Voluntary Guidelines to Business, 2011

NATIONAL VOLUNTARY GUIDELINES ON SOCIAL, ENVIRONMENTAL AND ECONOMIC RESPONSIBILITIES OF BUSINESS, 2011

These guidelines were prepared by the GOI as a framework for responsible business action in India by all business entities, irrespective of their size, sector, location. The guidelines are voluntary in nature, but agencies are encouraged to fulfill the identified principles and even go beyond them. These guidelines reflect a concious shift from CSR (corporate social responsibility) to a more encompassing concept of 'Responsible Business' 

Guidelines:

- Businesses should conduct and govern themselves with ethics, transparency and accountability

- Businesses should provide goods and services that are safe and contribute to sustainability throughout their life cycle

- Businesses should promote well-being of all employees

- Businesses should protect interests of and be responsive towards all stakeholders, esp the disadvantaged.

- Businesses should respect and promote human rights

- Businesses should respect, protect, and if possible restore the environment

- Businesses when influencing public policy, should do so in a responsible manner.

- Businesses should support inclusive growth and equitable development

- Businesses should engage with and provide value to their customers in a responsible manner. 

1. http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/latestnews/National_Voluntary_Guidelines_2011_12jul2011.pdf
2. http://pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=74483