CSR - the power of positive action

Corporate social responsibility is an integral feature of modern business practice. CSR is about compliance with the spirit of the law, ethical standards and national or international norms where companies operate. From that perspective, it can be viewed as good business practice that affirms corporate responsibility and ensures sustainability.

The principles which govern TCS’s commitment to community are well enshrined in the philosophy of the TATA group’s founding father and Indian industrialist, Jamsetji Tata whose broad charitable aspirations are well known. On that subject he said: “There is one kind of charity common enough among us... It is that patchwork philanthropy which clothes the ragged, feeds the poor, and heals the sick. I am far from decrying the noble spirit which seeks to help a poor or suffering fellow being... [However] what advances a nation or a community is not so much to prop up its weakest and most helpless members, but to lift up the best and the most gifted, so as to make them of the greatest service to the country."

More than a century later, this philosophy is still evident in the operations of the company - a fact which was officially recognized recently with the award of the Gold rating certificate by EcoVadis, a world-leading independent CSR Advisory firm - now for the third consecutive year.

As part of the EcoVadis evaluation, TCS was rated in the top 1% for environmental CSR activities and supplier practices and in the top 4% for labour policies. Overall TCS was among the top 2% across all measurement categories when evaluated against all suppliers and companies in its category.

TCS’ achievements on sustainability and community engagement include reducing its carbon footprint by 43.3% since the base financial year of 2007-08, including a 6% decrease in CO2 emissions in 2015. While volunteering by employees is encouraged, the Company also utilizes its own expertise in IT to address needs of the community and the environment. In total, TCS also has over 50 community initiatives in place engaging almost 1.2 million people globally.

In the same week, TCS was also recognized in the Global Dow Jones Sustainability Index 2016 for the fourth consecutive year as one of three Indian companies to be featured in the World Index list. In the categories of Corporate Citizenship, Human Capital Development, Philanthropy and Environmental Reporting, TCS was placed on the 100th percentile.

In the environmental and social dimension, the company was placed on the 93rd and 91st percentile respectively. TCS was included in both, the World Index and the Emerging Markets Index this year and was placed on the 89th percentile.

Ajoyendra Mukherjee, Global Head and EVP of Human Resources, TCS said: “TCS is committed to identifying and addressing the needs of the community and sustainability initiatives are strongly imbibed within the business culture of the company. The DJSI sets a valuable benchmark for sustainability in the industry and the endorsement we have received, highlights our commitment to being a responsible corporate citizen.”