What is relation between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and Schedule VII

Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR in India is not charity or mere donations. CSR is regulated by the parliament in India. As per law CSR is a way of conducting business, by which corporate entities visibly contribute to the social good. Socially responsible companies do not limit themselves to using resources to engage in activities that increase only their profits. They use CSR to integrate economic, environmental and social objectives with the company’s operations and growth. CSR is said to increase reputation of a company’s brand among its customers and society. CSR funds are public money, hence every Indian have to right know about CSR related affairs.

The Companies Act, 2013 has formulated Section 135, Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility) Rules, 2014 and Schedule VII which prescribes mandatory provisions for Companies to fulfil their CSR.

Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 which relates to Activities which may be included by companies in their Corporate Social Responsibility Policies.

Activities which may be included by companies in their Corporate Social Responsibility Policies Activities relating to:—

ADVERTISEMENT

¹[(i) Eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, ²[‘‘promoting health care including preventinve health care’’] and sanitation ⁴[including contribution to the Swach Bharat Kosh set-up by the Central Government for the promotion of sanitation] and making available safe drinking water. 

(ii) promoting education, including special education and employment enhancing vocation skills especially among children, women, elderly and the differently abled and livelihood enhancement projects.

(iii) promoting gender equality, empowering women, setting up homes and hostels for women and orphans; setting up old age homes, day care centres and such other facilities for senior citizens and measures for reducing inequalities faced by socially and economically backward groups.

(iv) ensuring environmental sustainability, ecological balance, protection of flora and fauna, animal welfare, agroforestry, conservation of natural resources and maintaining quality of soil, air and water ⁴[including contribution to the Clean Ganga Fund set-up by the Central Government for rejuvenation of river Ganga].

(v) protection of national heritage, art and culture including restoration of buildings and sites of historical importance and works of art; setting up public libraries; promotion and development of traditional art and handicrafts; 

(vi) measures for the benefit of armed forces veterans, war widows and their dependents, ⁹[ Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and Central Para Military Forces (CPMF) veterans, and their dependents including widows];

(vii) training to promote rural sports, nationally recognised sports, paralympic sports and olympic sports

(viii) contribution to the prime minister’s national relief fund ⁸[or Prime Minister’s Citizen Assistance and Relief in Emergency Situations Fund (PM CARES Fund)] or any other fund set up by the central govt. for socio economic development and relief and welfare of the schedule caste, tribes, other backward classes, minorities and women;

⁶[(ix) Contribution to incubators funded by Central Government or State Government or any agency or Public Sector Undertaking of Central Government or State Government, and contributions to public funded Universities, Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), National Laboratories and Autonomous Bodies (established under the auspices of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), ⁷[Department of Biotechnology (DBT)], Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) engaged in conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).]

(x) rural development projects]

³[(xi) slum area development.

Explanation.- For the purposes of this item, the term `slum area’ shall mean any area declared as such by the Central Government or any State Government or any other competent authority under any law for the time being in force.]

⁵[(xii) disaster management, including relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction activities.]

Note :

1. Clarification on spending of CSR funds for COVID-19.

2. COVID-19 related FAQs on CSR.

Amendments

1. Substituted by Notification Dated 27th February, 2014.  –  Original Content 

2. Substituted by Notification Dated 31st  March, 2014.

For the words “promoting preventive health care’’ read ‘‘promoting health care including preventinve health care’’.

3. Inserted by Notification Dated 7th August, 2014.

4. Inserted by Notification Dated 24th October, 2014.

5. Inserted by Notification dated 30th may 2019.

6. Substituted by Notification Dated 11th October 2019.

in Schedule VII for the item no. ix.;

ix. contributions or funds provided to technology incubators located within academic institutions which are approved by the central govt.

the following item and entries shall be substituted namely,

(ix) Contribution to incubators funded by Central Government or State Government or any agency or Public Sector Undertaking of Central Government or State Government, and contributions to public funded Universities, Indian Institute of Technology (IITs), National Laboratories and Autonomous Bodies (established under the auspices of Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology) engaged in conducting research in science, technology, engineering and medicine aimed at promoting Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

7. Inserted by Notification Dated 19th November 2019.

8. Inserted by Notification Dated 26th May 2020.

9. Inserted by Notification Dated 23rd June 2020.

(Source: ebook.mca.gov.in)