Team Blitz India
On the occasion of International Anti-Corruption Day 2023, a Global Symposium on ‘Promoting Transparency: Strategies for Driving Multi-Stakeholder Engagement to Fight Corruption’ was organized jointly by United Nations Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) and Atmiya University celebrated at Atmiya University, Rajkot/Gujrat.The event was supported by several national and international organizations including the Humanistic Management Network, Responsible UN Principles for Management Education Anti-Corruption Working Group, Blitz India, Shapar Veraval Industrial Association, and Rotary Club of Rajkot Prime.
Speaking at the inaugural session of the symposium, the Executive Director of UN Global Compact Network India (UN GCNI) Mr. Ratnesh Jha called for collective action in fighting corruption.In his address, he shared his views on why the active engagement of academic institutions and research institutes with UN GCNI to successfully implement the UNGC 10th Principle (Anti-Corruption) in India is the need to combat corruption not only in healthcare but also across the sectors.
Dr. Somnath Singh, Deputy Director, UN GCNI highlighted the anti-corruption efforts by the organization and appreciated that for the first time, such a programme was being supported by an academic institution in Gujarat. Also, he stressed the role of the public and private sectors in fighting corruption. He emphasized on corruption in Healthcare Sectors and the need for collective action of diverse actors to strengthen transparency and accountability across the healthcare ecosystem.
Dr. Ernst von Kimakowitz, Co-founder, of Humanistic Management Network, Switzerland mentioned how humanistic approaches were important in managing organizations for improved ethical behavior and practices of diverse sectors. The session was presided by Dr. Shiv Kumar Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, of Atmiya University who highlighted the central role of educational institutions and universities in fighting corruption. The programme started with a welcome address by Dr. Divyang Vyas, Registrar, Atmiya University, and ended with a vote of thanks by Dr. Vishal Khasgiwala, Dean of Faculty of Business and Commerce, Atmiya University. On this occasion, a Compendium of Best Practices on Anti-Corruption for the Healthcare and Anti-Corruption Brochure, published by UN GCNI were launched. Mr. Ashutosh Kumar Mishra, an Anti-Corruption and legal expert from Anbay Legal shared his views on the strategyto mitigate corruption challenges, especially in the healthcare ecosystem that UN GCNI has come up with this best practice compendium on Anti-Corruption for Healthcare.
Following the inaugural session, a panel discussion was organized. The panel was moderated by Dr. Somnath Singh. The panelists included: Dr. Karan Thakur, Vice President, Apollo Hospitals; Mr. Pawan Varma, CEO, Institute for Global Development; Mr. Dinesh Agrawal, Principal Advisor, Consocia Advisory; Dr. Rajesh Chitre, Sub-Regional Compliance Officer, South-East Asia (North) + India, MERCK; Mr. Vishal Sarvaiya, Shree Vam Industries; Prof. Rukaiya Joshi, SPJIMR; Ms Charnamrit Sachdeva, Independent Journalist, and Producer. The panel touchedon different aspects of collective action strategy implementation to challenge corrupt practices in the Public and Private sectors.
Following the panel discussion, an online global symposium was also organized with an opening speech byMs. Delia Ferreira Rubio, Former Chair of Transparency International. The panel was addressed by several eminent global scholars in the field including Prof. Dr. Wolfgang C Amann, HEC Paris; Prof. Christian Hauser; University of Applied Sciences, Switzerland; Prof. Agata Stachowicz-Stanusch, Canadian University of Dubai; and Prof. Dr. Kyriakos Kouveliotis, Berlin School of Business and Innovation. The panel was moderated by Prof. Shiv K. Tripathi, Vice Chancellor, of Atmiya University.
