New Delhi: Post-Corona pandemic, India and corporate leaders have examined the real importance of the possibilities of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The new dimensions have prompted the corporate world to consider taking policy changes for overall social development. In 2017, PM Narendra Modi had set a long-term agenda, which was aimed at connecting the 115 most backward districts of India with the mainstream of development and speed. This was a new opportunity for the industry, when the challenges of rural India could be met with the initiative of Make in India. Under this, companies are also trying to create beneficial conditions for the stakeholders. Rural India also aspires for employment, good health system, education and best opportunities for its future generation.
Corporate entities have realized that the aspect of "acceptability" to work far exceeds the "licence" of work. For which inclusive and holistic development of the area where you are working is essential. If we look at the figures, companies spent around Rs 1.09 lakh crore between 2014 and 2021 under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. India's top hundred companies have contributed about Rs 46,654 crore to this fund. This amount has been spent in promoting the environment, health, education, poverty alleviation, women empowerment and research areas. In the year 2019-2020, companies spent around Rs 2,279 crore on rural development projects alone. Responsible corporates can play an unprecedented role to develop backward areas. Jamshedpur of Jharkhand is proof of this. How a city developed near a steel plant with effective drainage system, availability of drinking water, open space and no continuous electricity. To run an industry that needed a little over 1,500 acres of land, the Tatas arranged for the city to be spread over 15,000 acres. The same, Jamshedpur today is counted among the highest per capita income cities of India.
Another important example is Amul's 'White Revolution' which has made our country the world's largest milk producer and created employment opportunities for rural areas of Gujarat. Essel Mining's upcoming Bandar Diamond Project in Madhya Pradesh will contribute significantly to the development of aspirational districts of Bundelkhand region of the state and export of diamonds of the country with a revenue of 28 thousand crores and hundreds of employment opportunities. With the intention of social concern and upliftment, the company is making continuous infrastructural support for the upgradation of health services in Chhatarpur area. Development is the only solution to all kinds of social evils and community development. Therefore it is the prime social responsibility of the private sector to invest and participate in the development of rural society to make it profitable for both. A lot of corporates are playing their part in uplifting these sectors and we personally should also contribute towards this.
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