TCS, Wipro also in fray for SHE awards

IT majors Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and Wipro Limited are among the 23 companies that have been short-listed for the final competition of Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) Southern region's (SR) leadership and excellence in Safety Health and Environment (SHE) awards 2004.

According to information from a press release, they are participating for the first time in the SHE awards to be held on February 24 and 25 in Chennai. The two-day competition will feature presentations on best practices in SHE, by 18 companies in the manufacturing sector and five from the services sector.

Pradeep Dhobale, chairman of energy and environment sub-committee, CII (SR), and chief executive (paper boards and speciality papers division), ITC Limited, said that for the first time an exclusive award for leadership and excellence in SHE will be presented to the winner in the services category.

There will also be an innovation award for best innovative practices and a special category award.

CII-SR SHE award competition that is currently in its third edition has participation for the first time from companies in the IT and hotel industry. CII had initiated the SHE Award to recognise, motivate and facilitate corporates to adopt innovative practices in SHE. Conserving critical environmental resource and contributing to sustainable development are some of the key parameters for this award.

Some of the 23 finalists include Hotel Taj Residency, Bangalore; Tata Consultancy Services; The Leela Palace, Bangalore; Wipro Technologies; Ashok Leyland Ltd, Unit II, Hosur, Chennai; Petroleum Corporation Ltd; Coromandel Fertilisers Limited; Nagarjuna Fertilizers and Chemicals Ltd; Saint Gobain Glass India Ltd; Shasun Chemicals & Drugs Limited, Tata BP Solar India Limited, Titan Industries Limited - Watch Division; TTK - LIG Limited, Ultra Tech Cement Limited - AP Cement Works and Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and Ramky Group.

CII (SR) SHE Award has become popular among Indian corporates in the wake of strict environmental and stringent directives insisted by stakeholders including the Supreme Court monitoring committee, government, funding agencies, overseas buyers and NGOs.