Kolkata, 13th March 2025: Indian Chamber of Commerce (ICC) successfully hosted its 7th Social Impact Summit & Awards on Wednesday at ITC Sonar, honouring organisations that have made significant contributions to social impact through Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Centred around the theme “Innovate for Impact: Shaping a Sustainable Future,” the event recognised transformative initiatives driving positive change. The summit was graced by distinguished personalities, including Ms Agnimitra Paul, Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly; Mr. Anshu Gupta, Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner & Founder, Goonj; Mr. Sekhar Mehta, Former Global President, Rotary International; Mr. Saikat Basu, CEO, Consultivo; Dr. Krishna Nirmalya Sen, Chairman – ICC OHS Committee & Head (EHS), L&T M&M SBG; and Dr. Rajeev Singh, Director General, ICC. With a focus on fostering innovation in the social sector, the summit featured insightful discussions on key topics such as The Role of Ecosystem in Social Impact; Innovations in the Social Sector; Sustainability in CSR Programs; Emerging Trends and Its Implications for Social Development; and Collaborative Innovation for Social Good: Scaling Impact through Partnerships.

Speaking on the Women Empowerment: A Pillar of Progress, Ms Agnimitra Paul, Member of the West Bengal Legislative Assembly, said “Women in Bharat have always been empowered with history filled with strong, courageous women like Sita, Savitri, Draupadi, Rani Lakshmibai, Rani Ahilyabai Holkar, Rani Padmini, Matangini Hazra and Pritilata Waddedar. We do not need to seek empowerment—we already possess it; the challenge is to create an environment where every woman can realise her full potential without barriers. I stand here as proof of that empowerment. Coming from a small town, Asansol, with no godfather in the industry, I still dreamt big. From aspiring to be a doctor, to becoming a fashion designer, to finally stepping into politics, my journey has been unconventional. In 2014, I joined the Bharatiya Janata Party, inspired by our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji’s vision of a strong, progressive India. People laughed when I dreamt of working under his leadership. As an MLA, I have the privilege of voicing the concerns of Bengal’s people. Since 2014, we have seen a remarkable rise in women’s participation across all fields—PV Sindhu, Mirabai Chanu and Hima Das in sports; women fighter pilots, Kalpana Chawla and ISRO’s Dr. Ritu Karidhal in defense and aerospace; Kiran Mazumdar Shaw and countless women entrepreneurs redefining business and science. And it all started with one leader having the courage to speak about real issues—our Hon’ble Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji. His first speech from Red Fort addressed sanitary napkins and toilets—topics that were taboo for years—because they affect the dignity and health of millions of women. Since 2014, the government has launched transformative initiatives—Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao improved the child sex ratio from 918 (2015) to 931 (2023); Ujjwala Yojana provided 5.5 crore LPG connections, reducing health hazards from traditional chulhas; Matru Vandana Yojana ensured ₹5,000 assistance for pregnant & lactating mothers; Sukanya Samriddhi Yojana secured girls’ education; Mudra Yojana & StandUp India empowered women entrepreneurs—70% of beneficiaries are women; and the 33% Reservation for Women in Parliament is a historic step towards true representation. To achieve true empowerment, we need four key pillars—Dedication for committed policies with measurable impact, Determination to break traditional barriers, Discipline to ensure transparency in welfare schemes and Dignity to create a society where women feel safe, respected, and independent. Instead of short-term financial handouts, we must focus on long-term solutions—skill development, entrepreneurship, stronger implementation of education schemes and better safety and law enforcement. Swami Vivekananda once said, ‘A nation that does not respect women can never achieve greatness.’ It is time we bridge the gaps, implement real change and create a Bharat where every woman, from villages to metros, has the opportunity to thrive. I urge all of you—policymakers, business leaders and social influencers—to take concrete steps towards real, sustainable empowerment. Because when women rise, India rises.”

Mr. Anshu Gupta, Ramon Magsaysay Award Winner & Founder of Goonj, said, “We fail to recognise that disasters lead to forced migration, which disrupts all development work—whether in education, health or sanitation. Without addressing survival first, sustainability is impossible. We need to meet more often—not just at conferences but in the field. The social development sector is highly collaborative and partnerships drive impact. Let’s also shift our focus from symptoms to root causes—kill mosquitoes instead of just treating malaria. If we want better education outcomes, building schools isn’t enough. Solve water scarcity in villages, stop forced migration and children will naturally attend school. We are powerful, we have resources, and above all, we have intent. Now, we must go beyond surface level solutions and tackle problems at their core.”

Dr. Krishna Nirmalya Sen, Chairman – ICC OHS Committee & Head (EHS), L&T M&M SBG, said, “Over the past decade, India’s CSR landscape has undergone a paradigm shift since the enactment of the Companies Act 2013, which mandated CSR contributions for eligible companies. In FY 2022-23 alone, 24,392 Indian companies invested ₹29,986.92 crores in CSR initiatives, significantly impacting key sectors and reflecting India Inc.’s growing commitment to nation-building. The Economic Survey 2023-24 highlights a remarkable 53% increase in CSR spending between 2017-18 and 2022-23, driving tangible progress in education, healthcare, rural development, environmental sustainability and livelihood enhancement. With over ₹10,085 crore allocated towards education, millions of children have benefited from CSR-driven programs, while ₹6,830 crores have improved access to quality healthcare. Environmental sustainability efforts have seen ₹1,959 crore invested, resulting in afforestation and significant reductions in carbon emissions. Additionally, ₹396 crores have been dedicated to women empowerment initiatives, providing financial literacy and livelihood opportunities to millions of women. The Government of India continues to play a proactive role in enabling and motivating CSR activities through key policies and frameworks, including the National CSR Awards recognizing outstanding projects and the 2021 amendments strengthening compliance and impact assessment. The PM CARES Fund received over ₹10,000 crores in corporate contributions during the COVID-19 pandemic, further showcasing the private sector’s unwavering commitment to national welfare. Moreover, aligning CSR initiatives with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) underscores India’s dedication to achieving the 2030 Agenda. While significant progress has been made, the journey ahead demands even greater collaboration and innovation—strengthening public-private partnerships to maximise social impact, leveraging technology and digital solutions to scale interventions, encouraging employee-driven volunteer programs for grassroots engagement and reinforcing impact assessment mechanisms to ensure measurable, lasting change.”

Mr. Saikat Basu, CEO, Consultivo, said, “This year, we received 57 impactful projects—36 from corporates and 21 from NGOs, with a total of 45 participating organizations. NGO projects were categorised into Large (₹10 Cr+), Medium (₹2-10 Cr) and Small (₹50L-2 Cr) across 10 major thematic areas.”

Mr. Sekhar Mehta, Former Global President, Rotary International, said, “This forum showcases how collaboration between civil society, corporates, and government drives real change. As a Rotarian for 40 years, I’ve seen the power of volunteerism. Rotary’s polio eradication effort, launched in 1988, reduced cases from 1,000 per day to near zero, with India declared polio-free in 2014. This proves that commitment and partnerships create impact. Now, let’s tackle illiteracy, water scarcity, and skill development. A national mission, backed by top corporates, can make India fully literate. If each of our 25 crore students educates just one adult, we close the gap in a few years.”