Not many would agree with the principle that one’s critic is one’s true benefactor. Well, industry, or some sections of it seem ready to embrace their critics.
This Monday, for instance, all corporate managers of Tata Steel would consider a critique of industry at their tables, and perhaps some of it would go into their thoughts. The critique, a paper written by Gandhian activist P V Rajagopal, who has been walking through 20 states since last October on a yatra, talks about what people told him about the land or resources they lost to the industry and the various ways by which industry caused them grief.
The paper would be sent to most industry houses for introspection, as part of an effort initiated by some leaders of industry and civil society to find solution to conflicts between industry and people.
The pioneers include Kiran Karnik, former president of Nasscom, Tata Steel, and Arcelor Mittal from the industry, and Amita Joseph, who heads the Business Community Foundation, a non-profit group that has been helping in corporate social responsibility (CSR) work. While travelling, Rajagopal sent a letter voicing all he heard people say about industry and NGOs, but got no response from industry. Joseph then took the letter and began a dialogue with industry.
After two meetings, Karnik says the immediate goal is to set up a third-party neutral platform that would look at both business and CSR activities of industry, like an independent auditor. It would be a partnership between industry and civil society. It is a ‘CSR watch’ that may be led by Karnik, Rajagopal and Joseph.
The second meeting of the group, held this weekend in Delhi, also decided to disseminate Rajgopal’s paper voicing the people’s grief to as many companies as possible.
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It talks about the public perception that industry provides protection money to the armed groups, that the district administration serves the interests of industry against local people and that companies are influencing the district administration become corrupt and anti-people to promote their interests.
It further says anti-social elements are being used by corporations to displace people; youth are being hired to work as henchmen. The Forest Rights Act and The Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act are being violated all the time and common land and grazing lands are being grabbed or used as dumping ground by industry.
It adds once a memorandum of understanding is signed with state governments, people living in the area or victims of the project would have little concern.
The paper suggests industry should regulate its behaviour, revisit the idea of trusteeship proposed by Mahatma Gandhi and take civil society into confidence. It should work with them, instead of using tactics to crush dissent. The paper goes on to blame some entrants in industry, which may be trying short cuts to success by compromising on ethics and human rights.
Industry is not shying away from reality either. As a Tata Steel representative speaking at the meeting put it, “We have to tell industry it is hated. And, we have to tell them you are the cause of the hatred. We have to correct ourself for our own good”.