BY Rusen Kumar
NEW DELHI (India CSR): Tata Group Company – Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), a global leader in technology and consultancy, has demonstrated its commitment to the socio-economic development of society. As per its recent annual report, Company has invested Rs. 727 crores on various sustainable development programmes, against its prescribed CSR expenditure of Rs. 716 crores. The average net profit of the company for the year was Rs. 35806 Cr (Rs. 30003 crores. – Previous Year). CSR amount spent on administrative overheads was Rs. 7 crores.
CSR initiatives and activities of TCS are aligned to the requirements of Section 135 of the Act, the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014.
As per section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013, the amount required to be spent by the Company during the years ended March 31, 2022, is Rs. 716 crores, computed at 2% of its average net profit for the immediately preceding three financial years, on CSR.
The CSR initiatives of the Company are executed by a skilled people who ensure impact-focused implementation, monitoring, and reporting.
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India has very recently undergone a metamorphosis to acquire a legally mandatory character under ‘The Companies Act, 2013 and associated Companies (CSR Policy) Rules 2014’.
The Companies Act, 2013, read with the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014 (the CSR Rules), requires companies meeting requirements of certain thresholds of net worth, turnover or net profits to constitute a CSR Committee and to spend 2% of a respective company’s average profits before taxes for the previous three fiscal years on identified areas of CSR. This requirement became effective April 1, 2014.
The Company believes that all are born with equal potential but not equal opportunity. TCS’ vision is to empower people and communities, building self-reliance through purpose and technology while ensuring the values of fairness, equity and respect for human rights. The Company remains steadfast in its mission to connect people to opportunities in the digital economy while building equitable, inclusive pathways for all – especially women, youth and marginalized groups.
TCS has been conducting internal impact assessments to monitor and evaluate its strategic CSR programs. The Company takes cognizance of sub-rule (3) of rule 8 of the Companies CSR Policy Rules 2014 and has initiated steps to conduct an impact assessment of CSR projects through an independent agency. There are no projects undertaken or completed after January 22, 2021, for which the impact assessment report is applicable in FY 2021.
TCS, through various CSR initiatives and programs across the globe, continues to invest in addressing the most pressing needs of the community. The primary focus areas are education, skilling, employment and entrepreneurship with a focus on bridging the opportunity gap for people and communities. The Company invests in basic health and wellness, water sanitation and hygiene, conservation, and disaster relief efforts to support the basic needs of communities across the globe.
By applying its resources to communities that need it the most, TCS ensures equitable access. The Company’s CSR strategy incorporates an inclusive approach into the design of every program. In India, this is aligned with its support of the Government of India’s Affirmative Action Policy and the Tata Group’s Affirmative Action Program.
Intending to grow the capacity of grassroots organizations and the knowledge base of community issues, TCS also invests in strategic partnerships, research and insights and in providing pro-bono technology consulting.
To achieve transformational impact, TCS leverages the best of the Company’s capabilities – its intellectual, technology, human and financial capital. TCS aims to create innovative solutions to societal challenges by applying its contextual knowledge while harnessing the expertise of a diverse network of leaders; execute and scale programs using its technology capabilities; engage its large employee base to volunteer their time, skills and expertise as last-mile connectors and make impact investments in large scale, sustainable, multi-year programs that empower communities.
The projects undertaken are within the broad framework of Schedule VII to the Act. TCS has been conducting internal impact assessments to monitor and evaluate its strategic CSR programs. The Company takes cognizance of sub-rule (3) of rule 8 of the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014 and has initiated an impact assessment of one CSR project (Tata Translational Cancer Research Center) through an independent agency.
TCS Foundation, a Section 8 company incorporated in 2015 with the sole objective of carrying on CSR activities of the Company, has held three meetings during the FY 2022.
Composition of the CSR committee: N Chandrasekaran Chairman, Non-independent, Non-Executive Director, P Bhatt Member, Independent, Non-Executive Director and N Ganapathy Subramaniam Member, Non-Independent, Executive Director. Role of CSR leadership is to formulate and recommend to the Board, a CSR Policy indicating the activities to be undertaken by the Company as specified in Schedule VII to the Act, recommend the amount of expenditure to be incurred on the activities mentioned in the CSR Policy and Monitor the CSR Policy.
CSR Spending Trend
| Year | CSR Spending |
| 2021-22 | Rs. 727 Crores |
| 2020-21 | Rs. 664 Crores |
| 2019-20 | Rs. 600 Crores |
| 2018-19 | Rs. 542 Crores |
(TCS: Annual Reports)
About the Author
Rusen Kumar is the founder and managing editor of India CSR – The CSR chronicle of India. He writes on CSR, Sustainability and Environmental affairs.
