White Paper, CSR 3.0 Unveiled At Odisha Vikash Conclave

Bhubaneswar: White Paper 2018, a first-of-its-kind on corporate social responsibility (CSR) was released during Odisha Vikash Conclave (OVC).

Authored by FIDR, a think tank founded by Charudutta Panigrahi, this white paper is an in-depth analysis of the CSR performance in Odisha during 2017-18.

The Section 135 of Companies Act 2013, makes it mandatory for companies, falling under the ambit to spend 2% of the average net profits of three preceding years, to engage in CSR activities.

Charudutta had authored India’s first CSR White Paper in 2016.

This document pertaining to Odisha, recounts succinctly the trend, spread, extent and scope of CSR. At the OVC, a new strategic paradigm CSR 3.0, coined by Charudutta, was also unveiled. It is meant to provide a set of recommendations for building a better framework of CSR in the state.

To localise the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), CSR 3.0 emphasizes on social impact and is a distinct shift from nice-to-have silo to a fundamental strategic priority.

It also calls for a strategic and integrated approach by the companies and the civil society organisations in executing their social agenda to support government’s efforts to achieve SDGs and alleviate its social and environmental problems.

The discussions at the OVC, consisting of grassroot organizations, development practitioner, government and the industries, revolved around sectoral thrusts like agriculture.

In industry-wise contribution, steel, iron and ferro alloy sector topped the list with over 40% spending, followed by Mining (20%) and Aluminium ( 20%) sectors. This compendium denotes that both the public (central and state PSUs) and private sectors are almost equally enthusiastic in implementing their CSR agenda in the state.

With top ten companies with national presence having allocated funds, Odisha seems to be a favoured destination for the companies to execute their CSR programmes.

Joining the CSR bandwagon are also the players from other growing sectors in the state like IT and ITeS.

Small companies even when though they do not come under the ambit for mandatory CSR spending as per the Companies Act 2013, should be involved in their little way in the movement, the participants opined.

Of the 24 districts taken up, six (Malkangiri, Kandhamal, Nuapada, Boudh, Gajapati and Deogarh) with apparently lower human development index have been left out only because the companies are non-operational in these areas.

The White Paper explains that although substantial amount of CSR funds are invested, programmes are implemented without conducting need assessment in terms of geographic area as well as thematic sector.