HCLTech Grant Edition X Symposium held at NEHU, Shillong

Syllad | The Rising MeghalayaJune 21, 2024

The HCLTech Grant Edition X Symposium was successfully held in Shillong today, celebrating a decade of HCLTech impactful contributions through its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The event commenced with the traditional lighting of the lamp ceremony and the National Anthem, followed by a warm welcome address by the Vice-Chancellor of North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Prof Prabha Shankar Shukla, and Prof. Santosh Kumar.

Anuj Srivastava, Manager of the HCL Foundation, delivered the keynote address, providing an insightful overview of the foundation’s activities and the various themes funded under HCLTech’s CSR initiatives.

He emphasized the foundation’s commitment to societal betterment through strategic investments.

The symposium featured a Masterclass on CSR Laws and New Amendments by Dr. Surabhi Yadav, CSR Advisor and Consultant at HCLTech, and Partner at Samvardhav. Dr. Yadav highlighted the legal mandate requiring 2% of corporate profits to be allocated to CSR, stressing the importance of corporate accountability and the penalties associated with unspent funds under the amendments of 2021 and 2022.

A thought-provoking panel discussion followed, moderated by Dr Yadav. The panel included esteemed experts such as Dr. Keshav Sharma, State Expert on Development and Health from

UNICEF, NHM, Directorate of Health Services, who discussed the potential of North-East India as a growth engine for the nation.

He advocated for a holistic approach to development encompassing social welfare, the environment, and the economy, with a focus on human-centric sustainable development.

Santala Ronglo, a Consultant on Institution Building and Management and a certified RSETI Domain trainer on Entrepreneurship, underscored the crucial role of NGOs in developmental work due to their local expertise and familiarity with community needs. She also highlighted the importance of women’s involvement in development and financial inclusion.

Prof. Santosh Kumar, Co-Ordinator of Industry and Academia at NEHU, addressed the infrastructure deficiencies in the North-Eastern educational system, suggesting solutions to improve teaching quality and the availability of mother-tongue educators. Prof. S.S. Ray, HoD of the Biomedical Engineering Department at NEHU, discussed the pivotal role of technology in development, citing mobile phones as a key tool for educational access and the potential of robotics and AI in healthcare.

The symposium concluded with an enlightening session on Good Governance, Transparency, and Measuring Impact in CSR by Nitesh Sinha and Vineet Kumar Mishra.

Shally Kaushal provided insights into the grant process, followed by an Experience Sharing session on the HCLTech Grant moderated by Anuj Srivastava. Contributions from Robin Thomas, Group Manager at HCL Foundation, Mohd. Dilshad, Subject Matter Expert, and Priya Karl, Associate Manager at Grant Thornton, enriched the discussion.

The HCLTech Grant Edition X Symposium exemplifies HCLTech dedication to fostering sustainable development through collaborative efforts and innovative CSR practices. The event highlighted the importance of partnerships, local engagement, and the strategic use of technology in achieving holistic societal progress.