Dr Gursharan Dhanjal
Vice Chairman, SKOCH Group
Dr Gursharan Dhanjal, MA, M.Phil, PhD from Delhi University, an expert in development economics. He is Vice Chairman, SKOCH Group. He is also Editor of INCLUSION—a quarterly publication that focuses on inclusive growth related areas. He has led various research projects, impact assessments and field studies in MSMEs, women empowerment, entitlements, rights, sanitation, social inclusion, health, financial inclusion, e-governance and ICT for development that included traversing across the country, collecting citizen voices for over two decades now. A prolific writer, Dr Dhanjal has contributed over 200 columns in leading national dailies including The Hindustan Times, The Times of India, The Financial Express and The Pioneer. He has published research papers in several journals of repute in addition to authoring following widely acclaimed books: Tarapur: The Politics of Nuclear Age; and, Infrastructure and Governance. He was member of the Working Group on ICT in Higher Education constituted by Planning Commission for the 12th Five Year Plan.
Dr Gursharan Dhanjal at the Defining Responsibility Framework, an India 2047 - Centre of Excellence Workshop
Dr Gursharan Dhanjal
Vice Chairman, SKOCH Group
Key Points
- Develop comprehensive Corporate Digital Responsibility frameworks.
- These include responsibility frameworks for Gaming, OTT, Digital Lending and Social Media Intermediaries.
- Frameworks cover data security, responsible data management, equitable access, and societal well-being.
- Enhance digital literacy programmes, particularly in regions with lower digital literacy rates like India.
- Integrate Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) considerations into corporate practices.
- Promote awareness and education about digital responsibility and its implications.
- Strengthen risk management practices to address digital responsibility challenges and ensure compliance.
Recommendations
Identify Regulatory Gaps
- Conduct a thorough review to identify areas where regulations are lacking or unclear across different countries. This includes aspects such as digital health, digital well-being, and ethical practices.
- Once identified, efforts should be made to fill these gaps by developing clear and comprehensive regulations.
Develop Comprehensive Regulations
- Based on the identified gaps in regulation, work towards developing comprehensive regulations that address various aspects of corporate digital responsibility.
- This should cover areas such as data security, responsible data management, equitable access to digital resources, and promoting societal well-being through digital initiatives.
Enhance Digital Literacy Programmes
- Recognise the importance of digital inclusion and literacy programmes, especially in regions like India where digital literacy may still be lacking among certain demographics.
- Investing in initiatives to improve digital literacy will ensure broader societal participation and understanding of digital responsibilities.
Integrate ESG into Corporate Practices
- Encourage businesses to integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) considerations into their corporate practices. This alignment with sustainable digital responsibility efforts will help ensure that businesses prioritise factors such as environmental sustainability, social equity, and ethical governance in their operations.
Promote Awareness and Education
- Implement initiatives to raise awareness and educate stakeholders about digital responsibility, ethical practices, and the impact of digital technologies. This includes employees, consumers and the general public.
- Providing education and training programmes will help stakeholders better understand their digital responsibilities and how to uphold them.
Strengthen Risk Management
- Emphasise the importance of robust risk management practices, including regulatory obligations, guidelines, and mitigation measures. This will help organisations address potential challenges related to digital responsibility and ensure compliance with relevant regulations.
Address Gaming Responsibility
- Recognise the need for specific regulations and responsible practices within the gaming industry. This includes areas such as player protection, financial safety, integrity, professionalism, marketing, and social responsibility.
- Establishing clear guidelines and standards for gaming companies will help promote responsible gaming practices and protect consumers.
Collaborate Internationally
- Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing among countries to establish global standards and best practices for corporate digital responsibility.
- By leveraging insights from different regulatory frameworks and sharing experiences, countries can work together to create a more consistent and effective approach to digital responsibility on a global scale.
