Tatsat Chronicle Magazine

CSR Helpful for Society’s Development, Suits India: Karnataka Chief Minister 

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai disagrees with economists calling 'free mid-day meals and bicycles' wasteful expenditure
December 11, 2021

The concept of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund is very helpful in the development of society, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai has said.

“Giving is in our culture. But how? where? and what? becomes important. There is a couplet by saint poet Sarvajna which says, What we give is ours and what we hide is others,” he said in his inaugural address at the Bengaluru CSR Leadership Summit. Referring to comments of some economists calling welfare schemes such as free mid-day meals and distribution of bicycles “wasteful expenditure,” he expressed his disapproval of such views. “Children are the future of the country. A sick child is like a speed breaker for the development of the country,” he said, adding, “A healthy child is like an elevator for development. The human development programmes would be my passion even if I am not in power.”

What is CSR?

Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is the commitment by businesses to integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations. India became the first country to legislate the need to undertake CSR activities and mandatorily report CSR initiatives under the Companies Act 2013.