OPINIONS

Sport has the ability to bring out the best in us – both as individuals and as a nation. It unites us across region, caste and economic differences. There was no Indian who did not have a lump in their throat when Hima Das came up from behind and crossed the finish line as the...

One important lesson that corporate life has taught me is to always be hands-on. One should be ready to roll up the sleeves and get back to the grind. This not only helps in acquiring a first-hand feel of the scenario on the ground but also makes a meaningful contribution. As I gradually sink into my...

Snakebites claim approximately 50,000 lives every year across India, making our country the global capital of snakebite deaths. Despite the situation, there is not much done to address this issue. In May 2019, the WHO has announced its road map towards 2030 with an aim to reduce snakebite deaths by 50% with India being...

Dame Anita Roddick, who founded The Body Shop in 1976, pioneered the idea of using ‘Business as a force for good’. The company launched Community Trade in 1987 as ‘Trade Not Aid’. This was a unique concept in the cosmetics industry. It started with Teddy Exports in Tirumangalam, Tamil Nadu, who produce accessories for...

DIRT IS SIMPLY MATTER OUT OF PLACE (Mary Douglass, 1970) Solid waste management is a global issue. The 2030 agenda for sustainable development allows for a significant role to gender in human settlements in addressing questions of circular economy. At the same time, landfill sites have become a major source of contamination, affecting water and the...

India’s economy is soaring and is now the world’s envy, but its healthcare system remains an Achilles’ heel. For millions of people, the high cost of treating illnesses continues to undermine economic progress. This is largely on account of India’s dilapidated healthcare system: a major symptom of the dire lack of funding. India ranks...

In the 1970s, the Boston Symphony Orchestra started to implement a blind audition experiment where players were concealed behind a screen to eliminate gender bias and increase diversity. Despite this measure, the numbers barely moved at first. It wasn’t until players were asked to remove their shoes that women started to make it to next round of auditions. Just the...

Every year, on the occasion of World Environment Day, the United Nations proposes a theme to champion by individuals, enterprises and communities for preserving and improving the environment. While this year’s theme is Air pollution, India last year woke up to a critical theme: Beat Plastic Pollution. Both, Air Pollution and Plastic Pollution are rising...

Being an entrepreneur and running a business does not only mean making money and growing profits, even though it is the practical bottom line. We have to be very forward-thinking in approach to our products and services. Finding innumerable ways to build functional and cost-effective products and services, and also, provide innovative solutions to...

At Rio 2016, Sandeep Chaudhary had his own moment of catharsis. The javelin F44 was all but done and Sandeep knew he would finish no better than fourth, a reality that reduced him to tears. In an interview long after the Rio disappointment, Sandeep said, “It’s hard to describe how I felt, I was lying...

According to a study by Clutch, 45% of employees say their company has a policy or guidelines regarding political expression in the workplace. Does limiting political discussion in the workplace, though, have a negative effect on a company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR)? Corporate social responsibility in India can influence people’s perceptions of your company and...

As quoted by Pope Francis, “a community which even excludes one member is no community at all.” In India, the disabled individuals account for 2.21% of the total population at 2.68 crores. Social inclusion is a belief that echoes respecting and acknowledging every citizen, where people feel worthy and can voice their opinions. And...