Haryana to join hands with corporates to develop villages
GURUGRAM: A large-scale rural and urban rejuvenation programme has been planned by the Haryana government in collaboration with corporate companies as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). Under the plan, which was outlined by chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Gurugram at the first Haryana CSR summit in the state on Monday, the government wants to collaborate with private companies to revive over 15,000 ponds, build roads in over 6,000 villages and beautify urban areas including parks and roads.
On this occasion, Khattar also urged industrial and corporate houses to enhance their CSR contribution from two per cent to five per cent of their profits. At present, the annual contribution under the CSR scheme in the state is ₹350 crore and he said he hoped that this spending would increase to ₹1,000 crore.
On this occasion, Khattar also launched the CSR portal for Haryana, which he said would act as a structural guide for private companies that are now spending money under CSR. “The private sector must know what is to be done in an area, what are the plans, projects and estimate that can help in development,” he said, adding that the government could not afford much, but if corporates contribute in the development effort through CSR, it could be made possible.
“We have identified 15,000 ponds to be revived. The amount of money needed is ₹3,000 crore. If the private sector can spend around ₹300 crore to ₹400 crore in a year, the government will also add to it and the goal can be achieved in a few years,” he added. The CM also said that an amount of ₹3,000 crore was required for improving the condition of cremation grounds and burial grounds across the state.
“The government and private companies can join hands to come up with ₹750 crore needed to complete the pending work,” he said. Another key project that the state government has identified is improving the condition of over 60,000km of consolidated paths in villages requiring ₹60,000 crore.
The beautification of public parks and roads under the Swachchta plan, the plantation of trees, the adoption of villages
UNDER THE PLAN, GOVT WANTS TO REVIVE OVER 15,000 PONDS, BUILD ROADS IN OVER 6,000 VILLAGES AND BEAUTIFY URBAN AREAS IN STATE
under the Saansad Adarsh Gram Yojana have also been outlined on the Haryana CSR portal where corporates can registered themselves.
The CM also announced the formation of the CSR Advisory Board for guidance and review of CSR activities in the state and to encourage collaborations between CSR stakeholders in businesses, the government and the civil society.