Corporate Social Responsibility: A Responsible Bussiness

RESPONSIBLE BUSINESS

ONCE DONE ON AN OCCASIONAL BASIS,CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY HAS NOW BECOME AN INTEGRAL PART OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS.

   Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has moved from just philanthropy and is an integral part of business where companies take the onus of the society they thrive on. In a developing country like India, corporates have larger avenues to contribute to the society. Corporate giant Tata Sons has set-up a cancer hospital at Kolkata, a non-profit initiative, which aims to serve cancer patients from India and Bangladesh. When Andhra Pradesh was hit by floods, the Mahindra Satyam foundation took up a long term rehabilitation programme and built 56 permanent houses for displaced families at the Mahabubnagar district of Andhra Pradesh. If you want to make a difference to the society, a career in CSR is worth considering.

INSIDE STORY

Sunil Sharma

Moderator:

Dil Se Desi Website

Dil Se Desi Group

CSR is a structured activity in India. It no longer restricts itself to funding NGOs. Today, companies have dedicated CSR teams that develop policies, strategies, set goals and sanction budgets for their CSR programmes. These programmes are developed focusing on the overall development of education, empowering the disabled, women and child healthcare, and disaster management.

OPTIONS GALORE
Among the various roles offered, programme managers, domain experts and field staff top the charts. A programme manager focuses on supporting and identifying donations. He builds a vital connection between employees and the organisation.
   "Visibility of a particular programme is important. For instance, the literacy programme coupled with an education summit increases visibility. That's where a programme manager is needed," explains Maneka Kumar, assistant vice-president of a well-known corporate firm in Mumbai. A domain expert connects the core-competencies of business to social needs.
   "Companies give grants to NGOs where their job involves grants management and monitoring. Other companies undertake projects related to education and health, where a project-management professional is required," informs Meena Raghunathan, director, Community Services, GMR Varalakshmi Foundation.
PATH FORWARD
A Master's in social work or a postgraduate degree in health or literacy, combined with sound knowledge of developmental issues, is a must. "While passion, dedication and commitment are essential traits, companies also look for leadership qualities, creativity and vision. This helps designing innovative programmes and long term solutions," says VC Kumar, COO, Mahindra Satyam Foundation. An experienced professional could earn anywhere between Rs 1,20,000 to Rs 5,00,00.
   Whether it is standing by a cause, or developing a longterm sustainable strategy, CSR in India, has come a long way. Today, corporates play a massive role in bringing about the change needed.
INSTITUTE WATCH

• Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai

• Delhi School of Social Work, Delhi

• Madras School of Social Work, Chennai

• College of Social Work, Nirmala Niketan, Mumbai (Indicative Listing)