Corporate Social Responsibility in India

CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

" Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in India sets a realistic agenda of grassroots development through alliances and partnerships with sustainable development approaches. At the heart of solution lies intrinsic coming together of all stakeholders in shaping up a distinct route for an equitable and just social order...." 

Indu Jain 
Chairperson, The Times of India Group 
New Delhi 





The above lines epitomize the soul of the National Survey on corporate social responsibility - Corporate Social Responsibility Practices in India . 

Times Foundation , the corporate social responsibility wing of the Bennett, Coleman & CO. Ltd. , in partnership withTNS India and IRRAD undertook a national survey to understand the underlying dynamics of CSR and the current situation in India. 

CSR is not new to India, companies like TATA and BIRLA have been imbibing the case for social good in their operations for decades long before CSR become a popular cause. Inspite of having such life size successful examples, CSR in India is in a very nascent stage. It is still one of the least understood initiatives in the Indian development sector. It is followed by a handful of public companies as dictated by the very basis of their existence, and by a few private companies, with international shareholding as this is the practice followed by them in their respective foreign country. Thus the situation is far from perfect as the emphasis is not on social good but rather on a policy that needs to be implemented. 

A lack of understanding, inadequately trained personnel, non availability of authentic data and specific information on the kinds of CSR activities, coverage, policy etc. further adds to the reach and effectiveness of CSR programmes. But the situation is changing. And CSR is coming out of the purview of 'doing social good' and is fast becoming a 'business necessity'. The 'business case' for CSR is gaining ground and corporate houses are realising that 'what is good for workers - their community, health, and environment is also good for the business'. 

Corporate Social Responsibility Practices - the survey on CSR is timely and apt. The survey is expected to facilitate formation of an alliance of CSR initiatives so that such initiatives can be further stream lined, focused and converged to a powerful force of intervention. One of the major objectives of the survey is to bring out in open the current status of CSR thereby giving both the NGOs and the common man an understanding of the various initiatives undertaken by corporates and the role that is played by the government in the field. 

The survey underlines the various issues - current CSR policies, major stakeholders - their current and future plans, geographical areas covered, role of civil society and government, challenges, recommendations etc.