub and Apprenticeship Embedded Degree Programmes. Even a 1% shift in NEET status impacts over 2.6 million youth, and now, India is set to know exactly who and where they are.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Maharashtra forest dept partners with Microsoft, Pune NGO for eco-restoration of Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary
Deputy Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Tushan Chavan recently announced that the Maharashtra forest department recently partnered with Microsoft and the Centre for Youth Development and Activities (CYDA), Pune, to address socio-ecological challenges in the Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary. Located 70 km from Pune, Tamhini Wildlife Sanctuary is renowned for its scenic beauty and rich biodiversity, hosting a wide variety of plant and animal species. Funded by Microsoft, the initiative will be executed on the ground by CYDA in close coordination with the forest department. Work will commence from July, officials said. Tamhini is particularly visited during the monsoon season for its picturesque landscape and popular attractions within the reserve forest area, including Andharban forest, Plus Valley, and Devkund. Situated at the crest of the Western Ghats, the sanctuary features several trails for hiking, birding, and walking. The valley resembles a plus sign when viewed from above and is a major draw for visitors who like to trek. However, at times, due to inadequate signboards, some lose their way, officials said. When contacted, Pravin Jadhav, Executive Director, CYDA, said they had completed a needs-based assessment survey and proposed a wide array of interventions at the sanctuary. 'It is a moderately long trek, and the survey also noted that there were no benches. There was also a need to install protective gates and solar lights,' Prasad Zaware, Community Engagement Officer, Microsoft, also observed. Facilities for both wildlife and tourists will be set up, which include drinking water blocks. 'Sanitation blocks will also be constructed apart from managing plastic waste by installing dustbins and bottle crushers,' Jadhav said. 'This collaboration marks a meaningful step towards participatory conservation and the integration of nature-based solutions to combat climate and biodiversity challenges,' Chavan said. Srichandana Nagoji, Community Affairs Lead (India and Kuala Lumpur), Microsoft, added that their partnership not only targets ecological restoration but also builds awareness and engagement with local stakeholders and visitors. 'Microsoft is committed to supporting projects that address global challenges like climate change and biodiversity conservation through localised, community-driven efforts,' Nagoji said, adding that the project aligns with the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. Anuradha Mascarenhas is a journalist with The Indian Express and is based in Pune. A senior editor, Anuradha writes on health, research developments in the field of science and environment and takes keen interest in covering women's issues. With a career spanning over 25 years, Anuradha has also led teams and often coordinated the edition. ... Read More
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
2 days ago
- Business Standard
Sebi comes out with operational framework for ESG debt securities
Markets regulator Sebi on Thursday came out with an operational framework for issuance of social bonds, sustainability bonds and sustainability-linked bonds, which together will be known as Environment, Social and Governance (ESG) debt securities. This will help issuers to raise money for more sustainable projects, assisting in closing the funding gap for the Sustainable Development Goals. In its circular, Sebi said the debt securities will be labelled as 'social bonds' or 'sustainability bonds' or 'sustainability-linked bonds' only if the funds raised through the issuance of such debt securities are proposed to be utilised for financing or refinancing projects. The regulator has addressed the initial and continuous disclosures for sustainable securitised debt instruments that would be based on international frameworks. Initial disclosures would be made in the offer document for the securities, while continuous disclosures would be included in annual reports or other mandated formats. Sebi said that an issuer desirous of issuing social bonds will have to make additional disclosures in the offer document for public issues or private placements. These included social objectives of the social project, brief details of the decision-making process followed for determining the eligibility of projects, details of the procedures to be employed for tracking the deployment of the proceeds and details of an indicative estimate of distribution of proceeds between financing and refinancing of projects. In case of refinancing, details of the existing debt are proposed to be refinanced, including the amount outstanding. The issuer is required to appoint an independent third-party reviewer/ certifier to ascertain that the ESG-labelled debt securities are in alignment with any of the recognised standards. An issuer desirous of issuing sustainability bonds will have to comply with the provisions specified for green debt security. An issuer of social bonds or sustainability bonds will have to ensure that all projects funded by the proceeds of such securities meet the objectives of social bonds or sustainability bonds and utilise the proceeds only for the stated purpose, as disclosed in the offer document. "Certain social projects may also have environmental co-benefits, and that certain green projects may have social co-benefits. The classification of a debt security as a green debt security, social bond or sustainability bond should be determined by the issuer based on its primary objectives for the underlying projects," Sebi said. While raising funds for social objects or sustainability objects, an issuer will have to continuously monitor to check whether the form of operations undertaken is resulting in reduction of the adverse social impact or sustainable impact, as envisaged in the offer document. The framework will come into force for issuances of ESG debt securities with effect from June 5, 2025.
