The National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) organized the NASSCOM Diversity & Inclusion Summit 2015 on Thursday. The core theme of this edition of the summit was empowering inclusion.
Industry leaders shared insights into the need to include diversity as a business imperative. NASSCOM and NTT DATA also announced the launch of ‘Ntercept’ a mobile-based safety application for women, aimed at creating a secure working environment for employees of the sector.
NASSCOM President R Chandrashekhar said: “The Indian IT and ITES industry demonstrates the power of creating an inclusive and diverse work environment. Diversity we now know is not just about gender. Our next imperative is to unravel the various elements that impact the culture of organizations.
“Knowledge of generational diversity from a cultural point of view is also very important. [There is a need for] deeper understanding of what each generation values at both the individual and organizational scale. NASSCOM will continue to work with the government and NGOs to assist and encourage companies to become diverse and inclusive.”
NASSCOM also gave away corporate awards for excellence in diversity and inclusion as part of the event. The nominations were in three categories this year: excellence in gender inclusivity, excellence in inclusivity for persons with disabilities and excellence in leadership (individual) for promotion of diversity and inclusion.
SAP Labs India, EMC Software and Services, Tata Consultancy Services and RBS Business Services won the excellence in gender inclusivity award; Wipro won excellence in inclusivity for persons with disabilities award; and Jerry D Edmans, the regional head of GSD (India and Srilanka), HSBC, and Sangeeta Prabhu Mahendran, the director of business intelligence and creative services, HP won the excellence in leadership for promotion of diversity and inclusion award.
