New Delhi, Nov 17 (KNN) Big companies practicing Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) will mentor MSMEs and startups under the Business is Good (BIG)’ initiative launched by Avtar, a DEI consulting firm.

This provides large business groups an opportunity to build inclusive small businesses and startup ecosystems in India.

Avtar will act as an ‘enabler’ providing DEI expertise and coaching.

The initiative was announced as part of the 6th edition of Avtar & Seramount Best of the Best Conference 2022 which was held to recognise the efforts of India’s most diverse and inclusive workplaces.

Saundarya Rajesh, Founder - President, Avtar Group, said, “Corporates have begun to increasingly focus on the concept of goodness. It means they are looking beyond increasing stakeholder wealth, topline, bottom line and other financial metrics to look at old world values such as compassion, respect, and understanding of different people in the organisation.”

“Goodness need not be restricted to corporates. We are thinking of how we can take it to their entire ecosystem such as vendors, suppliers and other stakeholders,” she added. 

Citing examples Rajesh said, corporates can ask their courier companies to implement high safety standards or mandate minimum women representation in the vendor organisations. 

The current workforce participation of women in MSMEs stands at 24 per cent.  (KNN Bureau)