Corporate Social Responsibility: The Relevance in Indian Corporate

Aaiman Siddiqui^*
*Correspondence: Aaiman Siddiqui, Department of Commerce, Junior Research Fellow, Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti Language University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India, Email:

Keywords

Corporate social responsibility • Companies acts 2013 • Statutory corporate social responsibilities

Introduction

Corporate social responsibility is a nascent word in the Indian corporate sector. India is a favorable business place due to various reasons like, cheap labor availability, natural resources and highest percentage of youth population. Hence, with the flow of globalization and privatization, it is utmost necessary to develop such a rapport between the corporate sector and the society, that there is a relation of give and take. Corporate social responsibility is a means by which companies can return to the society, the resources it has used for making the profit. CSR initiatives mean any positive initiative taken by the corporate which is of benefit to the society. Under corporate social responsibility, 2% of the profit of the company should be spends on some activities which will make a society a better place to live in. Mahatma Gandhi said, “I must know that all that wealth does not belong to me; what belongs to me is the right to an honourable livelihood.” This statement of father of our nation, Mahatma Gandhi shows that a company cannot own the entire portion of profit, but it should also contribute some portion towards the society. Hence, corporate social responsibility is consistent contribution towards an initiative.

Literature Review

Moir L [1], has explained in his paper the reasons why activities like CSR takes place. He says that it is both, because of the economic as well as the social benefits that a company tries to conduct CSR activities.

Lantos GP [2], has reviewed the CSR and has also explained the four components, economic, legal, ethical and altruistic duties.

Bhupendra and Joshiya VK [3], in their study have stated that CSR has covered both economic as well as social intentions. The public reporting of the company towards various stakeholders has made CSR an important part of the company’s activities.

Edmans A [4], in this paper, it has been explained that how job satisfaction contributes in the CSR activities and CSR can help in improving the sock return of the company also.

Sharma A and Kiran R [5] have authored the various initiatives taken by the Indian companies and have still a lot of potential to do in this regard.

Baron DP [6] has stated that CSR is costly when it is an imperfect substitute and its cost is borne by the entrepreneurs. CSR activities are done beyond the intentions of maximization of profit and value maximization.

Objectives of the paper

1. To review the previous work on corporate social responsibility.

2. To suggest new activities on corporate social responsibility.

Methodology

The paper titled, ‘Corporate Social Responsibility: The Relevance in Indian Corporate’ is based entirely on the secondary sources of data available on the internet and various online journals available in this regard.

Significance

This paper will be significant as it will help in reviewing the previous work which has been done on corporate social responsibility and it will also be helpful in understanding the new activities which can be done in this respect.

Discussion

Corporate social responsibility activities so far

Many leading business firms and even the new start-ups have pledged to work towards the betterment of the society by contributing a part of their profit toward the betterment and welfare of the society. Various works which have been done under corporate social responsibility are as follows:

a) TCS and Wipro: These two businesses have developed software to help teachers and children across India to make learning an enjoyable activity and to carry forward the cause of education.

b) Aptech Limited: It is a leading educational player. As a part of its corporate social responsibility activity, it has associated itself with leading NGOs which has provided computers to schools, education to poor children and has also initiated training and awareness camps.

c) ICICI Bank Ltd.: ICICI bank ltd has focused on the mission of integrating the poor with larger economy. They support the initiative designed to break poor health and lack of nutrition chain which has been prevailing since generations.

d) Infosys Foundation: The foundation has undertaken various initiatives in providing medical facilities to the far flung and rural areas and provide aids and assistance to orphans and street children and it has even setup ‘A library for every school’ initiative under which 5500 libraries have been setup in government schools.

e) The TATA Memorial Centre: it is a hospital where 70% of the patients get free primary care. It is an initiative under the CSR activity of the Tata memorial to provide free care to these patients.

f) IBM: e-elder initiative, taken by IBM is a program where senior citizens are trained to fully participate in web- based activities.

g) Microsoft: Microsoft collaborated with international organizations like world food program, save the children and mercy corps, to provide technology based assistance through HEART (humanitarian empowerment and response through technology) program.

h) HCC: HCC has been playing an active role for CSR activities in terms of education, health, disaster management and environment.

These are various corporate social responsibility initiatives which have been taken up by giant business empires. Business firm, on account of making profit are having some social responsibility too. These social responsibilities is undertaken, not because of the natural law of give and take, but because of the belief and spiritual though that GOD has made us privileged so that we can serve the unprivileged.

New dimensions of corporate social responsibility

Apart from the various above mentioned corporate social activities, following are few more suggestions which can be added to the list of activities and initiatives of corporate social responsibilities. These suggestions are as follows:

a. Artificial rain: The contemporary issues of pollution are an alarming issue for the society. For this purpose, it is really important to take some corrective actions which will not take much of cost, but will benefit the society in long run. One such initiative which can be taken by the corporate is artificial rain.

b. Farmers’ share: farmers, no doubt, are the food providers in our country. A corporate should try to contribute a portion of their earnings towards making the life of farmers easy and better. It can be in form of providing them free education, free hospital or crop loans at concessional interest rates.

c. Pollution control system: As a part of the social responsibility activity, the corporate can contribute towards making the environment green and clean. This can be done through planting trees etc, apart from these, car pooling and vehicle sharing is another way through which our environment can be protected as there will be less use of vehicles and hence, less emission of smoke from vehicles.

d. Roads and safety awareness programs: Roads and safety awareness programs are now becoming crucial initiatives due to the swelling numbers of road accidents and mishaps. The corporate should try to create awareness drive relating to proper use of helmet etc. These drives should firstly start from their own employees and then should move on to the entire city and finally to the entire country.

e. Differentially able people: Differentially able people should bring up at par with the society. In this regard, the corporate should have an enthusiastic initiative. This initiative can be of one such type where the differentially able people are provided with the life supporting equipment’s or by opening up a club for them. This initiative is of one such type which really needs a philanthropic approach.

Conclusion

The corporate social responsibility has an important role to play for the society. This is based upon a belief that privileged ones should serve the unprivileged section of the society. Corporate bodies involved in discharging social responsibility practices are true followers of trusteeship theory of Gandhiji. Mahatma Gandhi said, “I must know that all that wealth does not belong to me; what belongs to me is the right to an honourable livelihood.”

Various big businesses have taken initiatives which are helping the society in many different ways. Corporate social responsibility is the mirror of the company’s’ vision towards its society. The more ethical and valuable its initiative, the more strong will be its vision for the society. Thus, corporate initiative should be set and implemented keeping aside the monetary gains. It should never be an alternative for profit making. Corporate social responsibility should never be biased in terms of religion, caste, gender. These initiatives should be genuine and should be consistently worked upon so that both, company, as well as the society is benefited from its implementation.

References

1. Moir Lance. "What do we mean by corporate social responsibility?" Int.J Bus Soc (2001).

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2. Lantos Geoffrey P. "The boundaries of strategic corporate social responsibility." J Int Consum Mark (2001).

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3. Bhupendra and Vikas Kumar Joshiya (2012). “Issues and challenges of corporate social responsibilities in India.” IJIBF 2 (2012): 169-182.

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4. Anupam Sharma and Ravi Kiran. “Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives of major companies of India with focus on health, education and environment.” Afr J Basic Appl Sci 4 (2012): 95-105.

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5. Edmans Alex. "The link between job satisfaction and firm value, with implications for corporate social responsibility." Acad Manag Perspect 26 (2012): 1-19.

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6. Baron David P. "Corporate social responsibility and social entrepreneurship." J Econ Manag Strategy 16 (2007): 683-717.

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