HYDERABAD: Industries minister KT Rama Rao urged industrialists and businesses to contribute more towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), expressing displeasure that companies are spending paltry sums in Telangana towards CSR activities.
KT Rama Rao attended the CII’s Southern Region Council Meeting in Hyderabad on Saturday. After explaining how government’s schemes like Mission Bhagiratha, Rythu Bandhu, TS-iPASS and others are creating a favourable atmosphere for industries to start and flourish in the state, he expressed dissatisfaction over meagre CSR contribution from companies here.
“CSR is one area where I have been extremely unhappy with the industry. This whole mandated thing, someone pushing you to do something, that itself is a wrong notion. As part of our being, as part of our existential responsibility, even as individuals and not because it is mandated, we have a certain responsibility towards our society. Having said that...I’m not accusing anyone specifically over this. But I know many organisations which use their CSR money merely to train their own employees, do something in their own vicinity and then call it CSR activity,” said KT Rama Rao.
“The point is.. .a state like Maharashtra...from the numbers I have off hand, I’m subject to correction of course...got nearly `700 crore last year as part of CSR while a state like Telangana got `10 crore,” pointed out KT Rama Rao, highlighting how meager funds have been flowing through CSR activity in Telangana.
Saying that government does not want to go after industries for CSR funds and activity, he urged CII to focus on increasing CSR activity in the state. The minister suggested revival and rejuvenation of urban lakes, improving standards in schools, digitisation of health records as some of the key areas which industries can work on.
According to Industries Department officials, CSR funds spent in Telangana in FY 18 was `65 Cr, clearly a paltry amount, keeping in view the booming industrial activity in the state.
