CSR : Ever heard of it?

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is one topic that is catching attention of all personnel’s in the current business world. It’s in the lime light ever since the Companies Act 2013 came out. CSR originally is meant to make the multinationals and big companies be more responsible to their social and environmental habitat. The Companies Act asks corporate to spend 2% of their net profits on social causes and other fields as listed in schedule VII.

Well, that’s just an introduction to what exactly CSR is, if you were not clear with the concept. Now, it sounds like a philanthropic act doesn’t it? And I’m quite sure that many are impressed by this concept. Frankly speaking, I’m a tad bit more than impressed by it, because I feel poor governments (pun intended) is not able to look into everyone’s welfare. Ergo CSR through which the corporate, will help the government in ensuring the same welfare. Let me also add that CSR is not a newly evolved concept. It has always been there but took different other names like philanthropy, donations, social cause etc. All may not mean exactly the same, but sure has some essence of CSR. It is all about lending a helping hand to the marginalized and the downtrodden. Eventually making the world a better place, little by little.

Am I sounding too fairy tale like? I mean, I just made it sound that CSR is “the solution” to the current social problems that exist. Well, my intention was to create a liking for the concept of CSR and not making it look like the new bad guy in town. Ever the hype created for CSR, there have been protests on how it is another measure of green washing your company. Large corporations and industries are many a time the bad guys causing environmental harm and destruction. Companies are expected to behave ethically and we do have laws to ensure that, but we all know that our laws, if not broken, can be bent (if you know what I mean). Anyhow, in such a case, CSR can be a help if not a savior. Imagine every company spending 2% of their net profits on issues like public health, education, livelihood, women empowerment, environment, destitute children etc.. If not heal the world, it at least help’s in bandaging few wounds.

I suggest you to follow the CSR initiatives of few large corporations in the country and then decide for yourself, if CSR is after all the bad guy. So, here is me, a girl who still believes in fairy tale endings and hoping to see a better tomorrow with a little help (actually, many of you corporate guys will contribute to a lot of help) and encouraging the masses to instill in them that there is hope!

 TERO VESALAINEN