On January 8, 2025, a Symposium was organised at Hyderabad by Hand in Hand India, bringing together leaders, changemakers, and professionals from Corporates and NGOs to explore the theme “Sustainable India: Emerging CSR Trends & Importance of Employee Volunteering”. The event began with a Welcome Address by Mr. Krishnan N, Managing Trustee of Hand in Hand India, whose extensive experience in designing impactful social programmes laid the foundation for the day. The Keynote Address by Guest of Honour Mr. Srinivas Rao Mahankali (MSR) highlighted the transformative role of ecosystems in advancing CSR initiatives. The stage then welcomed the Chief Guest, Ms. Sudha Jhijaria, Head of the Billion Hearts Beating Foundation. Her address emphasised the importance of tangible and socially robust initiatives. In the session on current CSR trends, Dr. R. Mahendranath Chowdary guided an engaging conversation with Mr. Abhishek Kumar Gupta, Founder of Chauwk, Mr. Niranjan Desai, an HR and CSR veteran, and Ms. Sumana Arikarevula, AVP at United Way of Hyderabad. Their insights on sustainable corporate practices were both enlightening and actionable. The focus then shifted to employee volunteering, with thought leaders like Mr. Anil Sreerama Sreerama, Associate Partner at IBM Consulting, and Ms. Ria Vaidya, Global Head of CSR at VFS Global, sharing their expertise. Their real-world examples of large-scale volunteering efforts showcased the potential for driving tangible community impact. In a compelling discussion on the corporate perspective of volunteering, Ms. Riddhima Basiya moderated a panel with Mr. D Narendra Kumar , Finance Controller at TechnipFMC, Mr. Prashanth V, Senior CSR Manager at L&T Construction, and Mr. @Vamshi Muthayapu, Lead Consultant at Infosys. Together, they unpacked strategies to align corporate goals with employee engagement initiatives. The symposium also provided a platform for NGOs to voice their perspectives. Moderated by Dr. Manikanta Periyavaram , the session featured Ms. Aamrapali Sharma, CEO of Social Venture Partners Hyderabad, Mr. Krishnan N, and Mr. Raghu Vamsi K. , Founder of the Marpu Foundation. Their dialogue inspired attendees to deepen collaboration across sectors to achieve lasting impact. Key Takeaways: 1. CSR initiatives must align with measurable goals for meaningful impact. 2. Employee engagement through volunteering is vital for fostering organisational culture. 3. Collaboration between corporates and NGOs is essential for achieving large-scale social transformation. We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our speakers, panelists, moderators, and participants who made the symposium an unforgettable experience. Together, we are shaping a sustainable future where corporate excellence meets social responsibility. #HandinHandIndia #HandinHand #hih #HiHI #NGO #india #linkedin #2025 #Corporate #EmployeeEngagement #Volunteering #CSR #Partnerships
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