SGS HOSTS “THE NEXT DECADE OF SOCIAL IMPACT CONCLAVE” IN MUMBAI

Mumbai - On July 2nd, 2026, SGS hosted The Next Decade of Social Impact Conclave, an invitation-only gathering of corporate leaders, CSR practitioners and sector experts in Mumbai. Themed ‘Capital, Credibility and Collaboration’, the convening brought together voices from capital markets, industry, academia and grassroots governance to shape the future of social impact and responsible business in Bharat.

The centrepiece of the event was the launch of Jal Sankalp, a multi-stakeholder pledge for groundwater conservation and environmental sustainability. As India confronts one of its most pressing developmental challenges, the initiative aims to bring corporate, administrative and community stakeholders together around measurable, on-ground water conservation.

The afternoon opened with a keynote by Mr. Vineet Shastry, AVP, Social Stock Exchange & Listings (Mainboard), National Stock Exchange, on how the Social Stock Exchange is reimagining CSR. This was followed by an expert panel, Measuring Impact: The Next Frontier in Social Accountability, with Ms. Priti Savla (Central Council Member, ICAI), Ms. Mabel Abraham (Head of CSR, Larsen & Toubro), Ms. Krupa Tanna (CSR Lead, HDB Financial Services) and Prof. Pekham Basu (TISS), moderated by Mr. Chintansinh Suratia, Head of CSR Strategy & Impact Services for SGS in Bharat.

The urgency of the cause was brought to life by senior district administrators working at the frontline of India's water challenge, including Smt. Shreeroopa, IAS (Chamarajanagar, Karnataka) and Shri Keerthi Kiran Pujar, IAS (Dharashiv, Maharashtra), who shared perspectives on water security, agriculture and community resilience in their districts.

As part of the Jal Sankalp launch, SGS also formalised a Memorandum of Understanding with the District Administration, Chamarajanagar, Government of Karnataka, to support the creation and promotion of the Chamarajanagar Water Stewardship Alliance. The collaboration is intended to strengthen groundwater management and water security initiatives across the district by enabling stakeholder engagement, multi-sector participation and mobilisation of technical knowledge and CSR support.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Amit Thakkar, Managing Director, SGS (Bharat, Bangladesh & Sri Lanka), said “The next decade of social impact will be defined not by how much we give, but by how credibly we can measure and sustain the change we create. Through Jal Sankalp, we hope to turn shared intent into shared, lasting impact, because every drop we conserve today secures a better tomorrow.”