IndiaCSR News Network
NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar administration plans to rope in public sector undertakings (PSUs) and private developers to develop infrastructure in the education and health sectors in the district, particularly in rural areas.
District magistrate NP Singh told media on Wednesday that he has been holding meetings with representatives of PSUs and developers in order to persuade them to chip in the project as part of their corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.
Under the Companies Act, 2013, any company having a net worth of Rs 500 crore or more or a net profit of Rs 5 crore or more should mandatorily spend at least 2% of its last three years’ average net profits on CSR activities. The rules came into effect from April 1, 2014.
“We have been regularly holding meetings with representatives of PSUs and developers, based out of Noida and Greater Noida. Recently, I chaired a meeting with representatives of several PSUs and developers, and they are keen to participate in the project” Singh said. Explaining his idea, the DM said he would urge the PSUs and the developers to directly provide infrastructure in the education and health sectors, instead of just giving funds.
“In many schools, there are no benches for students. We can ask these companies to provide benches. In village areas, it is hard to attract students to schools. So, we have planned to introduce visual learning. With the help of videos, we will try to inject sense of learning among those children” Singh said.
He added “We have plans to introduce some schools-on-wheels concept, under which a mobile school will visit a village to teach students regularly”
The PSUs have welcomed the move. Sanjeev Sharma, chief manager (CSR) of Indian Oil Corporation, said, “It is a good initiative that the district administration plans to undertake. We will be happy to be associated with it” The city developers’ body has also hailed the plan.
“Developers have been asked to participate in this activity. Almost each developer is already doing CSR activities. Since the district administration is asking us to pitch in, so we are working on an action plan and soon submit it to the authorities” Manoj Gaur, president of CREDAI.
TOI
