CSR funding for healthcare jumps 30%, but falls drastically for environment, education purposes

Environment and sustainability segment saw CSR funding flow dwindling to Rs 930 crore in Fy21 as against Rs 1,461 crore in FY20. The education sector received Rs 5,877 crore in Fy21 as against Rs 7,155 crore in FY20. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding for education went down by 18 percent, for environment and sustainability, it dropped by 36 percent, but the CSR fund flow for healthcare went up 30 percent in FY21.

According to the India Philanthropy Report 2022 by consulting firm Bain & Co, and non-government organisation Dasra, healthcare received Rs 6,363 crore of CSR funding in Fy21 from Rs 4,888 crore in Fy20, a jump of 30 percent. The CSR flow to healthcare was Rs 1,848 crore in Fy15, as per the report that analysed government data.

The PM Relief Fund received Rs 1,689 crore of CSR funds in FY21, a massive jump of 112 percent against the previous year when it received Rs 797 crore, the India Philanthropy Report 2022 said on March 22.

Overall, FY 2021 witnessed a large proportion of funds directed towards COVID-19 relief activities, with a five-times increase in funds from Rs 1,815 crore in FY2020 to Rs 9,225 crore in FY2021.

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According to the Union Ministry of Corporate Affairs, funds currently spent on COVID-19 relief is eligible as a CSR activity.

While FY2021 saw increased spend in healthcare and PM Relief Fund from COVID-19 fund allocation but other sectors, such as education, environment and rural development witnessed a sizable decline.

Environment and sustainability segment recorded CSR funding flow dwindling to Rs 930 crore in Fy21 as against Rs 1,461 crore in Fy20. In FY15, the same segment had received CSR funding of Rs 774 crore.

Education sector, a key recipient of the CSR funds, saw flow tapering off 18 percent. In Fy21, the sector received Rs 5,877 crore as against Rs 7,155 crore in Fy20.

While rural development projects witnessed a fall of 15 percent in funds flow in Fy21, other segments, including livelihood, skills, sports, sanitation, drinking water, put together received Rs 6,863 crore of CSR funding in Fy21, a negative growth of 17 percent year-on-year.

Parts of Delhi are predicted to record a severe heatwave on Wednesday, with the maximum temperature likely to hit the 40-degree mark, India Meteorological Department said. Severe heatwave conditions are likely to persist on Thursday as well.

IMD officials said a prolonged dry spell has led to “severe” hot weather conditions in northwest India. “The heatwave spell over northwest, central and west India is likely to continue during the next four to five days.” For the plains, a “heatwave” is declared when the maximum temperature is over 40 degrees Celsius, and at least 4.5 notches above normal.

A “severe” heatwave is declared if the departure from normal temperature is more than 6.4 notches, according to the IMD. Parts of Delhi reeled under severe heatwave conditions on Tuesday and eight weather stations in Delhi recorded their maximum temperature above 40 degrees Celsius, with the mercury at Narela, Pitampura and the Sports Complex station crossing the 41-degree mark.

Another spell of heatwave in Delhi is likely from April 3 to April 5. According to the non-profit green think tank Climate Trends, maximum temperatures in the second half of March have witnessed a rise in the last three years.

The capital had recorded a maximum temperature of 40.1 degrees Celsius on March 30 last year. The all-time highest maximum temperature in March (40.6 degrees Celsius) was recorded on March 31, 1945.

“Absence of a weather system and the presence of an anti-cyclone over Rajasthan and adjoining Pakistan had been pushing hot winds across North and Central India. March is going to end on a hotter note with no respite till the beginning of April,” said Mahesh Palawat, vice president, Meteorology and Climate Change, Skymet Weather.

Light winds and dry weather will once again increase temperatures over northwest India leading to heatwave conditions, he said. “While we expect a heatwave to hit parts of central and northwest India by the end of March, it was not expected so early in the season.

But I would also not be surprised, as we have been witnessing a gradual rise in day temperatures for the last few years. Maximum temperatures breaking records are now here to stay with the rise in global mean temperatures,” he said.

Both rural and urban populations are vulnerable to heat-related mortality. Individuals with lower degrees of education and socioeconomic status, the elderly and those living in communities with less green space are more susceptible to heat-related mortality.