Back to resources

Philanthropy in India Is Taking Its Own Route

Strategic Philanthropy | Mar 21, 2013

A debate was going on about a government proposal to make it compulsory for companies to spend 2% of their net pro?ts on corporate social responsibility (CSR). Rohini Nilekani, philanthropist and chairperson of Arghyam, a foundation she set up with a private endowment to work on water and sanitation issues in India, says she has been “against the 2% rule from the beginning” because “I don’t think government should outsource its governance. And, secondly, making it mandatory is going to straightjacket [CSR] in a way that may not necessarily yield the best results. But now that it’s been done, we just have to make the best of it.”

View PDF

More like this

Strategic Philanthropy

Disruptive giving

‘Accidental philanthropist’ uses her good fortune and influence to create more opportunities for India’s poor. Deeply involved in initiatives that have unleashed disruptive change in India across a range of issues, from education to the environment, she has mastered the art of giving. View PDF
Oct 7, 2016 | Article

Strategic Philanthropy

Rohini Nilekani's Comments on Philanthropy: It's Time to up the Game

Rohini Nilekani’s comments on a panel discussing Mr Azim Premji’s new commitment to philanthropy totalling $21 billion. The panel discusses whether there are lessons in compassionate capitalism here for India Inc? What is the future of philanthropy in India? What are the challenges? How can India increase the effectiveness of charity? The panel discusses what […]
Mar 14, 2019 | Panel Discussions

Strategic Philanthropy

Karnas of Philanthrophy - Telugu - Eenadu

Nandan Nilekani and Rohini Nilekani have pledged half their wealth for Philanthrophy. View PDF
Jun 1, 2018 | Personality

Strategic Philanthropy

We need to talk about failure in the social sector: NGOs must fail to succeed

A lot of ink is spilled and awards are bestowed each year celebrating the success of the social sector—and there is much to celebrate. But the truth is, if innovation is essential to the ultimate achievements of the sector, we should spend less time on success, and more time on failure. We lament the inability […]
Jan 22, 2019 | Article