‘CSR for Change’ Initiative for Tribal Development

Participation of 71 Companies Across the Country

Mumbai : A one-day conference was organized at Sahyadri Guest House under the joint initiative of the Tribal Development Department and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to implement various projects through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Representatives from 71 companies across India participated in the event, engaging in key discussions under the ‘CSR for Change’ initiative to uplift the standard of living in tribal areas and create necessary opportunities for their development.

The conference was inaugurated by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of Tribal Development Minister Dr. Ashok Uikey, Tribal Development Department Secretary Vijay Waghmare, Industries Department Secretary P. Anbalagan, Tribal Research and Training Institute Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bharud, and Commissioner Leena Bansod.

The first discussion session focused on “Opportunities to Improve the Standard of Living in Tribal Areas.” Panelists included Tribal Development Commissioner Leena Bansod, Amitanshu Choudhary from Tata Trusts, Madhura Talegaonkar from Bajaj Electricals, Rema Mohan from NSE Foundation, and Tushara Shankar from Lupin. The session was moderated by Sritama Gupta, Programme Head at UNDP.

The second session addressed “Enhancing the Future of Tribal Youth Through Education and Skill Development.” Panelists included Dr. Rajendra Bharud, Commissioner of the Tribal Research and Training Institute, Chandrashekhar Natarajan from TCS, Gauri Bhure from DXC, and Piyush Wankhede from HCL. The session was moderated by Jeya Chandran, Regional Head at UNDP.

Discussions covered education, healthcare, employment, and industrial policies for the holistic development of tribal areas. Major corporate companies pledged to take concrete steps towards tribal development through their CSR initiatives.

The ‘CSR for Change’ initiative aims to create new opportunities for the economic, social, and educational upliftment of tribal communities.