Speaking after inaugurating the two-day second Nitte International Conference on “Redefining the roles of business, NGOs and governments: A mission for a better global society,” organised by Justice K S Hegde Institute of Management (JKSHIM) in association with School of Social Policy and Practice, University of Pennsylvania, USA, Erasmus Centre for Strategic Philanthropy, The Netherlands, Graduate School of Policy Sciences, Ritsumeikan University, Japan and Third Sector Research Resource Centre, University of Mysore here on Wednesday, he said that in today’s market driven world, the role of business in building a better future society is much larger than that of the governments.
He said that sustainability and inclusiveness are the two factors which are essential for any improvement and ideal situation for better global society. “Whatever changes, reforms, innovations that we make in future should be first be sustainable and such changes must be inclusive so as to embrace every section of the society,” he added.
Delivering the key-note address on ‘The business of helping the poor,’ University of Pennsylvania Dr Ram A Cnaan said business related poverty reduction programmes should not be viewed as major solution to world poverty. In the dilemma of maximising profit versus helping society, the former is still by far the winner and yet the fact that corporations and even small businesses are willing to underwrite anti-poverty programmes is in itself an encouraging development, he said.