Hello Guys,
Greetings!
I know you all must be wondering from where the hell I got such a topic to write on. Let me tell. I got a call for a job as a copy-writer and they wanted me to write an article on a topic from the 6 choices that they had given. I choose CSR. Of all the topic I was given this was the one where I had a chance of debate I felt and also the least explored! So here it is. If I have written something after soooooooo long why not share with my buddies and critics (trust me I have become one).
Lets first define CSR. What is it?
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is the social activity that a company, private or public, does. It’s done individually or through various alliances and it holds a corporate responsible of the impact of their activities on the environment as well as on the publics.
In 2006, I came across the term CSR for the first time during one of my college projects. Though I was quite impressed about the fact that various companies have acknowledged it as a ‘Social Good’, their annual reports mention about it and the company website usually have a full section on it but do they all actually mean it? Is it just the public awareness that has made corporate to follow it? Or is it just to meet their legal obligations?
How many advertisements have we not seen where a consumer is asked to buy a particular product and some amount would go towards educating the deprived or a brand associating itself with any social cause or NGO through an event big enough to be called ‘Lavish’.
In some cases CSR is often misused for branding purposes and highlighted as the company’s differentiating factor, some use it to enhance their public image and cash on the same, and some for growth purposes and woo more shareholders.
Talk about CSR and Tata Group, Birla Group, Infosys, Wipro, Dabur, Bajaj and Mahindra & Mahindra are some of the first to click our mind. They have done some commendable work in various fields like social welfare, education, rural and community development, economic welfare, environment, etc. But unfortunately such companies we can count on our fingers.
The point is if we study medicine to get into the medical field, MBA to get into management division, Masscomm to get into communications then why is it we don’t have any such degree for the CSR field? In my 23 years of age I have never come across a CSR department of a company though have got in touch with the administration, HR and PR departments for the information on the same. No wonder then that as per the ASSOCHAM report 2002 only 5% of the companies have a separate CSR department to deal with its CSR activities. Hah!
Many more questions like these have been raised with regards to the CSR. But it can’t have just one answer to it. It will always differ from company to company until and unless we in India have stringent laws for the same. Or else forever it would remain just a voluntary activity!
Guys your comments are welcome. Do let me know if it’s fine or if you have some additional information on it.
Thank You.
