International Journal of Business Ethics in Developing Economies

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CSR and its Social Implication - Evidence from a Maharatna Company in India


Affiliations
1 Center for Environment and Development, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
2 Professor, Department of Environment Management and Head, Department of Executive Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
     

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The aim of this paper is to review the status of corporate CSR practices in a large Maharatna company in India, by critically appraising the resource application in the spectrum of focus areas, Schedule VII of the CSR rules, and the consequent impacts. The study focuses on the geographic spread of social investments over a period of time. Finally, the study explores the extent of social implications due to CSR initiatives. For the purpose of the study, we selected IOCL, a major oil and gas company, and the largest corporate identity in India in terms of turnover. The findings showed that through its social development activities, besides major CSR projects, its CSR initiatives have touched millions of lives by providing various infrastructure and grassroots development activities in the focus areas identified in the CSR policy of the company. Provision of water facilities; infrastructure at hospitals, schools, colleges, and skill development institutes/industrial training institutes; and setting up sports facilities across the country were some of the projects undertaken by IOCL. Environment-related initiatives like providing LPG connection to the disadvantaged section of society, improving sanitation, health, and livelihood, and providing livelihood generation skills stand tall among various initiatives undertaken. However, the investments are concentrated in and around the operating area, as per policy, in synchronisation with the prevailing act, thereby creating spatial inequality.

Keywords

Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Issues, Companies Act, Sustainable Development, CSR Initiatives, CSR Investment
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  • CSR and its Social Implication - Evidence from a Maharatna Company in India

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Authors

Zakir H Molla
Center for Environment and Development, Kolkata, West Bengal, India
Sarbani Mitra
Professor, Department of Environment Management and Head, Department of Executive Management, Indian Institute of Social Welfare and Business Management, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

Abstract


The aim of this paper is to review the status of corporate CSR practices in a large Maharatna company in India, by critically appraising the resource application in the spectrum of focus areas, Schedule VII of the CSR rules, and the consequent impacts. The study focuses on the geographic spread of social investments over a period of time. Finally, the study explores the extent of social implications due to CSR initiatives. For the purpose of the study, we selected IOCL, a major oil and gas company, and the largest corporate identity in India in terms of turnover. The findings showed that through its social development activities, besides major CSR projects, its CSR initiatives have touched millions of lives by providing various infrastructure and grassroots development activities in the focus areas identified in the CSR policy of the company. Provision of water facilities; infrastructure at hospitals, schools, colleges, and skill development institutes/industrial training institutes; and setting up sports facilities across the country were some of the projects undertaken by IOCL. Environment-related initiatives like providing LPG connection to the disadvantaged section of society, improving sanitation, health, and livelihood, and providing livelihood generation skills stand tall among various initiatives undertaken. However, the investments are concentrated in and around the operating area, as per policy, in synchronisation with the prevailing act, thereby creating spatial inequality.

Keywords


Corporate Social Responsibility, Social Issues, Companies Act, Sustainable Development, CSR Initiatives, CSR Investment

References