By Sekhar Seshan. Consulting Editor, Business India

The Ludhiana-based personal care and farm products manufacturer Altos Enterprises is sustainably developing the region around it by creating lush green trees to reduce air pollution, noise and soil erosion. The company has taken the support of local communities and planted around 500 trees.

“Altos is planning to promote this project in other states as well with the help of its network and hopes to make India pollution free soon,” says its founder Dr Ashwani Gupta. “In this modern era, Altos works for development. Our activities have an effect on consumers, suppliers, employees and society at large.”

Pointing out that the company depends on society and draws from it in the form of roads, an educated workforce, railways, electricity, water resources and land, he says it is its duty to contribute towards betterment of society as well. Therefore, its objective other than profit maximisation is to work for the development of society.

In today's age of corporate ethics development, it is the responsibility of Altos to properly utilise the resources for the development of the community. There is a pressing need to focus on accountability on the part of corporations not only on what is important for the shareholders but for society as a whole.