Promoting Ethical Business Behaviour
Role of Indian CSOs and National Guidelines on
Responsible Business
APRIL 2024

Voluntary Action Network India
www.vaniindia.org
Email -info@vaniindia.org

Promoting Ethical Business Behaviour:
Role of Indian CSOs and National Guidelines on Responsible Business

Author: Voluntary Action Network India

April 2024

Copy right © Voluntary Action Network India
The content of this article can be reproduced in whole or in parts with due acknowledgement to
the publisher.

Published by:
Voluntary Action Network India (VANI)VANI HOUSE, 7, PSP, Pocket,
Sector – 8, Dwarka, New Delhi 110 077
E-mail: info@vaniindia.org
Website: www.vaniindia.org@TeamVANI@vani_info@VANI India@VANI Perspective

Executive Summary
Businesses has always played a great role in development of the socio-economic dimensions ofany society. In India, formulation of policies and guidelines to ensure ethical business has gone
through many changes and amendments. Promotion of ethical business behavior in various sectors
has gained a notable recognition in India in the recent years. Rapid globalization made a road in
making the world interconnected, where businesses require perspectives of global understanding.
Information dissemination on the NVGs and NGRBC issued by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs,India. How collective efforts of CSOs, Government and the Corporates itself can support eachother in implementation and enforcement of these guidelines is briefed.
This article/study explores the crucial role of Corporate Social Responsibility within businesses,
emphasizing the need to the contribution to development of society and community at large while
maximizing profits.
This secondary research aims to: Assess the role of CSOs in promoting ethical business in thecorporate sector, influence policy development, to examine the current state of ethical businessbehavior in context of the national guidelines, to identify case studies on bad and best practices,
formulating recommendations for CSOs, Corporates, Government and relevant stakeholders tostrengthen the collaboration between them and working towards a positive and a sustainable future
for next generations through commitment and shared goals to ethical principles.
For this report, I would like to thank Japan NGO Center for International Cooperation (JANIC)
for their support and Ms. Subhashini Prabhaker, Programme Associate at VANI, forconceptualizing and documenting this desk research.

Harsh Jaitli
Chief Executive Officer - VANICONTENTS

1. Introduction
2. Background of CSR
3. Relation between ethical business and corporate social responsibility based on prominent
factors
4. Csos and promotion of ethical practices

5. Current status of ethical business behavior in various sectors
6. Significance of the NGRBC for business7. Monitoring and implementation of NGRBC for business in india
8. Challenges
9. Case studies – 2
10. Recommendations

ACRONYMS

CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
CSOs – Civil Society Organizations
NVGs – National Voluntary Guidelines
ONGC – Oil and Natural Gas Corporation
SBI – State Bank of India
SAIL – Steel Authority of India Limited
PSUs – Public Sector Undertakings
NGRBC – National Guidelines on Responsible Business Conduct
MCA – Ministry of Corporate Affairs
NGOs – Non Government Organizations
ESG – Environmental, Social and Governance
BRR – Banking Regulatory report
FinTech – Financial Technology

Introduction
Ethics is a study of judging right and wrong perception. ‘Ethics’ is derived from the Greek word
“ethos” which means a person`s fundamental orientation toward life. Ethics may be defined as atheory of morality which attempts to systematize moral judgements1. Business ethics can be
defined as application of “Ethics” in business. It is the analysis of business situations, activities,
and decisions where issues of right and wrong are addressed. The term business ethics is grabbing
a lot of attention in recent times globally. Ethical considerations are very important in every
occupation and field of work.
Recently much attention is being directed towards emerging economies, and in particular the
BRICs countries (Brazil, Russia, India and China) the four largest developing markets in theworld2. Being one of the largest country in the world India is religiously, socially, culturally
heterogeneous by nature and hence understanding about the vast existing businesses and theirdynamics is complex. Ethical business behavior involves adhering to high standards of integrity,honesty, transparency and accountability in all aspects of business operations, interactions, anddecision-making processes. Ethical behaviors are necessary for maintaining employee safety,
adherence to law and regulation, and protection of the environment.

Background of CSR
In India, charity and philanthropy have been important for ages. India has a deep-rooted culture of
sharing and caring in the form of donations belonging to various religions. During the early yearsof the 19th century, there were large businesses mostly owned and run by families who committed
to giving back to communities where they work by spending a percentage of profit on various
welfare activities such as providing education, healthcare, and infrastructure to the poor and needy.
After Independence, the Government of India regulated laws and regulations for responsible
businesses focusing on addressing the needs of marginalized communities and promoting social
welfare. Public Service Undertakings have been making efforts to bring about the holistic
development of the region in which they are functioning which has become great examples of
responsible and ethical business behavior.
ONGC is the oldest, among Indian PSUs, to become a member of the United Nations Global
Compact - the world's biggest voluntary corporate citizenship movement under which member
companies agree to adhere to ten principles of the compact related to human rights, labor,
environment, and anti-corruption. SAIL operates one of the largest health and education
infrastructure run by any corporate entity in India.
The company has taken the initiative to develop 'Model Steel Villages' for providing medical &education facilities, roads, sanitation, and income generation schemes. SBI, the largest bank in
India, reinvests part of its profits in various community welfare projects to the welfare of the lessendowed segment of the society3. Tata has been India’s largest and most popular
corporation. Through its Trust, supported India’s first higher education institute dedicated toscience and technology, professional school of social science, specialized cancer hospital, and an
Institute of Fundamental Research that served as the cradle of India’s atomic program.

Around 1990s, there was a boom in the economic liberalization with rise in Government control
and new licensing systems in the corporate sector. There was a mixed economy with public sector
organizations, multinational corporations and international corporations operating in the country.
Promoting ethical business and social welfare has become very significant. This timeline lead tochange nation`s priorities and the role of corporate sector in working hand in hand with
Government for the welfare of underprivileged section.
One of the highest priority in the 11th five year plan of India is adoption of inclusive growth. The
National Voluntary Guidelines (NVGs) on Social, Environmental and Economic Responsibilities
of Business released by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) in July 2011, is essentially a setof nine principles that offer Indian businesses an understanding and approach to inculcate
responsible business conduct.
In 2013, Enactment of Companies Act, by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs Government of India
has introduced the “Corporate Social Responsibility” as a mandatory provision by imposing
statutory obligation on companies to take up CSR projects towards social welfare activities. The
Parliament of India later adopted these principles as Section 135, Schedule VII, and CSR Rules of
the Companies Act, 2013. The rules required a particular class of corporations that met specificcriteria to spend 2% of their net profit on activities from Schedule VII.
This Initiative lead to a positive path for the nation towards achievement of sustainable
development goals and public-private partnership in transforming India. This made India the only
country which has regulated and mandated CSR for some select categories of companies registeredunder the Act.
However, taking into account the national and international developments in the arena ofsustainable business since 2011, the NVGs have been updated and released as ‘National Guidelines
on Responsible Business Conduct’ (NGRBC) on 15th March 2019 steering companies towards
responsible business practices leading to inclusive growth in the society at large.

Relation between ethical business and corporate social responsibility based on
prominent factors:
a. Business image
Any company`s image is created by the perception of internal stakeholders – Owners andemployees and external stakeholders customers, suppliers, investors, creditors, media,
communities, trade unions, Government and general public at large. To create a positive andimpactful image in the society the companies are communicating about their work and how they
are bringing change in the society through CSR initiatives.
The Coca-Cola Company took significant steps to address the issue of obesity and promotehealthier choices committing to delivering more beverage options like - low and no calorie
promoting “anti-obesity” campaign. Showing transparency by providing clear information about
the calorie content to that consumers can make informed choices. Companies are trying tocommunicate ways showcasing self-integrity in the minds of its stakeholders.

b. Supply chain management, environmental practices:
The Bhopal gas tragedy in the year 1984 in India is one the instances of oversight in governance.
The leakage and spread of poisonous emissions that led to disability, death and disease.
Responsibility towards protection of earth has to be integrated into the system of working in all
the companies. Companies need to be aware of the following areas of social responsibilities as
they pertain to the supply chain: human rights (including working conditions, slave labor, and childlabor), occupational health and safety, as well as sustainable production and environmental
practices. Companies need to navigate potential ethical, legal, and economic concerns and risks
that could arise if they choose a supplier that has, for example, poor safety conditions for theirworkers, employs child or slave labor, or does animal testing4.

c. Consumer movement:
Consumer Protection Act, was introduced in 2015. This is a law to protect the interests of theconsumers. According to this act, consumers can file their complaints about the products orservices they utilize, in consumer courts. Organizations must maintain contact with consumers andestablish lasting relationships through known ‘relational marketing’ techniques, whereby
organizations adapt their ways of interacting with consumers and their immediate environment.
This relational approach considers interchange as a continuous process in time, which allows
higher benefits to be achieved, including: enhanced flexibility and greater capacity to respond tochange; a faster order–delivery cycle; increased profits; improved service; cost reductions; andquality improvements among others. In this respect, trust and commitment are essential relational
marketing variables: building relationships and their long-term sustainability rely on them(Morgan & Hunt, Citation1994; Palmatier, Dant, Grewal & Evans, Citation2007; Sanzo, Santos,
Vázquez & Álvarez, Citation2003)5.

d. Product or service promotion:

Image Source: wisepops.com
This picture depicts all the points to be considered in marketing. Any brand authenticity isestablished by delivering honest and trustworthy offerings. Promotion of products and services
using advertising as a major process in marketing should be harmless and spread positive impacts.
Sometimes there may arise false claims about a competitor`s product which is unethical.

e. Concerns related to cost cutting:
Reducing cost for maximizing profits is a regular practice in business. The cost cutting measures
should be in line with well-being of employees, the environment and the quality of products andservices. As a course of cost cutting actions, when there are sudden changes in company which
create situations like layoff, reduced benefits or low wages can affect employees in different ways
in their lives. Another major concern can be compromising on the quality of products or services
offered. Dissemination of accurate product information will ensure informed decision making toconsumers. Striking a balance between cost cutting and business goals or objectives will contributeto a sustainable and healthier ecosystem.

f. Subcontracting:
Subcontracting costs incurred by India's top four IT firms have risen nearly 60% in the last two
years, fuelled by heightened attrition and digital upsurge that the sector witnessed after the
pandemic as per a report in Economic times, June 30th, 20236.
“Contract labourers” are those workers in India who have been hired in connection with work inan establishment through a “contractor” whereas a contractor includes both those who haveundertaken to supply workers for work in an establishment, and undertake any work in an
establishment to produce a given result with the help of contract labour7. Rural poor population isprovided opportunity in construction work to earn more income which may sometimes carrysignificant risks of labor exploitation.
Construction work offers an opportunity for the rural poor to earn more income, especially during
agricultural off-seasons, but also carries significant risks of labor exploitation. Transient andhighly dependent on daily wages, construction workers are particularly vulnerable to exploitation.
Each state in India has established a Construction Workers Welfare Board to provide social welfare
benefits such as health insurance, education or child care support, or compensation for workplace
injury or death. However, interviews with migrant workers revealed that just 28 percent had evenheard of the Boards. Only five percent had registered for benefits. Nor were most micro-contractors
aware of the Boards.
Even for those micro-contractors who had heard of the Boards and understood them to offer somebenefits, there was still limited awareness of how to register. Notably, more male workers thanfemale workers had heard about the construction workers welfare board (32 percent vs 17
percent).8
Contractors, subcontractors, and suppliers working in factories must comply with the safety
requirements such as ATEX tools, and own PPEs, tools, and machines to ensure their safety.
Running a business with a motive not only for profit but also working towards the welfare of its
employees, investors, stakeholders, and customers is a basic requirement for bringing a positive
impact in society at large9.

CSOs and promotion of ethical practices
Civil Society Overview:

Civil society in India is often considered synonymous with the terms “voluntary sector,”“voluntary organizations,” “nongovernment organizations” (NGOs), and “nonprofit
organizations” (NPOs), even though it encompasses a larger group. The rise of social movements,
NGOs, and voluntary organizations in the 20th century led to the conceptualization of the term
“civil society”10.
Daana (giving) and Seva (service) are an integral part of human lives in India. During the medieval
period and the British rule period, voluntary organizations worked towards the welfare activitiesof the communities according to the changing times and challenging social norms. , voluntary
contribution in the country took shape through the social and religious movements of serving
others. During the 18th and early 19th century organizations such as Brahmo Samaj, TheosophicalSociety, Ramakrishna Mission, and Seva Samiti were established for the service of thedisadvantaged.
The Sir Dorabji Tata Graduate School of Social Work (now called the Tata Institute of Social
Sciences) played an important role in shaping civil society in India as it led to the emergence ofcommunity development as a scientific practice. It was the first university of social work
established in India that offered a structured teaching of the subject. Post-Independence there is aconsistent rise in CSOs.

Towards the end of the 20th century, through social change movements, there was a significant
contribution of civil society. There was a shift from a pure reform and development-based
approach to a rights and empowerment-based model.
Today there are a wide range of CSOs such as Non-Government Organizations, Religiousorganizations, Community-based organizations, Youth organizations, student organizations,
Membership associations, Trade unions, professional associations, and foundations.

Contribution of CSOs in promoting ethical business practices
There is a modernized plunge in the contribution of civil society to emerging resilient global
system as the CSOs working side by side with Government and corporate businesses. Digitizationand the technology has improved and influenced the efficacy of their operations.
Over the years there has been lot of changes and speculation on ethical business, sustainable social
development practices and corporate social responsibility. The need for corporates to understandground issues and invest in need based initiatives for implementing ethical business practice hasgrown. Since CSOs work closely within the communities have direct engagement with the society
and these organizations act as vocal champions.
These organizations can understand the issues from the grassroots level so they can guide thecorporates in utilizing the funds under Corporate Social Responsibility ensuring ethical standards
set in the national guidelines.
Civil society is often described as the “social basis of democracy.” It encompasses a growing
diversity of groups, organizations, networks, and movements that play myriad roles instrengthening the common good11.

Role of CSOs in promoting ethical business
1. Build transparency and social accountability: CSOs act as a catalyst for corporate resources
to be pooled, avoiding duplication of effort and dilution of influence so that there is transparency
in the governance. Given the fact that the government remains the primary welfare service
provider in India, civil society can play a gap-filling, complementary role in this, by working toensure that principles of participatory good governance, social justice, and human rights areupheld. Social Work professionals with their knowledge of serving society and expertise canhelp address this challenge by considering different options and developing creative approaches
to CSR and social accountability mechanisms in the company.
2. Enablers: CSOs seek to create an enabling environment for ethical business practices, byengaging discussions and meetings with policymakers, legislators and regulatory authorities toadvocate for the adoption of laws, regulations, and standards that prioritize ethical conduct,
corporate governance, and sustainability.

3. Watchdogs: CSOs keep track of corporate behavior, actions of businesses, assessing theiradherence and scrutinizing ethical standards.
4. Empowerment: Small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs) need knowledge and tools to
integrate ethical principles into their operations. CSOs can empower these organizations byproviding training programs, mentorship initiatives, and knowledge sharing sessions, equip
entrepreneurs and executives with the skills to navigate ethical dilemmas, sustainableproduction methods.
5. Positive business image building: Civil Society organizations can support business to integrate
community interests into their core values and discharge social commitment and in turn generate
a positive image in the minds of the people within the communities at large.
6. Earth and environment protection: Many environmentalists and NGOs that work towards
conserving nature as their foremost mission can guide the corporates with innovative ideas tosafeguard and protect environment. Frequent audits and rigid controls by Government can
prevent environmental hazards and lapse in corporate governance.

Current status of Ethical business behavior in various sectors

There has been a gradual rise in awareness on concept of Corporate Social Responsibility andCorporate governance which attributed to the need for ethics in the corporate business world. The
companies in India are more involved in the developmental projects which is a part of their CSR
policy. There are few companies which a working beyond their limits to bring an impactful change
in the community they are operating.

The Companies Act and National Voluntary Guidelines remain the two principal mechanisms
through which socially and environmentally sustainable practices of Indian companies are
regulated.

Reliance Industries Limited has been the top CSR spender in the country for the last several years.
The Company spent Rs. 1186 crores on its CSR initiatives in FY 2021-22, higher than what it was
obligated to spend as per the Company’s Act (Rs. 1112 crores) There are corporates like Infosys,
Hindustan Unilever Limited in India which have been carrying our CSR projects long before the
CSR act was legislated in the country. Such corporates believe that CSR is not limited tophilanthropy, but also encompasses holistic community development, institution-building, andsustainability-related initiatives.
Many corporations have established their foundations or Trusts through which they conduct CSR
activities. On the other hand, some corporations joined hands with NGOs as working partners
utilizing their expertise in implementing projects addressing the local community social issues.
This has given way to inclusive and equitable growth in society.
Infosys has been recognized as the “World`s Most Ethical” Companies in 2023, demonstratinghigh standards of business integrity through best-in-class ethics, compliance, and governancepractices.

Significance of the NGRBC for business
The guidelines, provide a comprehensive framework to guide companies in disclosing their CSR
activities through annual reports and fulfilling their CSR obligations. Businesses and companies
that adhere to the national guidelines will get support to meet expectations from investors,
customers, and employees. This will also help in building trust and goodwill in the market.
Adopting the National guidelines, companies can mitigate various risks like regulatory fines,
operational issues, and reputation by addressing ESG considerations and risk management
practices can be implemented in the proper way.
Sustainable and responsible business practices may help owners of companies to meet customer
preferences for their brands. These guidelines show a roadmap for businesses/companies tointegrate sustainable business strategies to their successful operating system.

Monitoring and Implementation of NGRBC for business in India
Business responsibility Reports: Self reporting and disclosure of activities of a company ispublished which also includes information on responsible business practices based on
environmental, social and governance. These reports shows their adherence to the NGRBC
principles.
Third party verification: Mostly companies undergo third party verification by independent
auditors and agency which verifies and issues accurate and complete report on the Business.

Submission of Business responsibility Reports at Ministry of Corporate Affairs: It is
mandatory for all corporates and business falling under CSR criteria should submit their BRR. The
Government can check these reports at any point of time.
Civil Society organizations: Any business is responsible in being accountable and transparent to
its stake holders, investors and customers. Civil society organizations play a crucial role inmonitoring compliance at any time. They can seek clarification, raise concerns, and implement
advocacy for responsible business practices.
Legal implications: The Ministry of Corporate Affairs can take legal action in case of any
discrepancies or non-compliance violating the NGRBC principles. This can further lead to scrutiny
or may be fined with penalties.

Challenges
Promoting ethical business in India need continuous rigorous efforts from companies, corporates,
CSOs and Government. All of them are responsible for shaping social, economic, and politicallandscapes. Addressing the ethical issues that arise in relations between Government CSOs andbusiness is crucial for fostering accountability, transparency and sustainability.
Undue influence: When there arises a situation that may compromise the objectivity in decisionmaking conflicts of interest can occur between Government official or CSO members which havepersonal financial ties between them.
Lack of transparency:
business operations.

There are chances of lobbying where transparency is lacking in the

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Greenwashing: Businesses engaging in CSR activities
for the sake of improving their public image without a genuine commitment to social orenvironmental causes engage in “greenwashing.” This practice misleads the public andundermines the credibility of CSR efforts12.
Inadequate consensus: There still exists a lack of consensus among the Government, local
agencies, CSOs working at ground level, and corporate entities which can result in duplication ofefforts by the firms in terms of CSR initiatives. The objective of bringing difference to thecommunity may become misleading.
Limited resources: Most of the CSOs operate with constrained budgets and limited manpower,
hence sustainability of their work may sometimes become challenging with inadequate financial
resources.

Case study 1
Bharatpe is an Indian fintech company was co-founded by Ashneer Grover and Shashvat Nakrani
in 2018 with the vision to make financial inclusion a reality for Indian merchants13. Their app
enables small and kirana store/small grocery shop merchants to accept digital payments using QR
codes. It consolidates payments from different UPI apps like PhonePe, Paytm, and Google Pay
into single interface. They have introduced a zero transaction fee model.
The company evaluates the credit worthiness of merchants and provides them with personalized
loan offers instantly with less documentation. Their process of working has enabled small
merchants to accept digital payments easily. By ruling out the transaction fees there has been aboost in the profitability and less burden on their margins for merchants. Bharatpe emerged as afront runner, quickly gaining prominence as a leading UPI payment platform. However, thecompany`s ascent took to a sudden dramatic turn in early 2022, when allegations of financial
irregularities surfaced, casting a dark shadow over its reputation and sending shockwaves throughthe industry14.
An FIR (First Information report) was registered by Delhi Police`s Economic Offences Wing
(EOW) for embezzling funds by founder Ashneer Grover and family members. There weresignificant allegations raised about Grover`s financial conduct including creating of network of
fake vendors to divert money into their personal accounts. Inflated invoices involving exaggerated
expenses, charging excessive fees for services. Company funds were used on unauthorized
personal expenses, luxury purchases and travel.
Their case is though ongoing, the outcome is still uncertain. This had a significant impact bydamaging reputation. There has been a steep decline in its valuation due to unethical practices.
This case stands as a valuable lesson for the fintech sector, emphasizing the significance of ethicalbusiness behavior with strong internal controls, accountability and transparency. It reinforces thenecessity for companies to define explicit ethical guidelines and enforce rigorous monitoringmechanisms to prevent such financial misconduct, safeguarding the interests of investors andstakeholders.

Best Practice - Case study 2
Infosys – Transforming lives through ethical leadership and CSR
Infosys, a global technology corporate radiates as a catalyst in bring positive change in the Indiansociety. This case study explores how Infosys has charted an exceptional avenues towards societal
betterment through their CSR activities.
Education & health care - Infosys education initiatives have supported improved access to
education. Their Computer@classrooms program has provided educational resources andcomputers to around 50,000 schools in India, covering approx. 10 million students. Every year
they support students with scholarships from rural areas around 20000 students were benefitted.
Over 1000 students pursued post graduate studies in Science and technology, through fellowships.
The Company has supported towards construction and operation of over 50 hospitals and clinics
in underserved communities. In many remote and inaccessible areas, the company has provided
mobile medical services. Awareness and prevention care program was implemented for care andsupport services to around 10,000 people living with HIV/AIDS. Also provided workshops onawareness and prevention education on HIV/AIDS.
Under their CSR the company provided microfinance loans to over 50000 rural entrepreneurs
supporting them to start and grow their businesses. Under their destitute care program around
10,000 destitute people have been provided with food, shelter and other essential services. 50 Old
age homes and 100 orphanages are supported by the company.
The Foundation collaborates with stakeholders to monitor the status of each project. It adopts thebuild-operate-transfer (BOT) model of project financing to develop self-sustaining communities.
The Foundation partners with various non-profit and non-governmental organizations, among
others, to make a difference in local communities15. A study by the Tata Institute of Social
Sciences found that people who received services from Infosys Foundation Destitute Care
programs experienced a significant improvement in their quality of life. Another study by theCentre for Development Studies found that farmers who participated in the Infosys Foundation
Rural Development program had a 15% increase in their incomes.
SourceInfosys CSR - Infosys Foundation https://www.infosys.com/infosys-foundation.html
Infosys Foundation - Education Initiatives https://www.infosys.com/infosysfoundation/initiatives/education.html
Healthcare for All: A Pillar of Responsibility
https://blogs.infosys.com/healthcare/healthcare-it/the-3-pillars-of-infosys-healthcaretransformation.html
Infosys Foundation Annual Reports
https://www.infosys.com/infosysfoundation/about/reports/documents/infosys-foundation-report2020-21.pdf
Infosys CSR website - https://www.infosys.com/investors/corporategovernance/socialresponsibility.html

Recommendationsa) CSOs can vouch for promoting ethical business practices through collaborating with policy
makers which can further strengthen laws based on Corporate governance, corruption, zerotolerance for bribery, environmental protection, sustainability, Promotion of inclusive
growth, human rights.
b) Transparent practices and commitment to responsible and sustainable development are
required in corporate sector.
c) By fostering accountability Government, CSOs and businesses can collaboratively work
towards building equitable, inclusive and strong society. Regular disclose of financial
information, decision- making processes and project outcomes is important.

d) Building strong relations between Civil Society organizations, Government and businessis essential for developing economies. CSOs should engage in advocacy, share bestpractices and together address societal challenges.

e) Strengthening civil society organizations will lead to platform to share their opinion andvoices to advocate ethical practices and hold businesses accountable.
f) Education and raising awareness can be done by CSOs by organizing workshops, seminars,
webinars and campaigns on ethical business practices to educate employees, consumers
and other stake holders.

g) CSOs should encourage businesses in adopting ethical and fair labor practices, supply
chain in compliance to the National guidelines for responsible business, by Ministry of
Corporate Affairs.
h) CSOs need to become resilient and adapt to changing situations and society norms andengage across sectors creatively and come to light with innovative solutions.

Footnotes
1. Role of Ethics in Modern Indian Businesses - https://www.ijbmi.org/papers/Vol (9)8/Ser4/B0908040813.pdf
2. https://abeuk.online/sites/default/files/files/6UBES_Article_2_0.pdf
3. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/theres-more-to-psus-than-meets-theeye/articleshow/5261513.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_camp
aign=cppst
4. https://guides.loc.gov/corporate-social-responsibility/company-informaton/supply-chainmanagement
5. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1331677X.2018.1547202?scroll=top&needAc
cess=true
6. https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/tech/information-tech/subcontracting-costs-rise-60-in2-years-for-top-four-it-firms/articleshow/101373298.cms?from=mdr
7. The Contract Labour (Regulation and Abolition) Act of 1970 defines contract labour and contractor
in Clause 2(b) and (c) of the Act as follows: “(b) a workman shall be deemed to be employed as"contract labour" in or in connection with the work of an establishment when he is hired in or inconnection with such work by or through a contractor, with or without the knowledge of theprincipal employer; (c) "contractor", in relation to an establishment, means a person who
undertakes to produce a given result for the establishment, other than a mere supply of goods ofarticles of manufacture to such establishment, through contract labour or who supplies contract
labour for any work of the establishment and includes a sub-contractor.

8. https://gfems.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/GFEMS-Tackling-Labor-Exploitation-in-theConstruction-Sector-in-India-.pdf
9. https://www.investopedia.com/ask/answers/041015/why-social-responsibility-importantbusiness.asp
10. https://www.adb.org/sites/default/files/publication/879896/civil-society-brief-india.pdf
11. https://www.icnl.org/wp-content/uploads/Legal-Framework-for-Civil-Society-in-IndiaDadrawala-vf.pdf
12. https://mbahub.in/business-ethics-and-csr/ethical-issues-in-relations-between-governmentcivil-society-organizations-csos-and-business/
13. https://medium.com/@asif.17bme/case-study-on-bharatpe-cd35b26b9933
14. https://www.caclubindia.com/articles/bharatpe-fraud-a-deep-dive-into-allegations-andinvestigations50579.asp#:~:text=The%20BharatPe%20fraud%20case%20has,in%20a%20rapidly%20evolv
ing%20industry.
15. https://indiacsr.in/csr-at-infosys-25-years-of-infosys-foundation/

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About Voluntary Action Network India (VANI) VANI is a national platform of voluntaryorganizations of India, which was formed in 1988. Currently, it has a strong network base of over
620 direct and outreach to over 15,000 organizations, spread across 24 states and one Union
Territory. VANI is widely known for its evidence-based advocacy for an enabling environment
and efforts in collectivizing the voluntary sector for its sustainable development. Through its
network, VANI disseminates pertinent information around policies, legislation, taxation,
sustainable development, concerning the sector to its members as well as non-members in an
effective and timely manner. VANI builds the capacities of Voluntary organizations on issues ofcritical importance including improved governance and effective leadership, legal compliances,accountability, transparency, strategic resource mobilization and Financial Management, forinternal system strengthening and resilience building. Through stakeholder dialogues, VANI
builds both intra and inter-sectoral convergences, thereby bringing government, corporate, civilsociety, donors on a common platform for cohesive and effective action. Through its createdspecialized forums a) Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) and Leaders; b) Chief Financial Officers(CFOs) Chartered Accountants and Legal experts, VANI is able to steer inter and intra peer
learning on issues of common interest. VANI encourages partnerships for national-level policy
reforms on the basis of the evidence-based narrative. VANI plays a pivotal role in establishing the
global footprints of Indian voluntary organizations on the global development discourse. It is amember of various international networks like FORUS, CIVICUS, Affiliation Group of National
Associations (AGNA), Asian Development Alliance (ADA), Asia Democracy Network. It has
partnered with Accountable Now, International Civil Society Centre and eight accountability
initiatives across the world to draft Global Standard for CSO Accountability and is presently
engaged in encouraging voluntary organizations across India and South Asia to adhere toaccountability and transparency standards for enhanced credibility. VANI has played an extensiverole in drawing the attention of Civil Society and encouraging its enhanced role play on several
international development agendas and partnerships including SDGs, BRICS, BBIN, BIMSTECH,Blue Economy and their social implications.
Voluntary Action Network India (VANI)(An Apex Body of Voluntary Organisations)
VANI HOUSE, 7, PSP Pocket, Sector-8, Dwarka, New Delhi-110077
011-49148610, 40391661 E: info@vaniindia.org
www.vaniindia.org