Prashanthi Balamandira Trust is all set to join the Social Stock Exchange!

An event was held today on the Social Stock Exchange segment, jointly hosted by Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, National Stock Exchange of India Ltd, and Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd. The Social Stock Exchange segment provides new avenues for social enterprises to finance social initiatives, offers them visibility, and brings increased transparency to fund mobilisation and utilization by social enterprises.

The event saw a large audience from the financial sector, banking sector, and the NGO community. Mr Ashishkumar Chauhan, MD and CEO of the National Stock Exchange of India Ltd, presided over the event, along with Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, who heads Prashanthi Balamandira Trust; Dr R Balasubramaniam, Member – Human Resources, Capacity Building Commission, Govt. of India; and Mr A Balasubramanian, MD, and CEO of Aditya Birla Sun Life AMC Ltd.

The Hon’ble Finance Minister of the Govt. of India, Smt. Nirmala Sitharaman, proposed the idea of an electronic fundraising platform “Social Stock Exchange” as part of the Budget Speech for FY 2019-20. This platform operates under the regulatory oversight of SEBI and aims to list social enterprises and voluntary organizations dedicated to achieving social welfare objectives.

During the evening, a panel discussion was held featuring inspirational panelists who explored the multifaceted dimensions of the Social Stock Exchange. The topic of the discussion was “Understanding Donors’ Perspective.” The panelists included Ms Dhruvi Shah, Executive Trustee, and Chief Executive Officer of Axis Bank Foundation; Sri Shailesh Haribhakti, Chairman of Shailesh Haribhakti and Associates; Sri Raman Malik, GM Admin and CSR, CO, BPCL; Sri J N Gupta, Founder and Managing Director at Stakeholders Empowerment Services; Sri Anuj K Agarwal, Chief Operating Officer of ICICI Foundation; Dr Harish K Ahuja, Sr Vice President, National Stock Exchange. The discussion was skillfully moderated by Sri Nikunj Dalmia, Managing Editor and the face of the channels ET NOW and ET NOW Swadesh.

The Prashanthi Balamandira Trust, led by Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, has applied for registration on the Social Stock Exchange. The trust firmly believes that meeting mandated regulatory compliance not only builds credibility but also, as early adopters, aids in brand positioning and awareness.

The Prashanthi Balamandira Trust has received numerous recognitions and accolades and holds Consultative Status with the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) since June 2023. ECOSOC, one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, is responsible for bringing people and issues together to promote collective action for a sustainable world.

The event was not just a gathering of individuals or organizations; it represented a collective force driven by a common goal – to foster positive change that transcends boundaries and uplifts communities.