The Trustee & Founder CEO of Bansidhar & Ila Panda Foundation (BIPF), Shaifalika Panda, doubles as the Chief of CSR (Special Initiatives), of the parent company, Indian Metals and Ferro Alloys (IMFA). Elaborating on her role, she says that the foundation embodies the values and ethos of the company, continuing its legacy of community-centric growth. She emphasises that both these roles are complementary. Her role at IMFA can be seen as Phase One, where the focus is on highlighting the importance of social development to the business teams at the corporate level. Her role at BIPF represents Phase Two, centered around implementing development initiatives.
G20 Empower
She also adds that her role as the convener of the G20 Empower Group on Mentorship, which worked on women’s entrepreneurship, promoting women’s leadership at all levels, and education, worked to ensure access to technology and the digital medium. According to Shaifalika Panda, the group successfully advanced the mentorship agenda for women, helping them overcome systemic challenges and access professional networks that foster career growth and entrepreneurial opportunities. The group also provided access to platforms that offered insights into various schemes and opportunities, including financial and market linkages.
Gender SDGs
On accelerating India’s gender SDG performance, she stresses that it’s not only about empowering women but also about creating an environment in which they can thrive. Shaifalika Panda believes reshaping gender expectations for both men and women from early life stages, through gender-sensitive training in schools and homes, is essential. She also advocates for community-driven behaviour change campaigns, leveraging influencers, media, and tech-aided communication to raise awareness. She adds that gender equity should involve men as well as women.
Evolution of CSR
Reflecting on the evolution of CSR, Shaifalika Panda highlights its shift from sporadic charity to structured impact, noting that it will continue to evolve from a compliance-driven activity to a purpose-driven approach focused on measurable outcomes and long-term social impact. She believes strategic investments through CSR are crucial for catalysing change, and stresses the importance of collaborations to achieve sustainable progress on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030.
