Barring commonly prioritised education, health and rural development where much of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds have been spent during the last couple of years, vulnerable communities like tribals, women, children and persons with disabilities (PwDs) got less priority.
All that is needed is to lay focus on these communities and areas which are socially and economically backward like Malkangiri, Nabrangpur, Mayurbhanj, Kandhamal and Gajapati districts.
These were some issues which came up as suggestions by civil society organisations in the first CSR Conclave organised by Confederation of Indian Industries (CII) in Bhubaneswar on Wednesday.
The conclave was meant to establish a dialogue between the administration, industries and civil society.
“Identifying areas and communities and including them as equity partners should be the motive for companies and corporate houses under larger scheme of CSR," said Uni Daniel of Aud-et-Action a French charity.
"Measuring CSR projects should not be in terms of completion of projects; rather it should be counted in terms of impact it left on society and communities," emphasised General Manager, CSR of MCl B Sairam.
Sairam stated how the MCl has undertaken two largest projects stated to be one of its kind CSR projects with larger investments in setting up the Mahanadi Institute of Medical Science and Research in Talcher at a cost of Rs 409 crore and a Cardiac Care Hospital in Jharsuguda in PPP mode at Rs 75 crore formed under a SPV.
Senior Head of Industry Partnership of National Skill Development Corporation Gaurav Kapoor in his presentation stressed on creating training ecosystem with partnership. He further added till date we have partnered with 59 companies to mobilise Rs 160 crore from CSR funds.
Among others, Hermeet Siehra of Vedanta Resources, Abhimanyu Sahu of Schneider Electric, Puspa Satpathy of Kinda Steel and Power, Ambika Nanda of Tata Steel, Praffula Dhal of JK Paper, Debashis Mahapatra of Verve spoke on the various aspects of CSR.
Seema Tewari and A K Sahu presided over various sessions while State Head, CII Souparna Nanda coordinated the event.