- Government Policies have lacunae. Corporates must fill those gaps through CSR activities: K. Taraka Rama Rao
- Don’t consider CSR a mere legal requirement, but consider it as a each and every citizen’s duty said: Rajen Habib Khwaja, IAS (Retd), Former Secretary to the Government of India, Ministries of Tourism, and Mines
- Giving his key note address Rajen Habib Khwaja explained “ISR se ISR tak Concept” and said, along with CSR what we also need are FSR—Family Social Responsibility; GSR—Group Social Responsibility; NSR—National Social Responsibility and ISR—International Social Responsibility.
- “Responsibility to serve God in human is real CSR”: Swami Bhodamayanadaji, Director of Rama Krishna Math
HYDERABAD (India CSR): Minister of IT and Panchayatraj, Government of Telangana, K. T. Rama Rao inaugurated a full day Seminar “Corporate Social Responsibility—from Invention to Implementation” here in city at FAPCCI Hallm, Red Hills on Saturday morning. The Seminar was organised by Abhaya Foundation and was graced by 500 plus audience.
Addressing the gathering immediately after inaugurating it by lighting the lamp, K. T. Rama Rao said India is a diverse country. It is so much so diverse that there are rich people who are probably the some of the richest in the world. There are also poor who are so poor that they are below the poverty line. It is the third largest democracies in the world. But, still there are people whose basic needs are yet to be fulfilled. There is an uneven distribution of economies. There we have, haves and have-nots. There is a wide gap between people of the same region. This void must be filled in. That is where I believe CSR comes into place and help fill in those gaps, he informed.
Speaking further Rama Rao added that Government alone cant do much. There may be lacunae in our policies. This is where Corporates step in. Corporate too have responsibility towards the society. Corporate Social Responsibility is a good initiative which mandated through a legislation, which should have been more voluntarily, he observed.
The companies who qualify for CSR are those who have turnover of over Rs. 1,000 crore or the average net profit of Rs. 5 crore or more in the preceding three years. There are around 20,000 companies in India who qualify for mandatory CSR spending. Hence there is an urgent need for those companies to know all the provisions of the CSR, he said. They have to spend 2% of the profit after tax. It is mandatory to spend and also report to the Government. The act laid down provision very clearly.
What I appeal now is that all Industry bodies must work with NGOs to devise guidelines within the perview of the law for the effective implementation of CSR, K.Taraka Rama Rao informed. I also believe that the CSR spending in India is to approximately Rs 28,000 crore per year, he informed. Government of Telengana is committed for the whole idea of CSR, he informed. He also launched a souvenir commemorating the Seminar on the CSR. Tarakarama Rao also appreciated Abhaya Foundation being in the forefront to organize a Seminar on such subject of great importance to the society.
Earlier welcoming the gathering Balachandra Sunku, Company Secretary and Founder of Abhaya Foundation said NGOs can actually work with companies to help implement their CSR initiatives. NGO Collaboration is the strong foundation for Powerful Corporate Social Responsibility he informed. NGOs can create alignment with private-sector companies. It will be an excellent Collective Impact of Government, NGOs and Corporates. The future is bright for corporate-NGO partnerships despite challenges , he opined.
In this light of background, we have conceived this Seminar with the theme Corporate Social Responsibility—from Invention to Implementation, he informed the audience packed to the capacity.
Rajen Habib Khwaja, IAS (Retd), Former Secretary to the Government of India, Ministries of Tourism, and Mines while giving his Key Note Address said don’t limit your vision to three words “CSR”, because it is mandated. Think beyond it. He talked about ISR-Individual Social Responsibility and highlighted “ISR so ISR tak Concept”, and explained that besides CSR, what is the need of the hour are ISR-Individuals Social Responsibility; FSR—Family Social Responsibility; GSR—Group Social Responsibility; NSR—National Social Responsibility and ISR—International Social Responsibility.
He told them to think global and act local. The Canvass for CSR is vast. You as an individual has responsibility. You see something wrong, set it right. Don’t consider CSR a mere legal requirement, but consider it as a duty, he said. He also explained quoting from Father of the Nation Mahatma Gandhi, the 7 deadly things that destroy us-Wealth without work, Pleasure without conscience, Knowledge without character, Commerce without moralit, Science without humanity, Worship without sacrifice and Politics without principle.
The other guests who graced the inaugural include Ch Ramachandra Reddy, MLA, Chittori Suresh Raydu, President, CII—AP; Shivakumar Rungta, President, S. Balachandra, Narasimhulu, PS Rao Raghu Babu, Founder, Chairman, President and Secretary of the Abhaya Foundation.
Shivakumar Rungta, President of the FAPCCI said Social Responsibility is the duty of every citizens and not mere the corporates. And described how ITC, Infosys, Wipro have been doing a yeoman service for the society through their philanthropic activities for several years.
Suresh Rayudu, CII President of Andhra Pradesh said we are creating a forum for exchange of ideas on this subject. CII already has active panels on CSR at each Chapter level. We will work together with NGOs he said.
Ch., Ramachandra Reddy MLA lauded the efforts of Abhaya Foundation.
Participating in first Technical Session Swami Bhodamayanandaji, Director of –VHE, Rama Krishna Mutt too felt that Social Responsibility should have been more voluntary than mandatory. It is important for human beings to be socially responsible. He gave 3H formula—Heart to feel, Head to think and Hand to work and told all the company secretaries and the gathering in the hall to put their professional excellence to those three 3Hs. With that the circle will be complete he said. Responsibility to serve god in human is real CSR, he opined.
The other participants in the first Technical Session included Dr. A. Vidya Sagar, MD of Avantel Ltd who spoke on CSR-Pre Legislative Corporate Practices; P.R. Ramesh, Chairman of Deloitte Haskins and Sells on CSR & Companies Act 2013. Another Technical Session on CSR Impact also held.
There was also a Panel Discussion held during post lunch session on the subject.
The Seminar was attended by 500 Corporate Heads, Promoters, Directors, Industrialist, Professional Bodies, CFO’s, Chartered Accountants, Cost Accountants, Company Secretaries and others drawn from various parts of the AP/Telangana.
(India CSR)
