Page 45 - Banking Finance September 2019
P. 45

ARTICLE

         sections or underprivileged sectors. The focus areas notified  under CSR activities. However the company CSR committee
         under the section 135 of the companies act 2013 and  may identify areas other than the stated above. Company
         companies corporate social responsibility policy rules 2014  has to give preference to the local area and areas around
         are as under:                                        where it operates for spending the amount under CSR
         1. Eradicating extreme hunger, malnutrition and poverty  activity.
         2. Promoting education, special education, employment
             enhancing skills among children, women, etc.     The company can meet the CSR obligations by implementing
                                                              activities on its own or through a third party, such as a
         3. Improving mental health
                                                              society, trust, charitable foundations etc. as per purposes
         4. Promoting gender equality, empowering women,      defined under company act.
             setting up old age homes, Day care centers etc.
         5. Reducing child mortality                          Benefits of CSR activities:
         6. Promotions of road safety, Driver's training
                                                              Benefits to Company
         7. Training to enforcement personnel
                                                              1. Enhanced Brand and Reputation - CSR improves the
         8. Promoting health care including preventive health care
                                                                 image of the organization. When an organization
         9. Vocational skills livelihood enhancement projects    carries out CSR activities, it is telling the community
         10. Consumer education and awareness program            members that it is a friend of the community. This
         11. Conservation and renovation of school building and  improves the impression people have about the
             classrooms as promoting education                   corporate existence of the organization.
         12. Disaster relief i.e. medical aid for promoting health,  2. Increased sales and customer retention - Company
             food supply for eradicating hunger ,poverty or      products and services are perceived by the society. The
             malnutrition, supply of clean water, sanitation etc in  company product and business first satisfy customer's
             case of any disaster                                key buying criteria such as price, quality, taste, safety
                                                                 and convenience which create trust between the
         13. Any assist in ensuring environmental sustainability,
             ecological balance, protection of flora & fauna, animal  company and clients. It fosters strong working
             welfare, agro forestry, conservation of natural     relationships with both existing and new clients because
             resources and maintaining quality of soil air and water  they understand that the company is a partner not only
                                                                 for the profit of the organization but also to support
         14. Employment enhancing vocational skills
                                                                 their public value.
         15. Relief and funds for the welfare of the Scheduled caste,
                                                              3. Enhanced employee acquisition and retention -
             the Scheduled Tribes, other backwards classes,
                                                                 Robust CSR framework helps the company to attract
             minorities and woman and such other matters as may
                                                                 the potential future employees. There is a common
             be prescribed.
                                                                 perception of the public that if company is working well
         16. Contribution of funds provided to technology incubators  for the society so it can be good for employee also Viz.
             located within academic institutions which are      Tata, Wipro, Infosys, Private and public sector banks etc.
             approved by the central government                  It also helps the company to attract or retain the talent
         17. Contribution to the Prime Minister's National Relief  employees by offering work life balance, positive
             Fund or any other fund set by the Central Government  working conditions, culture and flexibility to work.
             or State government for socio -economic development
                                                              4. Improved relation with the investment community
         18. Rural Developments projects                         and better access to Capital - The companies that
         19. Contribution to the Swachh Bharat Kosh              embrace the essential qualities of CSR outperform their
         20. Contribution to the Clean Ganga Fund                counterpart that do not use features of CSR. Thus CSR
                                                                 activity of the company addressing the ethical, social
         All these activities are a few examples of CSR activities. It  and environmental responsibilities helps the company's
         means that all those activities which are environment   perspective in raising the capital in comparison with
         friendly, socially acceptable by the people and society comes  others.


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