Peerless work, no advertisement is Roy’s motto

Kolkata: Sunil Kanti Roy (64), managing director of The Peerless General Finance and Investment Company Limited, who has been awarded a Padmashri for his contribution to social work, feels a little more burdened than usual.
“The recognition comes with responsibility of keeping up the good work and not deviating from our commitments at any possible situation. It’s encouraging and intimidating at the same time,” says Roy, who took over social responsibility projects after his elder brother, T K Roy, passed away in 1985.
“I have just worked on the solid grounds he had already built,” adds Roy. The awardee attributes the recognition as one that goes to every member of the Peerless family who have worked hard to bring about significant changes in society, even if in a small way.
The North City College graduate, who did a course in management from Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad, says his company got involved in social work long before the concept of corporate social responsibility fell in place. “Most of the work we did was not meant for advertisement, so we went unnoticed for long,” he recollects.
Among other things, the group has set up the Peerless Brachy Therapy Unit at the Thakurpukur Cancer Centre & Welfare Home for affordable and at times free treatment. A Free Soil Testing Laboratory in collaboration with the Ramakrishna Mission at Kamarpukur, polyclinics, an old-age home at Baranagore, a pedestrian over-bridge at the VIP Road-Ultadanga crossing are a few of the projects implemented by the group.
“Our employees are actively involved in flood relief, medical aid and old-age assistance projects. We have also tied up with various NGOs and have two NGOs of our own for teaching underprivileged children,” says Roy.
Apart from that, under Roy’s supervision, school buildings have been built and expanded for underprivileged students.
Roy’s family, comprising his wife, son and daughter, is actively involved in most projects taken up by him.