An Inclusive workplace can lead to better individuals, businesses, and organisational outcomes: Keshav Suri

Sep 03, 2020

 FICCI in partnership with Keshav Suri Foundation, Pride Circle and Stonewall UK launches India Workplace Equality Index

 New Delhi, 3 September 2020: Mr Keshav Suri, Executive Director, The Lalit Suri Hospitality Group and Founder Keshav Suri Foundation and Co-Chair, FICCI Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion, today said that we have always been at the forefront of creating a workplace that's truly inclusive as it will lead to better outcomes.

Speaking at the launch of India Workplace Equality Index in partnership with FICCI, he said,  KSF is proud to partner with Pride Circle and Stonewall UK for India's first Workplace Equality Index (IWEI), which will set a new benchmark for Indian companies to promote inclusion and diversity at the workplace. "It's a great milestone for us," Mr Suri said.

Ms Nancy Kelley, Chief Executive, Stonewall said, 'We're delighted to be working with the Keshav Suri Foundation and Pride Circle to bring India's first Workplace Equality Index to life. For many years, Stonewell's Workplace Equality Index has been the industry's gold standard for helping companies in the UK create workplaces that are inclusive of LGBT people.'

  She further mentioned that as we spend most of our lives at work, getting workplace inclusion right, can make a huge difference for the LGBT people.

 The index, she said, will lead to more LGBT people feeling safe, happy and able to be themselves at work in India.'

 Mr Dilip Chenoy, Secretary General, FICCI said, "FICCI, as an ally, supports the cause of LGBTQ+ inclusion. We have a Task Force on Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) for enabling D&I work policies across India Inc."

  He further stated that FICCI has, in the past, developed toolkits and assessment frameworks for gender parity and inclusion of persons with disabilities at the workplace and we are now glad to be associated with India Workplace Equality Index for LGBTQ+ inclusion as an Industry Partner. 

"I am hopeful that this comprehensive toolkit will seed catalyst of positivity and encourage corporates to get more diverse and inclusive," he said. "I congratulate our co-partners, KSF, Pride Circle and Stonewall UK for this significant effort towards advancing the participation of the LGBTQ+ community in the mainstream society," Mr Chenoy further added.

  Mr Ramkrishna Sinha, Co-Founder, Pride Circle said 'IWEI is a transformational tool for LGBT+ inclusion in India Inc., and not only does it provide a framework for corporate India to base their initiatives on but also enables friendly competition to collectively raise the bar higher. The LGBT+ community also gets a definitive benchmark to assess an organization's LGBT and friendliness though their IWEI rating. It is great to see many Indian companies participating in the very first edition of IWEI, he said.