Question

We live in a world in which 13 of the top 50 economies are companies, not countries. How does this change the responsibility companies have for providing for social needs and addressing big-ticket challenges of the future? How can companies ensure their own future prosperity by beginning to engage looming issues of concern—from energy needs to public health to income inequity?

Is the proliferation of nongovernmental organizations the result of an incapacity on the part of governments? Or, are NGOs an innovation in human social organization and an important step forward for addressing global and local challenges? How can NGOs and governments work together to complement one another? How should the private sector involve itself in such coalitions?

Answer 1

Although governments rule people, governments are made by most powerful multinational companies that decides the fate of many politicians and their political agenda. It’s true that few multinational companies have most of the world’s wealth thus remaining the king makers in most of the countries, especially the developing and underdeveloped countries both legal and illegal means. There is an increasing amount of awareness and criticism among the common people on the exploiting nature of the multinational companies. Some even call them as the modern imperial rulers who create modern day colonial dominance by exploiting the resources, both material and human in the pretext of offering jobs.

It thus becomes the responsibility of not only those big companies but also other companies at small scale to make necessary amendments that would help them rectify and continue their existence. Today, most of the companies have introduced CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) programs in order to get in touch with reality and help the people who are in need to show their solidarity. They adopt villages, schools and children in order to provide the necessary infrastructure, education, shelter, water etc.

NGOs came into existence in order work shoulder to shoulder with the government who otherwise struggle hard to meet the expectations of large population. NGOs can identify the needs, draft plan and attract funds from large corporations, voluntary organizations and trusts thus reducing the financial burdens of governments. Private companies have already joined the service through their CSR activities but in isolation. If they join hands with the governments and NGOs, they could do much better.