Chief Minister Raghubar Das on Friday stressed on making a conducive business environment in the State through social engineering effected by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) works. He said that there was a need of coordinated efforts of all stakeholders, including the Government, public and private sector firms and the common masses to rebuild Jharkhand.
The CM was holding the first meeting of the governing body of the newly formed Jharkhand State CSR Council (JSCSRC) attended by public and private sector enterprise representatives, along with senior officials of the State Government.
Focusing on the objectives of the council, the CM said that the corporate entities perform many social welfare activities but the results are not visible. "We have to make Jharkhand a healthy, clean and affluent State. The rationale of forming the CSR council is to improve the economic condition of people living near industrial setups. It is the responsibility of industries to develop areas near them. We need to fulfil the 'Make in India' dream of the PM so we expect everyone's participation in nation building,' he said.
Das, on the occasion, chalked out the priorities under CSR work and said that the State Government wants industries to work in the field of education, health, cleanliness and skill development. The corporates must work in the areas spending their CSR funds in a timely and phase wise manner after selection of sites, he added.
"The young people as well as rural women should be skilled through skill development trainings. 32 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) could be taken up and run by companies. West Singhbhum and Santhal Pargana are the two focus areas for our Government. There is a need to work in a planned and focused manner to be effective," he said.
The CM also took details of CSR fund spending of different corporate firms and asked the representatives to spend maximum funds apart from the CSR funds. He said that the Government was going to launch highway patrolling in the State, in which the companies can participate and help people feel secure.
Chief Secretary Rajiv Gauba said during the meeting that the Jharkhand CSR Council was a new beginning led by the Chief Minister. "Through institutional mechanisms, we seek to align the companies,' CSR work with State Government priorities. The work under CSR should be consolidated and benefit all communities. CSR should be seen as an investment initiative for the Government's 'Ease of Doing Business' initiative," Gauba said.
The next meeting of the Governing body will be held in two months by which time the annual CSR work plans of the companies will include the areas prioritised by the CM.
The meeting was attended by Sanjay Kumar, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister; Sunil Barnwal, Secretary to the Chief Minister; K Vidyasagar, Principal Secretary, Department of Health & Family Welfare; Vandana Dadel, Secretary Welfare; Aradhana Patnaik, HRD Secretary; Rahul Sharma, labour Secretary; N N Sinha, Principal Secretary, Rural Development; Dr. Madhulika Jonathan, OIC UNICEF Jharkhand alongwith representatives from TATA Steel, Jindal Steel & Power ltd; Usha Martin ltd; Hindalco, Rungta Mines ltd.; CCl; NTPC; SAIl; DVC; BCCl; UCIl; Electrosteel Private ltd; HCl; CII, Assocham, Federation of Jharkhand Chamber of Commerce.