On a serene winter morning, the inaugural edition of Nadi Kinare Chaupal at TARAgram Yatra 2024 unfolded against the picturesque backdrop of the Kanchana Ghat, on the banks of the mighty River Betwa, with royal cenotaphs adding to the setting’s grandeur. This dynamic panel discussion brought together CSR leaders, media professionals, and think tank representatives to explore the potential of CSR in driving community-led climate action.
The session commenced with a warm welcome from Mr. Nipun Kaushik, Assistant General Manager - Corporate Communications, Development Alternatives. This was followed by Mr. Shrashtant Patara, CEO, Development Alternatives, setting the context by emphasizing the interconnected crises of jobs, resources, and climate change, and the need for systemic collaboration to address them. He highlighted the importance of leveraging CSR's ₹30,000 crore annual corpus as a strategic tool for meaningful climate action.
Panel Discussion
Moderated by Mr. Siddharth Bhatia, Lead at Earth Exponential, India Climate Collaborative, the panel featured:
- Mr. Prabhakant Jain, CSR Head, DS Group
- Ms. Hiba Chaudhary, Lead, Wingify Foundation
- Mr. Ashish Jha, Founder, TheCSRUniverse
- Mr. Venkat Jayagopi, Climate Action Programme Lead, Shakti Foundation
The discussions delved into critical challenges and innovative strategies for advancing community resilience and mitigating climate risks through CSR. Key topics included integrating livelihoods with climate initiatives, scaling grassroots solutions, and addressing funding and policy gaps.
Key objectives and takeaways
- Philanthropy as a Catalyst : The panel underscored the role of CSR in enabling systemic change by aligning investments with climate resilience goals.
- Innovative Approaches : From watershed development by DS Group to air pollution awareness campaigns by Wingify Foundation, the panel spotlighted proven models of collaboration.
- Breaking Silos : Discussions emphasized integrating CSR efforts across education, health, and livelihoods through a unified climate action narrative.
- Scaling for Impact : Panelists called for partnerships with technical institutions and local governments to scale solutions and reach vulnerable hotspots.
Conclusion
The session concluded with actionable recommendations, emphasizing the need for community-led ownership, strategic communication, and collaborative partnerships. By framing climate action as a strategic priority, CSR leaders can catalyze systemic change, foster sustainability, and create resilient communities.
Nadi Kinare Chaupal exemplified how collective action can bridge the gap between grassroots innovations and systemic support, aligning CSR efforts with the global sustainability agenda. Towards the end, Ms. Shaila Sam, Associate Vice President & Head- Communications and Impact at DA, highlighting the importance of sustainable practices presented a Steel Sipper for them to adopt in their daily lives. Further, she felicitated the panellists with a gamcha and presented them with a token in the shape of an elephant representing Bundeklhandi artisanship to the panellists. She was joined by Dr. Swayamprabha Das, Associate Vice President & Head - Policy and Planning Domain at DA.
At the end, Mr. Navniit Siingh Chatwal, Associate Vice President & Regional Director – Bundelkhand, DA gave a vote of thanks to everyone. He thanked the panellists, the DA team, the Communications team and the authorities of District Niwari for letting us organize the event.
We thank our Support Partner for Nadi Kinare Chaupal India Climate Collaborative to believe in our vision of TARAgram Yatra 2024 and of the Chaupal.
