Kenyan banks invested $19 million in CSR in 2018

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June 21, 2019

Kenya’s banking industry invested 2.1 billion shillings ($19 million) in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in 2018 and approximately 6.7 billion shillings ($59 million) over the past three years, according to the 2019 Kenya Banking Industry shared value report released on Thursday by the Kenya Bankers Association (KBA).Education ranks first as the top social investment area for banks, followed by health and environment.

Overall, banks have donated in excess of 9 billion shillings ($88 million) since 2015 in CSR activities, which has contributed greatly to Kenya’s realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Speaking at the release of the industry’s social responsibility report in Nairobi, KBA Governing Council Representative and KCB Bank Kenya Managing Director Samuel Makome reiterated the role the banking industry has played in creating shared value for the society.

“Banks are heavily investing in engagements and activities that have a positive impact on the society, environment and economy,” he said.

In terms of contributing to Kenya’s overall economic growth, in the 2017/2018 financial year, the banking industry paid more than 73 billion shillings ($716 million) in taxes to the national government.

In the same period, the KBA report found banks have invested 39 billion shillings in employment creation through jobs and contracts which generated further revenue to fund the National Budget.

KBA CEO, Dr. Habil Olaka noted that as much as banks are making a greater contribution to the economy and society, there are hurdles faced by the industry, including the Banking (Amendment) Act, 2016, which introduced interest rate controls.

“The interest rate ceiling set by Parliament has negatively impacted private sector access to credit, which has led to an estimated 1.4 percent decline in GDP,” said Dr. Olaka.

Source: Journal du Cameroun

CSR Needs To Step In To Control AES Outbreak

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Hency Thacker

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June 21, 2019

More than 100 children lost their lives in Muzaffarpur district of Bihar because of the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak. AES, more commonly referred to as ‘Brain fever’, has been triggered by the consumption of litchis on an empty stomach at night.

While the luscious fruit has triggered the disease in the state, it isn’t the cause of it. The causal factor of the disease is malnutrition. Malnourished children have depleted glycogen store in the liver. So if there is no glycogen reserve, the glycogen breaks into glucose. When the shortage further increases, even fats start burning. This process produces byproducts like ketones and amino acids which are neurotoxic. So, if a child sleeps without food, this whole physiological process gets completed by wee hours of the day and then the kid gets a fever with convulsions and at times s/he loses consciousness.

When malnourished kids are exposed to toxins like MCPG present in litchi, which is grown in these months, the chemical triggers hypoglycaemia. It’s so much that sugar levels fall up to 30 milligrams per decilitre and sometimes even nil. This leads to complications. The fact that only malnourished children are at risk is also proven by the reasoning that all the vulnerable children belong to the poorest of the poor class. No child eating litchi, who belongs to a well-to-do family and gets adequate food, suffers from AES.

Most of these deaths are preventable. Within four hours of the onset of symptoms like convulsions, high fever if a child is administered dextrose (glucose), s/he can be saved. Only glucose administration is required. However, most of the patients come from far off villages where the peripheral medical facilities, much against the government’s claims, don’t even have facilities to administer it intravenously.

Health infrastructure and malnourishment causing these many deaths of small children are heart-breaking. It is time the government starts addressing these issues. While building infrastructure at remote places may take some time, malnutrition needs to be addressed immediately. It is shameful that even today, people lose their lives because of lack of food.

In order to scale up the process at a faster pace, businesses have to step in with expertise, management, and infrastructure investment. GDP growth is not only the measure of a good economy. Health, nutrition, respect, and opportunity for all is the mark of a developed economy.

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The CSR Journal Team

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International Day of Yoga: The original mind-body medicine

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Kasmin Fernandes

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June 21, 2019

Yoga is the original mind-body medicine that has enabled individuals to attain and maintain sukha sthanam, a dynamic sense of physical, mental and spiritual well being. Bhagavad-Gita defines Yoga as samatvam meaning thereby that yoga is equanimity at all levels, a state wherein physical homeostasis and mental equanimity occur in a balanced and healthy harmony.

It is well established that stress weakens our immune system. Scientific research in recent times has showed that the physiological, psychological and biochemical effects of Yoga are of an antistress nature. Mechanisms postulated included the restoration of autonomic balance as well as an improvement in restorative, regenerative and rehabilitative capacities of the individual. A healthy inner sense of wellbeing produced by a life of Yoga percolates down through the different levels of our existence from the higher to the lower producing health and wellbeing of a holistic nature.

Why International Day of Yoga matters

The science of Yoga has numerous practical techniques as well as advice for proper life style in order to attain and maintain health and well being. Bahiranga practices such as yama, niyama, asana and pranayama help produce physical health while antaranga practices of dharana and dhyana work on producing mental health along with pratyahara. Yoga works towards restoration of normalcy in all systems of the human body with special emphasis on the psychoneuro-immuno-endocrine axis.

Yoga for positive health

In addition to its preventive and restorative capabilities, Yoga also aims at promoting positive health that will help us to tide over health challenges that occur during our lifetime. This concept of positive health is one of Yoga’s unique contributions to modern healthcare as Yoga has both a preventive as well as promotive role in the healthcare of our masses. It is also inexpensive and can be used in tandem with other systems of medicine in an integrated manner to benefit patients.

The dedicated practice of Yoga as a way of life is no doubt a panacea for problems related to psychosomatic, stress related physical, emotional and mental disorders and helps us regain our birthright of health and happiness. Let’s remember this during our practice on the International Day of Yoga.

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Karma Group Awards Scholarships To Students

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The CSR Journal

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June 20, 2019

Karma Group Chairman and Founder John Spence awarded the Preverger Penguin Prize Scholarship to several talented students from Christel House India in Bengaluru. Karma Group is known for its commitment to making a difference to the society at large and has been supporting this organisation since its inception.

Christel House India was founded in 2001, and since then, Karma Group has supported several of its programmes. Christel House has been successful in providing robust K–12 education and a strong character development programme, as well as regular healthcare, nutritious meals, guidance counselling, career planning, family assistance and College & Careers, support for underprivileged children. Karma Group raises funds with its annual Penguin Walk, held at Karma’s renowned Le Preverger estate near St. Tropez in France, to provide full university scholarships to three students from the institute.

Karma Group has empowered these students to pursue their dreams of tertiary education by removing the financial barriers in their path. These students are given the opportunity to become a part of the fabric of India’s future in business and the community, transforming their lives forever. One such student, Ms Sindhu P, expressed her gratitude for the incredible support from Mr John Spence and Karma Group. Being a scholarship awardee, Sindhu will now be able to pursue a Bachelor in Hotel Management at one of the best universities in India, turning her dreams into a reality. “I fondly recall one of my experiences during fifth grade,” said Sindhu. “At one of the initiatives under Karma Cares, I enjoyed a five-day holiday at Camp Royal in Goa, which was a life-changing experience. I’m immensely grateful to Mr Spence for his support.”

Karma Group has been awarding this scholarship for 14 years, as well as conducting a five-day, fully-funded camp for the children since 2002. Each student associated with the initiative has benefited from the scholarship, and all of them are doing well in their respective fields and academic endeavours.

“Karma Group has enjoyed an incredible journey in the Indian travel and hospitality industry for over 26 years and along the way it has been a true privilege to make a difference to the futures of many wonderfully gifted students and through them their communities,” said John Spence, Chairman and Founder, Karma Group. “These scholarships serve as the perfect way to celebrate both our successes and those of these talented and promising students. Whatever you give to the universe comes back and that’s where the whole ‘karma’ thing comes from. I believe it’s everyone’s duty to do what they can to help the world around them and this is at the heart of all of our global enterprises.”

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What Slow Food International Council expects from the new FAO Director General

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The CSR Journal

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June 20, 2019

The new Director General of FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization) will be elected at the United Nations in a few days’ time.

The Slow Food International Council, which has just held its annual meeting in Chiusi (Italy) to draw up its political strategies for the years to come, hopes that the new appointment will clearly express the desire to move towards consolidating food biodiversity and models that support all those across the world who produce food sustainably and fairly.

Through the mouthpiece of its councilors (who come from 32 countries and represent the 160 in which it is active), Slow Food is at pains to point out that, at a moment in time in which the environment and climate emergency is taking on global proportions and challenges need to be addressed urgently, the role and responsibility of FAO – founded to help fight hunger and malnutrition, and to improve the lives of rural populations – will be more important than ever before.

Slow Food’s international councilors hope that, following up the work undertaken by the present incumbent, José Graziano Da Silva, and in acknowledgment of the incipient United Nations Decade of Family Farming (2019-2028), the new Director General will use his or her four-year term of office to focus on:

the dissemination of agro-ecological production systems as an efficient tool for the protection of local areas and rural societies;
support for family and small-scale farming;
the fight against the spread of GMOs;
the protection of the rights of indigenous populations;
support for artisan fishing in order to preserve our seas’ fish resources.

With its hundreds of thousands and members and activists behind it, Slow Food will continue its commitment to fight for a good, clean and fair food system for everyone on earth – an objective it hopes to be able to pursue with FAO over the next four years.

CSR: Human Rights Violations at Rise in Asia

By

Hency Thacker

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June 20, 2019

Human rights have seen the worst of times in Asia, especially in recent years according to a report by the United Nations Declaration on Human right defenders. The biennial report, titled Defending In Numbers, by the Asian Forum for Human Rights and Development (FORUM‐ASIA), documented 688 cases of violations and abuses affecting 4,854 people — including human rights organisations, local communities and media outlets — across 18 countries in the continent between 2017 and 2018.

Most common forms of violations were 327 cases of judicial harassment 249 cases of arbitrary detention, and 164 cases even involved violence. About 50% of the total 688 cases in the year have been against those fighting for the cause of democracy and access to land and environmental rights.

The most targeted group of HRDs were against pro-democracy defenders, accounting to Over 210 cases. Between 2017 and 2018, pro-democracy defenders were harshly targeted with violations six of which resulted in the death of the defender. This was followed by land and environmental rights activists — fighting to access natural resources.

The activists include indigenous and tribal peoples, farming and peasant groups and other local communities, whose land, life, and livelihoods are threatened by the exploitation of the environment and the establishment of development projects that violate people’s rights.

The violations were most common in the Philippines (39 cases), Vietnam (23 cases) and India (17 cases).

Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and their staff, defenders of women rights and journalists (87 cases) were also heavily targeted in 2017-2018.

State actors such as the police, the judiciary and armed forces were ranked as the number one perpetrator of harassment and abuse against HRDs. However, the role of non-state actors in harassing land and environmental defenders was increasingly common between 2017 and 2018.

The non-state actors primarily include businesses and corporations in the mining and extractives industries and agri-businesses, competing to access natural resources for profit or otherwise seeking to implement large-scale development projects with little regard for its impact on the surrounding communities or environment.

As development projects proliferate and the competition for natural resources increases, the situation of activists fighting for the cause of environment is expected to worsen unless measures are established for their protection.

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Regards,
The CSR Journal Team

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Status of electric mobility in India

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Kasmin Fernandes

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June 20, 2019

India’s electric vehicle industry is taking huge forward strides. The National Electric Mobility Mission Plan (NEMMP) 2020 was launched by the Central Government in 2013 to boost the manufacture of hybrid and electric vehicles in India and aims to achieve production of seven million electric vehicles by 2020. This initiative has been complemented by the Government
providing demand-side incentives through its Faster Adoption & Manufacturing of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles in India (FAME) scheme. Private automobile players have risen to the challenge and have been investing in R&D facilities and setting up additional manufacturing units for e-Vehicles, thus changing the status of electric mobility.

Changing status of electric mobility

With the Government deciding to fund up to 60% of R&D costs for the development of indigenous low-cost electric technology, global automobile players are investing heavily in R&D in electric vehicle technologies in India. A face lift is definitely anticipated for India’s electric mobility industry with a major thrust from the Government.

The growth story of electric vehicles has been compelling and some technologically advanced economies have developed cutting-edge technologies that have given them the much-needed traction. This is in part a solution to the larger problem in hand, since electric vehicles have zero tailpipe emissions and thereby reduce the carbon footprint.

Why is it better?

Concerns surrounding climate change dictate our need to move to cleaner sources of energy, and all available evidence indicates that such energy will be harnessed in the form of electricity, and therefore it is imperative that vehicles of the future should be built to be driven using electrical energy.

Apart from emissions, electric vehicles have fewer moving parts or components and batteries with a life time of up to 15 years. This drastically reduce their maintenance costs. However, the current stabilisation phase is expected to take longer periods of time in terms of technology, battery support and charging infrastructure that need to be established pan-India.

With government schemes and Smart City projects providing a catalytic base and fostering the growing EV presence, the future looks promising. At the current rate, with the incremental changes introduced and the formulation of policies and standards on emissions, the inflection point is expected to be achieved by 2050, wherein 90% of vehicles will be electric and only 10% traditional.

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Tupperware: A Legacy Brand Embracing a Sustainable Future

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The CSR Journal

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June 19, 2019

As overflowing landfills and waste-ridden seas dominate the headlines, advocates continue to call on companies to embrace a circular economy, in which materials are infinitely reused and nothing becomes waste. Tupperware Brands is among those answering the call. Earlier this month, the direct sales company rolled out a vision to leverage its people and products to push the circular economy forward—which it fittingly dubbed No Time To Waste.

For Tupperware, which was founded in the 1940s with a lineup of reusable food storage containers, the move is something of a return to its roots. “One could say we practised sustainability before it was even called that,” said Mark Shamley, VP of social impact for Tupperware. “Our plan is about how to leverage our history and modernize that approach for where we are today.”

This summer Tupperware will become one of the first four companies to utilize a new raw material made from mixed plastic waste. The so-called “certified circular polymer” will appear in a line of Tupperware products meant to replace single-use items—including a reusable straw, coffee cup and beverage tumbler.

“This is a global launch for the company that allows us to make a pretty bold statement around reusability and renewable materials,” Shamley said. “It supports claims about the circular economy and, at the same time, provides alternatives to well known single-use items that are found in waterways and oceans.”

The company’s operational changes under No Time To Waste are numerous: It committed to eliminating waste sent to landfill by 2025 and pioneer new technologies that will allow 90 per cent of returned products to be reused or recycled at the end of their useful lives. Additionally, with its network of millions of salespeople and customers worldwide, Tupperware’s leadership feels the company can help hasten the shift toward more sustainable choices. The company is calling on customers to take a low-waste pledge and reaching out with lifestyle tips to help them “waste less and live more.

Source: The Triple Pundit

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CSR: WHO Steps in To Curb AMR

By

Hency Thacker

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June 19, 2019

Excessive use of antibiotics in healthcare has led to a rise in antimicrobial resistance across the world. According to WHO, Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) occurs when microorganisms such as bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites change in ways that render the medications used to cure the infections they cause ineffective. When the microorganisms become resistant to most antimicrobials they are often referred to as “superbugs”.

AMR is a global issue and according to a survey conducted by Food and Agriculture Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and the World Health Organization (WHO), most countries of the world, Including India have not done well to address it.

According to the survey results, the country has not done well on four out of the 16 parameters analysed. Despite the fact that the problem of AMR persists, there is no effort to train stakeholders such as farmers, farm workers, extension workers, food and feed processors and retailers, and environmental specialists on AMR. India also does not have a national plan or system for monitoring sales and use of antimicrobials in animals and plants.

In an attempt to guide the countries frame a sound policy for addressing AMR, the WHO has launched a global campaign that has urged the countries to adopt its new online tool aimed at guiding policy-makers and health workers to use antibiotics safely and more effectively. Its another objective is to limit drugs that are at risk of resistance.

The tool, known as ‘AWaRe’, classifies antibiotics into three groups:

Access – antibiotics used to treat the most common and serious infections
Watch – antibiotics available at all times in the healthcare system
Reserve – antibiotics to be used sparingly or preserved and used only as a last resort

The campaign aims to achieve a 60 per cent increase in the use of antibiotics under the Access group. The drugs in these groups are cheap, ‘narrow-spectrum’ drugs (that target a specific microorganism rather than several) and also lower the risk of resistance. Apart from this, it also aims to reduce the use of the antibiotics most at risk of resistance from the Watch and Reserve groups.

According to the British Government’s Review on Anti Microbial Resistance, Antibiotic resistance is one of the biggest health risks and is estimated to kill 50 million by 2050 worldwide. Steps to curb it must be taken on a priority basis across the world.

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‘Our society is still not equipped to provide equal opportunity to women’: Durga Sakthi Nagpal, OSD to the Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister of India

By

Hency Thacker

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June 19, 2019

Bureaucrat, civil servant and officer in the Uttar Pradesh cadre of the IAS, Durga Sakthi Nagpal is a role model for young girls today. She came into public view after launching a massive drive against corruption and illegal sand mining within her jurisdiction of Gautam Budh Nagar. She was later suspended by the Uttar Pradesh government for allegedly demolishing an illegal mosque wall in a village in Greater Noida, which resulted in severe opposition as it was perceived to be based on flimsy grounds. Her suspension was revoked by the Uttar Pradesh government on 22 September, 2013.

Nagpal was appointed in the Agriculture Ministry as OSD (Officer on Special Duty) to the Union Agriculture & Farmers Welfare Minister, Radha Mohan Singh in January 2015, a post that she currently holds. Excerpts from an interview:

How can the youth of India participate in fighting corruption?

The youth of India needs to play a significant role in this regard. In a country where more than 50% of the population is below the age of 25, their role in facilitating change, including fighting corruption can be decisive. As India leverages the power of its young in shaping our socio-economic discourse and future roadmap, corruption is a serious stumbling block.

It would be incumbent upon the young to remove this impediment from every level of governance starting from school and neighbourhood to various levels of bureaucracy and political processes. They must ask questions, fix responsibility and seek accountability. It is the best time ever, being digitally equipped and technology savvy, and additional demographic advantage, the youth can give a big momentum to the mission of creating awareness, building appropriate environment and endeavouring for consensus.

What is the driving force behind your decisions?

Ever since I joined the civil service, all my decisions have been based on seeking the truth and upholding the rule of law for the greater public good. I am cognizant of the trust and responsibility the constitution of India and the people bestow upon us, the bureaucrats, and so it is not only our moral duty but also a matter of national pride in striving to bring about qualitative changes wherever feasible.

Women in India face a lot of prejudice, particularly if they are career oriented. How was your journey towards being an IAS officer?

My journey happily has been prejudice-free both at home and workplace. My parents have nurtured and encouraged me to pursue higher education, explore opportunities, choose freely and make my own decisions. Even in my earlier role as SDM, NOIDA (Gautam Budh Nagar, UP), I was the only woman in the special task force in GB Nagar to raid sand mining mafias. This fact
never deterred me, intimidated me or made me less focused on my duty.

However, there is no denying that gender bias exists in our society and this struggle for parity continues. Women in present-day India are stronger, opinionated and have the ability to choose their own path. Their voice is being listened to and respected and it’s a very welcome change.

What are your thoughts on the need for women to have more leadership roles?

A vast majority of women, especially in rural India, live in poverty, discrimination and abuse. They have to be empowered more through social evolution than governmental intervention. This should not mean that the government does not have any role; indeed the government has to constantly work to facilitate the empowerment process in ever fresh and innovative
ways. At the same time, it is true that women achievers do inspire other women by instilling faith and confidence in them.
This is also one of the reasons why more women administrators, legislators or in leadership roles play a crucial role in women empowerment. They are more empathetic to the problems of the public.

In politics, to meet the reservation quota, women with no inclination for it, are made to contest the election on behalf of their husband or father. This is an exploitation of the law which does nothing to put women in more decision-making positions. How do you think this can be resolved?

It is rather too simplistic to look at it in this manner. The law has provided for women reservation but what you describe has nothing to do with law but the evolution of a society where women can be empowered so that they are brave to choose and respond to their own calling and not be dictated by others. We as a society have to come around the fact that women with greater responsibility can make a long-lasting and visible impact. Reservation of women in Panchayat and local bodies is an inclusive step towards enabling more women in decision-making roles. And this needs to be replicated at other higher
levels, without too many thoughts anymore.

How do you think CSR can participate in reducing corruption in the country and what role can women play?

The government is always conscious of the need to regularly strengthen the anti-corruption mechanism. It is, however, a social responsibility and duty of every citizen including corporates to ensure a free, just and corruption-free society. Beyond government regulation, the private sector must make self-regulation a part of their ethos and also take responsibility for social issues.

It is well established that women can handle their varied roles more sincerely, transparently and dedicatedly. The mandate of having a woman director on the board of companies is a positive step. CSR can be an effective change agent towards developing a corruption-free, healthy society.

We believe that removing patriarchy by making a female-dominated society is not an answer to balanced national development. Equality is the answer to it. For this, reservation for women in various sectors cannot be justified. What are your
thoughts on this?

Yes, you are right that equality is the answer, ultimately. But today the society is highly skewed, with prevalent prejudice barriers and the under-utilized talent of womankind. Women’s fight for equality is not a struggle of today but centuries. Close to 50% of India’s population are women and the country will be able to realize its true potential only if this half is brought into the mainstream.

Reservation is an important means but not an end to achieving an equal society. Both have to go hand in hand towards achieving the ultimate objective of parity. Our society is still not fully equipped to provide equal opportunity to its women. Bringing them to the forefront is crucial for India to take the path of balanced national development.

How would you paint the India of your dreams?

My idea of India is a corruption-free society where equality and social and communal harmony exist. When we achieve this, we would pull millions of people out of poverty. This would create an ecosystem of parity in class and gender and build an inclusive model of growth and development in our country.

Excerpts from an interview published in the current edition of our print magazine. To grab a copy, click here

Thank you for reading. Please drop a line and help us do better.

Regards,
The CSR Journal Team

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