In another step towards bridging the critical gaps in priority sectors of development, the State Government has institutionalised spending of the funds under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). A web-based portal named GO CARE (Government of Odisha-CSR Administration and Response Engagement) has been made functional for CSR management and responsive engagement with corporate houses.
This was known from the CSR Council meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi recently wherein Principal Secretary Industry Sanjeeb Chopra outlined various dimensions of CSR spending for discussion.
Considering the proposals, Chief Secretary Padhi advised the companies and corporate houses to take up the projects as per local need in the broad perspective of the State priorities.
Padhi further advised them to focus on 22 districts that were not in the orbit of District Mineral Fund ( DMF) and Odisha Mineral Bearing Areas Development Corporation ( OMBADC).
It was decided in the meeting to give priority to education, health services and rural development projects under CSR. Other categories of projects to be included under the funds were environment conservation and improvement, gender equality and empowerment, relief works, Swachh Bharat, preservation of development of national heritage, armed forces, sports, slum area development and technology incubators.
Principal Secretary Chopra appraised that CSR spending in the State during the period from fiscal year 2014-15 to 2017-18 has been to the tune of Rs 1,426 crore. Around 1,593 rural development projects, 1,119 education and skill development projects, 1,011 healthcare projects, 384 environment improvement projects, 273 projects for promotion of sports and culture, 204 national heritage conservation projects, 191 projects under Swachh Bharat, 160 projects relating to gender equality and improvement, 22 projects relating to Armed Forces, 16 relief oriented projects and seven slum area development projects have been implemented with this fund.
Available data showed so far additional 1,021 projects in these sectors with estimated cost of around Rs 1,832 crore had been received from different districts and Government departments.
It was decided to upload the projects on the website for consideration of the Corporates to take them up for implementation under CSR.
The companies were further directed to implement the CSR activities on project mode and upload their progress on the website.
The companies having either net worth of Rs 500 crore or more, turnover of Rs 1,000 crore or more, or annual net profit of Rs 5 crore are required to spend at least 2 per cent of their average net profit on CSR activities.