Chambers of commerce should be conscience keepers of private sector: Naidu

 The chambers of commerce should be conscience keepers of the private sector and should also work to make Indian businesses inclusive, said Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu here on Thursday.

Speaking at the Platinum Jubilee Celebrations of the Tamil Chamber of Commerce, Naidu said: "The chambers should be conscience keepers of the private sector. There are a number of areas where the private sector should be mature enough to undertake self regulation."

"Environmental compliance audits being one example. We are at a juncture where uncontrolled development has caused almost irreversible ecological and environmental damage," he added.

According to him, the chamber should also work to make sure that Indian businesses are inclusive and that vulnerable sections of the population are given equal opportunities.

He asked the industry to strive its best to end discrimination especially against women.

"A woman's pregnancy cannot be grounds for stalling her professional development. It is unethical and inhuman. It is up to the chamber to act as guardians to those who are wronged in such a manner," he said.

Naidu also called upon the chamber to encourage the private sector to be more generous when it comes to social responsibility and not limit themselves to their mandated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) spending.-IANS