In June 2024, one fine morning, the Head of HR of M/s ABC Ltd. received a phone call from an unknown number while having breakfast. The caller did not introduce himself but straightaway started accusing M/s ABC Ltd., complaining that the Company had constructed washrooms near the Politician’s house, who is from the “X” Political Party.
After a few days, the HR Head received one more intimidating call from Delhi. The Caller demanded that M/s ABC Ltd. should construct washrooms under its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Scheme near the house of the local Member of Parliament of the “Y” Political Party. It was more of a veiled threat rather than a demand.
After these two phone calls, the HR Head was visibly disturbed trying to figure out as to what was the root cause of this state of affairs. He was newly posted at the particular Plant, which is situated in a developing Rural Area situated around 170 km from a Tier-I city. He discussed these two incidents with a few of the Staff in the Company who had been working for a long time and...