ASSOCHAM 5th Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Awards and Conclave 2024

25th September, New Delhi: At the ASSOCHAM 5th Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Awards and Conclave 2024, Chief Guest Ms Delina Khongdup, Member National Commission for Women, addressed the audience by stressing the need for diversity and inclusion in the workplace. This should be a constant practice in the organisations for the entitlement of women and all genders. This is a human and social responsibility to achieve gender diversity for all walks of society. India has a vast diversity and there should be a feeling of inclusivity in all the places possible.

There has been an amendment to the Companies Act to increase the representation of women in board of directors, but the reality is there is less than 5% of women at the CEO level in the Indian workforce. Corporate India should recognise this inclusivity and bridge the gender balance relationship at working spaces. Harassment in the workplaces and non-payment of maternity benefits should be addressed immediately for betterment. We should apply a holistic approach to achieve the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047, she said.

Ms. Srimathi Shivashankar, Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National Empowerment Council and Corporate Vice President and Global Head, EdTech Business, HCL Technologies gave her welcome address and said that this is a pivotal moment where diversity and inclusion are no longer just buzzwords but essential pillars of sustainable growth. We should aim to inspire action and collaboration toward a future where everyone, regardless of background, can thrive.

In his vote of thanks Mr. Ravi Bhatnagar, Co-Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National CSR & Empowerment Councils and Director External Affairs & Partnerships, South Asia, Reckitt highlighted the importance of recognizing employee wellbeing at workplaces so that gender diversity can take center stage. India’s mission is to achieve diversity, equity, and inclusion as a lot can be done in this country to make it a developed nation. Embracing this diversity is vital for nurturing an inclusive workplace culture.

Ms. Dnyan Shah, Co-Chairperson, ASSOCHAM National Empowerment Council and SVP & Global Head, DEI, Employee Experience & Engagement, Mphasis shared how India’s heritage of unity in diversity must extend to our workplaces and communities, creating environments where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. An inclusive India is a prosperous India. Helping with training sessions for the person with disabilities is the need of the hour.

True inclusion in India means bridging gaps – not only across regions and languages but also across gender, ability, and opportunity, said Mr. Gurpreet Arora, Head of Group Finance Service Delivery India, UBS Business Solution (India) Pvt. Ltd. In a diverse nation like India, inclusion isn’t just a choice; it’s a responsibility. Every individual must feel they belong, no matter their background or identity, he added.

Award ceremony was organised at the 5th Diversity and Inclusion Excellence Awards and Conclave 2024 where organisations were recognized under various categories. Best Employer for Policies on Diversity & Inclusion was won by Edelmen India Pvt Ltd (small); Myntra designs pvt ltd (Medium); KPMG India (large). Best Employer for Persons with Disabilities was won by Bizsolindia Services Private Limited (small); CSG Systems International (India) Private Limited (medium); TVS motor company (large)  Reflections Info Systems Pvt Ltd (small); Swiss Re (medium); KPMG (large) won under the category Best Employer for Women.

D&I Champion category (large) was bagged by Devendra Patodi (Vice President – Nagpur Plant Operations) CEAT Limited and Ruchika Malhan Varma (Chief Marketing, Customer and Impact Officer) Future Generali India Insurance Co. Ltd.(medium).

Disclaimer

Career Beacon has not modified the content except for minor formatting and stylistic changes.