Corporate Social Responsibility- Initiatives Need Unflinching Commitment.
CSR, Corporate Social Responsibility is spoken in very heavy words at almost every press conference which a company organizes to announce their results. It has become a mandatory page on any organizations’ annual report. There are graphs and images showing what the companies are doing for the society at large. There is no denying fact that there are some trusted organizations who have an established past and are still pursuing their CSR agenda with almost the same enthusiasm. But these organizations are a few and can be counted on finger tips.
HSE or SHE, Safety, Health and Environment standards have been adopted by many organizations. But these organizations have to introspect about their real commitments to the society at large. Merely adopting these standards and then getting certifications to match them is not what CSR should entail. Rather, the principles of CSR have to be engraved on the soul of any organization. Mere cosmetic commitment would not help. Organizations with real commitment to CSR do not boast much. But would go about silently doing what they are supposed to do.
ISO 14001:2004 is the standard for Environmental Management System and OHSAS 18001:2007 are the guidelines for Occupational Health and Safety Assessment. There are many consultants and certifying bodies who are earning their livelihood by either giving consultancies or through certification. But is that what they are supposed to do. Their job may end once an organization gets certified. But that’s not the end of the journey. Rather, it is the point where the journey begins. CSR is a journey and organization should remain on the road to achieve excellence in CSR initiatives as well.
Image courtesy http://www.eolitservices.co.uk/images/logos/community-globe.jpg
May also like to read:
