State sets up body for ensuring CSR activities

ROLE RCSRA to coordinate with industrial groups, guide them and monitor fund utilisation

JAIPUR: The state government has set up an exclusive agency, Rajasthan Corporate Social Responsibility Authority (RCSRA), to ensure effective implementation of the corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in the state by offering better coordination with industrial groups, giving them guidance and monitoring the proper utilisation of CSR funds.

Rajasthan is one of the few states in the country to have such an authority,’ said a department official on condition of anonymity.

Gujarat also have a CSRA authority. It was constituted in June 2015.

The Industry department on Tuesday issued a notification for the constitution of the authority.

Under t h e a u t h o r i t y , a 19-member advisory board headed by the chief minister; an 18-member CSR authority headed by the Chief Secretary; and a 6-member executive committee headed by the commissioner Industries will be constituted.

The authority will work in coordination with various

industrial groups in the state and guide them as per the provisions and activities of the Corporate Social Responsibility under the Indian Companies Act, as well as conduct CSR activities in mutual coordination. On the basis of the priority of the state, basic facilities will be developed and augmented by the amount available in the CSR fund at the authority level in the state.

Suggestions will be taken

from industrial groups for this.

The authority will coordinate with district collectors and various departments and prepare an action plan after assessing the requirements; publicise success stories, programmes and projects; prepare database of companies; and organise workshops and seminars.

The 19-member advisory board of the CM will have ministers of Industry, health, forest and environment, education, technical education, chief secretary, head of departments – finance, industry, tribal affair, women and child, social justice, PHED, rural development, bureau of investment, Rajasthan foundation, 4 from nominated members of industries and commissioner industries.

The 18-member CSR Authority will have officials and a nominated member from the industry.

As per the figures on the department portal, there are 181 CSR projects currently ongoing in the state of Rs 717.2 crore, such as solar based electricity generation through a solar microgrid in Barmer; watershed management; ground water recharge; support to district hospital; maternal and child health etc.

Regional Director, Chamber of Commerce, Rachna Singh said it’s a good initiative. The companies are working under the CSR mandate and with this Authority it will be a short in the arm for the CSR activities.

Corporate Social Responsibility came to limelight after the Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013 made it mandatory for every company meeting one or all three criteria (Net worth of INR 5000 Million or more; turnover of INR 10000 Million or more; or net profit of INR 50 Million or more) to spend at least two percent of the average net profits of the company made during the three immediately preceding financial years on CSR activities.

THE INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF RAJASTHAN ON TUESDAY ISSUED A NOTIFICATION FOR THE CONSTITUTION OF THE AUTHORITY