A number of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) working with Tata Trusts have expressed concern over the ongoing boardroom battle at the Tata group, fearing it could impede the work of these trusts.
Tata Trusts have unwittingly been drawn into a battle and if not protected, millions of “have-nots of India stand to be affected across a country that is starved of real philanthropy,” NGOs working with the Tata Trust said in a joint letter to Tata group companies.
“We, the civil society organisations, and in turn, the have-nots of India in the communities we work in, have been the beneficiaries of Tatas’ generosity. No other organisation in India has been as central to the growth and vibrancy of the civil society, erstwhile known as the voluntary sector, as the Tata group, spearheaded by the Trusts,” the letter said.
Stating that they had no reason to believe the future will be any different, with or without the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) law, it appealed to all stakeholders in Tata group to ensure that Tata Trusts’ philanthropic activities are protected and “continue to be the soul of the various flourishing business operations of the Tatas”.
The letter, a copy of which was seen by BusinessLine , was addressed to the board members of Tata Consultancy Services, Tata Motors, Tata Chemicals and Tata Power. The joint letter was signed by various NGOs such as Pradan, Seva Mandir, Srijan, Action for Social Development, Foundation for Ecological Security and Aga Khan Rural Support Programme.
Tata Trusts, which comprise a number of trusts with the biggest of them being Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust, owns two-thirds of Tata Sons, the holding firm of all Tata group companies. The wealth that accrues from these asset supports an assortment of causes.
Tata Trusts are amongst India's oldest, non-sectarian philanthropic organisation working towards improving the quality of life of people, and the group’s philanthropy predates the CSR law.