Tag: Corporate Responsibility

This graphic shows a colourful, roughly circular word cloud created with key words and phrases that appear in the accompanying article. The key words used in the graphic include disability, rare diseases, hope, potential, champion, possibilities, technology, accessibility and allyship. The word cloud, with a mix of colours like blue, green, magenta, purple and amber, appears on a white background. The shape, colours and the text of the graphic together seem to create a strong symbol of positivity and empowerment. Graphic credit: Pawan Dhall

Where there’s a will, there’s a champion!

By Shubhra Sinha

‘FebRAREuary2026’ was a month-long campaign on spreading awareness about rare diseases organized by World Without GNE Myopathy, Delhi. Shubhra Sinha shares her story written for the campaign

This photograph is a daytime long shot of the ‘Budapest Pride 2025’. Literally, a sea of people dressed in diverse colours, carrying queer pride banners and rainbow umbrellas can be seen approaching and walking across a bridge in the heart of Budapest. The walkers are moving away from the camera, with one or two facing the camera to take photographs. Bright sunlight shines on the walkers as they march past tall buildings on either side of the road, on to the bridge. Dense greenery can be seen on the far side of the bridge forming an imposing green backdrop. Photo credit: European Greens – Andras Mayer, sourced from Wikimedia Commons

Vartanama Dec '25

Power in hope

By Mahua Seth

Mahua Seth on the emergence of queer resilience in response to the setbacks that marked queer lives in 2025 across the world

This illustration is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph, a daytime selfie shot, shows the author Mahua Seth with her son Mihir Seth on a holiday trip. Mother and son, both bespectacled, are all smiles as they look into the camera. Behind them is a sweeping expanse of mountains marked with patches of vegetation, reflecting the bright sunlight. The sky above is a hazy blue marked with cotton white clouds. The accompanying text says: “It became clear to me that we need to build more awareness across every section of society. The Nigerian Igbo communities got it right when they said “It takes a village to raise a child.” We need to work with the parents, of course, but also the uncles, aunts, teachers, coaches, colleagues and neighbours. Photo credit: Mahua Seth

My Story Aug '23

Building a better future with safe spaces, empathy and hugs

By Mahua Seth

As ‘Varta’ webzine turns 10, Mahua Seth imagines a more caring and affirming future, not just for queer people but also their parents and families

This graphic is a combination of a photograph and text extracted from the accompanying article. The photograph shows a scene from a Woolworths outlet in Johannesburg. Two mannequins clad in t-shirts, jeans and shoes stand next to rows of t-shirts and other clothes. One of the mannequins stands on a pedestal, with a long rainbow pride flag hanging behind it, and a poster in the forefront that says: “Be an ally – celebrating Pride 2023”. The extract of text says: “Pride isn’t about stating that we’re good enough to be accepted a month in a year. Pride is about making sure we’re accepted each and every day all through the year. Corporates play a big role in making that happen. However, when we will see performative allyship, we will call you out and remind you exactly how we contribute to your market. Because not only does our money matter – we matter too.” Photo credit: Debjyoti Ghosh

Insight, Vartanama Jun '23

Show us what pride is really all about

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh calls upon corporates to demonstrate stronger allyship that transcends anti-queer social and political pressures

This is a horizontal multi-coloured graphic with a bold black headline that reads "Varta Economic Inclusion Mentoring Forum". Underneath the headline, a series of three iconic visuals with accompanying text briefly describe the objectives of the forum – mentoring queer people from eastern and north-eastern India; connecting them with a team of social workers and field experts; and offering new opportunities for skills building and livelihood. The leftmost visual is of a closed fist emerging from a rainbow, symbolizing solidarity. The visual in the middle is a sign of networking among three people, and the visual on the extreme right is of two hands joined in unity and support. Artwork credit: Arkadeepra Purkayastha

Policy Matters, Vartanama Sep '21

Skills, jobs and freedoms

By Debjyoti Ghosh

Debjyoti Ghosh reflects on the learning so far from Varta’s fledgling economic inclusion mentoring forum

This photograph shows a scene from a public exhibition organized in Imphal on January 31 and February 1, 2018 to present Varta Trust's work on economic inclusion for gender and sexual minorities in Manipur in partnership with transgender collectives AMaNA and ETA, ally NGO SAATHII, and the University of Sussex, UK. The photograph is a close-up shot of a table displaying a collection of reports, fliers and framed photographs related to the economic inclusion activities of Varta Trust and its partner agencies. Photo credit: Pawan Dhall

Vartanama Jun '21

Mentoring the queer case for economic inclusion

By Varta Economic Inclusion Mentoring Forum

Varta’s economic inclusion mentoring forum for queer communities takes off

Quote: I have more than 20 years of experience as a transgender social worker in West Bengal. It was a different matter that there was no match between my work area or experience and the openings available in the job fair. But it was disappointing to realize that the vast majority of my community members would probably never even come close to availing these opportunities.

Coronavirus Diary, Insight Jun '21

Something unfair about job fairs

By Sudipa Chakraborty

Job fairs for queer aspirants in India need a rethink, says Sudipa Chakraborty

Insight Apr '21

Farewell, dear fairy!

By Chintan Girish Modi

Chintan Girish Modi remembers Gaurav Probir Pramanik whose actions ensured that homophobic behaviour at the leadership level in a leading Indian corporate did not go unpunished

Policy Matters Jul '20

Government betrays regressive intent in pitching disability rights against corporate interests

By Dr. Nandini Ghosh

Dr. Nandini Ghosh on the recent government move to dilute the offences and penal provisions in the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 and civil...

This illustration is a combination of a graphic and an extract from the article. The left half of the illustration panel shows the cover page of the transgender+ workplace inclusion guidelines developed by Orinam and Diversity Dialogues ‘Supporting Gender Affirmation: Towards Transgender+ Inclusive Workplaces in India’. With a simple but striking design, the cover page carries the guidelines title in bold, all-capitals text in the centre but with the text aligned to the left. The background of the text is split into two horizontal halves – the upper half blue in colour and the lower pink. There is a white bar on top of the blue half, which carries the logos of Diversity Dialogues (left side of the page) and Orinam (right side of the page). The extracted text, in the right half of the illustration panel, says: “The guidelines were dedicated to the memory of Anannya Krishnan, a trans woman who was part of the Orinam collective. Despite a promising career as a pharmacologist in the drug safety vertical of a Chennai business, she faced numerous struggles to find a place to live and have her family acknowledge her gender identity. She committed suicide on December 30, 2017.” Cover page design credit: Diversity Dialogues and Orinam.

Happenings, Insight Dec '18

Diversity Dialogues, Orinam raise bar for trans inclusion in workplaces

By Brindaalakshmi K.

Brindaalakshmi K. on the recent launch of a trans inclusion guide for Indian workplaces

This is a collage of photographs of contributors to the ‘Rainbow Manipur | Inclusive Manipur’ blog, a unique online documentation initiative that advocates inclusion of gender and sexual minorities in Manipur in different socio-economic spheres. The contributors narrate personal stories of their struggles (both failures and successes) to gain socio-economic inclusion. Clockwise from top left: Bonita Pebam (a trans woman), Thoibi and Meme (a trans man and lesbian couple), Hemba (a trans man), Prem Angom (a trans woman), Santa Khurai (transgender activist seen in a photograph of a march to protest violence against women, including transgender women), and Naresh (also a trans woman). All photographs courtesy 'Rainbow Manipur | Inclusive Manipur'

Insight Jan '18

Blogging for economic inclusion – by and for queer people

By Pawan Dhall, Boicha Huidrom

Pawan Dhall and Boicha Huidrom on 'Rainbow Manipur | Inclusive Manipur', an online documentation initiative to advocate for economic inclusion of gender and sexual minorities from grassroots to policy levels

The photograph shows a panel discussion in progress at the launch of a set of five standards to support corporate bodies in preventing discrimination against queer people in the workplace and beyond. The standards have been developed by the UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights. The event took place at the Godrej global headquarters in Mumbai on October 12, 2017. The document on the standards was titled ‘Tackling Discrimination against Lesbian, Gay, Bi, Trans, & Intersex People: Standards of Conduct for Business’, and was launched by Fabrice Houdart, Human Rights Officer, Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights. The panel discussion preceded the launch and featured Radhika Piramal, Managing Director, VIP Industries Limited; Nandita Das, Actor and Filmmaker; Gauri Sawant, Transgender Activist; Meenakshi Ganguly, Director South Asia, Human Rights Watch; and Keshav Suri, Executive Director, Lalit Suri Hospitality Group. The panel was moderated by Salil Tripathi, Senior Adviser, Global Issues, Institute for Human Rights and Business, London. Photo courtesy: Communication Design Team, GCPL

Happenings Oct '17

Queer inclusion: Business not as usual

By Pawan Dhall

The business world in India has an opportunity to adopt a benchmark to prevent discrimination against queer people in the workplace and beyond. Pawan Dhall reports on the launch of...

Tagged Under: Corporate Responsibility

Where there’s a will, there’s a champion!

Power in hope

Building a better future with safe spaces, empathy and hugs

Show us what pride is really all about

Skills, jobs and freedoms

Mentoring the queer case for economic inclusion

Something unfair about job fairs

Farewell, dear fairy!

Government betrays regressive intent in pitching disability rights against corporate interests

Diversity Dialogues, Orinam raise bar for trans inclusion in workplaces

Blogging for economic inclusion – by and for queer people

Queer inclusion: Business not as usual

Queer Friendly Resources

Support Us

Subscribe

USEFUL LINKS

WEBSITE ARCHIVES

CONTACT US