Trust and corporate social responsibility: Lessons from India

Skeletons tumbling out of corporate closets over the past few years have led to a general erosion of trust in business globally. With this backdrop, lessons from India are particularly relevant as businesses seek endorsement as good corporate citizens through corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives. The world over, CSR stems from a commitment to the society in which a business operates. In India, it has been traditionally linked to spirituality, while respect in the corporate world has been treated on a par with the bottom line. As the need for CSR finds wider recognition, it is worth examining the Indian foundation for trust.