Bhubaneswar: May 18 : A research based report ‘CSR White Paper’ covering the CSR spending of 287 companies in Odisha was released yesterday by Industry Minister Debi Prasad Mishra. Industrial Promotion & Investment Corporation of Odisha Ltd (IPICOL) organized a roundtable discussion on Corporate Social Responsibility in Odisha, at the IDCO Annex Building, Bhubaneswar.
Representatives from various industries, state administration, bureaucrats, policy makers and members of civil societies participated in the roundtable discussions and touched upon relevant topics and challenges concerning Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
Mahanadi Coalfields Ltd and Tata Steel led among 287 corporates in CSR spending in the year 2014-15. Total spending in CSR by all 287 companies came to 344.12 crore as informed by report.
The major proportion of CSR funds allocation in Odisha is done by companies operating in the field of Steel, Iron, Ferro-Alloys, Aluminum, and Mining with a contribution of 80 percent of total CSR spend in the state. Presently, 24 out of 30 districts of the state are getting benefit out of the CSR funds whereas Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Boudh, Gajapati and Deogarh districts do not have any CSR Programmes. Angul district has the highest deployment under CSR spending.
This roundtable discussion was witnessed by many state dignitaries and think tank like R. Balkrishnan, IAS, Development Commissioner, Sanjeev Chopra, Principal Secretary, Industries, and Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO besides others.
Participating in the discussion, Dr. Tapan Kumar Chand, CMD, NALCO, spoke about the science of CSR and stressed on an inclusive approach and sustainable mechanism during formulation of any CSR activities by the Industries. “With India being among the few countries having a well defined CSR policy for Corporates, it is essential that to compete at a Global level, we must also focus on transparency and accountability,” said Dr. Chand.
Appreciating this endeavor of the State Government in bringing the industry captains and policy makers into one platform to share and discuss issues of CSR, he was optimistic that in future the CSR activities in the State would further get augmented.
