DLF Foundation

As India looks towards a brighter tomorrow, the determination to help those in need should never waver and commitments to the support the society should never falter.

The Covid-19 pandemic has forever changed the world. There has been a paradigm shift in how corporations perceived their ecosystem. During this era of uncertainties, corporations have shown resolute commitment towards community welfare programmes. As businesses find themselves in a changing landscape, it is encouraging to take note that corporate firms have pivoted their CSR models to better address the urgent societal challenges facing our country. The response to this changing CSR landscape has been demonstrated not only by companies of Indian origin but even foreign corporations who have mobilized support and initiated targeted campaigns to mitigate the impact of this unprecedented crisis. Going forward while companies with grassroot penetration will look to contribute through individual programmes and relief efforts, others will begin to partner with local authorities of respective state governments and scale their initiatives to cater to the needs of local communities.  

As businesses continue to learn and adapt to the new normal, the coming year will see new trends as corporate firms explore new and diverse opportunities to expand their CSR footprint. With a commitment to fortify the health infrastructure during the pandemic, various corporations have already begun to deploy resources towards endeavours aligned with unconventional and unchartered areas of relief. These include efforts for promoting mental health and harnessing technology to create awareness. Going forward into the new year, the areas of prime focus for CSR initiatives will be preventive healthcare, food security, education, environmental sustainability, rural development and donations to government agencies. Pursuing a hybrid approach, we now see that corporations are directing their CSR efforts more ubiquitously through multiple welfare domains.  

According to government reporting, a total of INR 1,00,864 Cr has been spent on 1,44,843 CSR projects from FY-2014 to FY-2020. We also note that significant CSR funding go to states with higher levels of industrialisation. This was best exemplified by the statistic that Maharashtra, Karnataka, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu receive more than 30% of the total CSR expenditure annually. However, the flipside of this sees that underdeveloped states with poor socio-economic indicators like Jharkhand, Bihar, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh receive only 9% of the total expenditure from CSR initiatives. In fact, the states with the most need for CSR initiatives, do not even feature in the top 10 CSR state beneficiaries. For CSR to be truly effective, this imbalance will need to be rectified. To address this challenge, there needs to be dedicated channels for the identification and redirection of CSR projects across the country. This will not only facilitate the deployment of CSR funds to areas that most need it but will also save valuable time and effort in the long run. Amongst the primary issues faced in the deployment of resources towards their CSR initiatives, corporations invariably cite ‘logistical challenges’ as one of the greatest challenges they usually encounter. As businesses look to expand their CSR footprint, a unified CSR platform will facilitate companies and their implementation partners to assess where their CSR funds would be most impactful across diverse domains. One of nascent steps to overcome this impediment in the coming year is the proposal by SEBI for the creation of the ‘Social Stock Exchange’, which will facilitate the efficient deployment of CSR funding. This government regulated body will also enable trading of excess/deficient CSR between companies. Working under the guidance of SEBI, the Social Stock Exchange, will go a long way in verifying the impacts of CSR projects on various at-risk communities.    

Even as new trends and innovations spur businesses to realign their CSR offerings, there are still several bottlenecks observed in the execution of the CSR. Going forward, these need to be dynamically addressed so that CSR efforts can be leveraged to their full potential. There needs to a fundamental change in the approach by corporate firms. CSR should not be seen as a statutory obligation, rather it should be perceived as an opportunity to give back to the community that sustains these corporations. By generating positive impact initiatives through social welfare programmes, corporations will be able to create long-term sustainability for their own businesses. Creating synergy with their ecosystem will always benefit the business that depends on it. Looking towards future horizons, there is a dire necessity to ascertain that CSR initiatives have a multiplier effect on social, economic as well as environmental dimensions at the grassroot level. Corporate firms can accomplish this by evaluating the results of their CSR expenditure across a fixed timeline. Contributing in sectors that have the potential to generate high impact is another way to achieve this objective. To this end, various corporations have now begun to fund research and technology incubators. In the aftermath of the pandemic, it is expected that these efforts would exhibit highly diversified social impact in the perceivable future.

The pandemic has forever transformed how CSR will be viewed across the corporate landscape. From domestic start-up ventures to multinational conglomerates, businesses from all domains have come forward to contribute to the nation by pivoting their CSR strategies towards Covid-19 relief efforts. Although the full magnitude of the pandemic is difficult to fathom, it is abundantly clear that when the dust settles, the pandemic would have left an indelible mark on various marginalized communities. Thus, it is crucial that these efforts be sustained even after we come out of the shadow of the pandemic. As India looks towards a brighter tomorrow, the determination to help those in need should never waver and commitments to the support the society should never falter. By honouring their CSR commitments, corporations must ensure that they meaningfully give back to the society that sustains them. 

Disclaimer: The views expressed in the article above are those of the authors’ and do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of this publishing house. Unless otherwise noted, the author is writing in his/her personal capacity. They are not intended and should not be thought to represent official ideas, attitudes, or policies of any agency or institution.

By Dr Ameeta Mulla Wattal, Mar 16, 2022 13:00

Economically weaker section and children with special needs have to be given more attention and importance.

Technology alone cannot guarantee good learning outcomes, writes Dr. Ameeta Mulla Wattal.

The greatest disruption in the history of education has been the pandemic. How do we ensure that education, which is a fundamental human right doesn’t become a ‘generational catastrophe’, because when learning collapses peaceful and productive societies cannot be sustained. The most important aspect is to suppress transmissions and critically plan school opening. This is necessary in order to build trust and confidence among stakeholders.  Even now, many parents are not in agreement on sending their children to schools. Some are afraid and others have got habituated to a hybrid comfort zone. Innumerable students especially in the senior secondary are also not willing to return to schools as their bio-clocks, habits and attitudes have got attuned to working from home.  Several changes will have to be brought into place as ‘Successive closures and reopenings are likely to continue’. More teachers need to be recruited as hybrid models will come into place. Class time may need to increase, remedial programme and accelerated learning will have to be set in place and adjustments will have to be made in curriculum content that needs to be covered. ‘Technology alone cannot guarantee good learning outcomes’. More important that training teachers in ICT skills is ensuring that they have assessment and pedagogical skills to meet children at their levels and to implement the accelerated curriculum and differentiated learning strategies, which are likely to emerge in the return to school. ‘Low tech and no tech’ approach should not be forgotten for those who have limited access to technology, to prevent children from the poorest homes not to be left behind. Economically weaker section and children with special needs have to be given more attention and importance. Special earmarked areas should be created for them so that even if the school is closed down due to pandemic, they should be able to attend maintaining social distancing as it is very difficult for them to study at home and access other facilities. As far as children with special needs are concerned, there should be provisions for them, especially who have autism, dyslexia, dysgraphia and other challenges, so that they can have remedial help which often is not available at home. Sports are a very important part of schooling and has taken a big hit due to the virus. A variety of sports initiatives could be brought in ranging from mindfulness, meditation, yoga, running, dribbling, skipping and other individualized sports activities, where children can channelize their energies. Sports programme could be created so that some kind of physical activity should be available for students. As a result of sports not being available obesity and other lifestyle disorders have affected children. Social emotional learning has to be embedded into the curriculum. It is important that we create a learning experience around SEL, so that we can help deconstruct the conflict that children would have faced during the crisis. This will help us identify the areas of stress, detachment and confusion, that may have affected them. The new school paradigm will have a very vital role in the near future. It will have to be seen how to engage children not only in education but in socializing with their peers, creating safe zones to play, often providing meals, and supporting families, who are working. When students return to school, they will be the least prepared for any traditional testing, which should be put on hold at all levels and there should be more emphasis on bridging learning gaps and emotional development. Students in pre-primary and primary in the age group of 3 to 10 will find it very difficult to get into a routine, because they would have not been to school for over two years.  At the primary level, when children return they should be allowed to have their own learning option, creating personalized portfolios, problem solving, resilience and project-based learning. This will enable them to find a sense of academic freedom, which they would have missed in restricted confines of their homes. Senior students have already lost 60% of schooling in the last two years. On school return, we have to help them not only through remedial and other supportive practices in learning but also in coping with their own emotional and physical needs. These are extraordinary times and need extra ordinary measures. States and boards will have to look at how to assess what children have learnt in the missing two years. The entire school will become a place of audits from health, hygiene, environment, learning to emotional needs. All areas will need to be handled professionally and with sensitivity.

Dr. Ameeta Mulla Wattal is the author, chairperson and executive director of Education, Innovations and Training, DLF Foundation Schools and Scholarship Programmes. Views expressed are personal.

With the admissions process for the next academic year underway, it is crucial that parents find future-focused schools that can help their children thrive in an uncertain world. Nidhi Tewari, Principal, Ridge Valley School, Gurugram shares her thoughts on how parents should choose school in the post COVID-19 era.

As the admission process for the upcoming academic year 2022-23 kicks off, parents are currently concerned about choosing the right school for their children. The COVID-19 pandemic, coupled with social distancing restrictions, has already adversely affected the education system of the country. Almost two years of school closure have left teachers, students, and parents relying on virtual classes. Consequently, the long gap has affected learning outcomes substantially. Despite their convenience, virtual classes do not have the same educational impact as classroom instruction. Moreover, home environments are not necessarily as conducive to learning as schools are. Especially for toddlers aged two to five, playschool or preschool is considered their first step towards education and development of cognitive abilities. Due to the pandemic-induced lockdown, countless children of this age group have been unable to engage in offline classes in the last two years.

Since the effects of the pandemic are waning and schools are being instructed to reopen, it’s time for parents to choose the best school for their children in light of the new normal. Parents should keep in mind that reopening schools alone are not sufficient. In the post-COVID era, schools must deal with several protocols and comply with them proactively.

The first and foremost step is ensuring that the school complies with all COVID-19 regulations to ensure the safety of students, teachers, and staff. The school should ensure thermal screening is done at the school gate to identify symptoms of cough, cold, or fever. Also, it is critical to ensure the teachers and staff members have been vaccinated against COVID-19. It is also important to check how the desks are arranged in the classrooms and if the students follow physical distancing measures during lunchtime. Last but not least, the school must have separate entry and exit gates to prevent overcrowding.

Understand their Action Plan:

Schools should provide students with intensive assistance to help them catch up on the education they have missed over the past two years. For instance, school administrators can plan for remedial classes for Kindergarten and first-grade students to help them get back on track. Therefore, regardless of the school you are considering, make sure you understand how they hope to help their students make up for the gaps in educational experience over the past two years.

Supporting Students’ Mental Health:

School closures and lockdowns led to a surge in child mental health problems due to several factors, including higher levels of anxiety, social isolation, and so on. Children will exhibit a range of emotional reactions as soon as they return to the classroom after a gap of two years. Thus, it is important to ensure the school you choose for your child focuses on restoring children’s mental and physical health. At the same time, it is important to check whether the teachers have the necessary training to ensure the physical and mental well-being of their students. Additionally, they must monitor for signs of anxiety, depression, and aggression in students and take care of their social-emotional well-being. Furthermore, they should help students develop resilience skills so they can deal with the uncertainties in life boldly.

Technology Implementation in Classrooms:

Amidst the uncertainty posed by the pandemic, schools are not only upgrading traditional teaching-learning models but also making preparations for a host of changes. As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, advanced technology was increasingly adopted for conducting online classes seamlessly, setting the stage for a new era of learning and teaching. Such advanced technologies can now be utilized to make learning more engaging and innovative. Several future-focused schools are integrating immersive technologies such as AR and VR, into their infrastructure, to provide students with hands-on practical experiences of concepts so that they can learn faster and with ease. Furthermore, even though the new academic year gives reason to believe that the worst of the pandemic may have passed, a seamless and streamlined teaching-learning process needs to be in place for addressing the uncertainties that lie ahead in the COVID-19 era.

Emphasizing Physical Activity

The pandemic caused children to become less physically active, and become increasingly glued to screens. Therefore, to encourage students to spend time outdoors, schools must provide ample opportunities for sports and active outdoor activities to make them physically fit.

The onus of gearing up children for the uncertain post-pandemic world lies in schools. Therefore, as a responsible parent, one must choose an educational institution that prepares your child to face any circumstances the pandemic may bring in the near future. At the same time, the school must ensure your child’s overall development while offering all the facilities he or she will need to stay safe once offline classes begin. You will have an easier time choosing the right school for your child if you consider all the points outlined above.