CSR and Corporate India: A Study on Public and Private Sector Divide

Abstract

Abstract: CSR is increasingly a misunderstood and much debated concept worldwide. There is a saying in the business, “Business of the business is to do business and nothing else”. Profit is the only and dominating objective of the business, as profit is needed both for the working and growth of the business. Over the time, there has been a sea change in the objectivity and priority of business. From a commercial unit, the business now has been a social entity with corporate citizenship. CSR is fast becoming an increasing business strategy both nationally and globally. CSR practices of Indian companies got a radical boost with statutory provision in the Companies Act 2013 that make it mandatory to every Indian company and foreign entity with Indian presence to spend 2 per cent of its average net profits of its profit made during the three immediately preceding financial years, in pursuance of its Corporate Social Responsibility Policy. There exists difference in the outlook of companies towards social causes and varying CSR policies and practices. Also Public and private sector divide in CSR practices prevails. There is need for continuous investigation of the changing social and economic needs and the role of corporate houses in meeting the aspirations of the stakeholders and the society at large. Keeping this in view, the present paper entitled “CSR and Corporate India: A Study on Public and Private Sector Divide” is a sincere attempt to make a comparative analysis of CSR practices of public sector and private sector companies with special emphasis on industries of Kalinganagar steel hub of Odisha. Keywords: CSR, FDI, MoUs, Corporate India.