CONFERENCE ON BRIDGING THE GAP

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) in collaboration with technical partners Fiinovation organized a conference “Bridging the Gap - Fostering growth through Education and Entrepreneurship” on 4th November, 2015 at India Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Faculty members Mr. Lokesh Kumar and Mr. Amit Narwal from Mechanical engineering department of Dronacharya College of Engineering, Gurgaon attended the event. The participants included policy makers, CSR heads, HR Heads, leading businesses persons, educationists’ entrepreneurs and NGOs.

Objective:

1. India to become the “Entrepreneurial Capital” of the world

2. To understand the importance of the Indian value of pluralism and equalistic well - being

3. Affirmative Action has followed ‘Economic Revolution’

In the inaugural session, Mr. Soumitro Chakraborty, CEO, Fiinovation brought attention to the Indian value system of pluralism and responsibility. He highlighted that the next economic revolution in the country would be driven by two supportive pillars of education and entrepreneurship. He discussed on the various initiatives by Government of India for providing equal opportunities to all sections of the society, he also motivated corporations to extend their support by linking Affirmative Action with their CSR initiatives and join hands in nation building.

Mr. Bhaskar Chatterjee, the Director General & CEO of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) professed a top - down approach to be practiced in organizations leading to a nation’s GDP growth.

Few other eminent speakers of the conference were:

1. Dr P L Poonia - Chairman, National Commission for Schedule Caste, Member of Rajya Sabha

2. Mr Shreekant Somany - Regional Chairman, CII Northern Region

3. Mr Ranjit Singh - Head CSR , Maruti Suzuki India Limited

4. Mr D K Sundar -Chief Operating Officer, Tata Chemicals Ltd

5. Mr Milind Kamble, Chairman, Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce & Industry

6. Dr R.K Singh* - IAS- Chairman and Managing Director, National Schedule Castes Financial Development Corporation

7. Ms Richa Tripathi,Chief Human Resources Officer, Tata Teleservices

8. Dr Pooran Pandey – Executive Director, United Nations Global Compact

9. Mr Sunil Joseph - Head Affirmative Action, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS)

10. Mr Sudhir Sinha - Advisor, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PWC)

These eminent speakers discussed on the role of affirmative action through promotion of entrepreneurial ventures, leading to proportionate increase in family incomes of all sections of society. It was discussed that the leading PSU’s and corporate should together to network and engage small entrepreneurs. Interventions are being directed towards 4E’s education, employment, employability and entrepreneurship to empower people from these sections of society in order to productively participate in the growth story of the country.

The discussions at the conference mainly highlighted on the following topics:

1. Inclusivity and Growth: Are they mutually exclusive

2. Education and Employability: Enablers of Empowerment

3. Promoting Entrepreneurship and Supplier Diversity

It came out from the discussions that it is important to bridge the gap between affluent and marginalized sections of the society and focus on inclusive development. Emphasis was given on promotion of education and economic empowerment that leads to building a stronger nation.

It was a very knowledgeable as well as enriching experience for the participants as they learned a lot from the event.