Is India Inc ready to talk about discrimination?

Context: It is time for the corporate sector to address the long-neglected discrimination in society to be a more prosperous, equitable, and sustainable society.   

Rising discrimination:

• Color discrimination in the US: The recent murder of George Floyd by a policeman in US has reignited the Black Lives Matter movement which started in 2013.

• In India: 

• Caste discrimination: Dalits face the highest level of discrimination against other groups in the cast hierarchy (upper caste).
• High unreported cases: as the marginalized communities face unsurmountable difficulties in penetrating the behemoth establishment of police and law.
• The India Human Development Survey data (2011-12): shows over 27% of Indians admit that they practice untouchability, which is illegal.
• Religion-based discrimination: deeply rooted in Indian society for which no statistics are required.

Critique of the corporate sector:

• Pretense: The corporate sector is believed to pretend that it is against racial discrimination while benefiting from it.
• Works only in self-interest: to bring changes in culture and habits that help it improve its performance in terms of return on investment in the short to medium term. 

Way Forward: Redefining the role of corporations to bring real change:

• Ensure audit: against anti-discriminatory policies that have percolated down in all levels of organization.
• Adopt no tolerance: for caste and religion-based discrimination.
• Provide equity training to employees.
• Promote awareness about whistleblowers policies among the marginalized communities.
• Reimaging Corporate Social Responsibility: Allocating a part of funds and other resources in fighting against discrimination in partnerships with NGOs.