Eastern coastal state Odisha is one of the most beautiful tourist destinations in India famous for its temples, beaches, wildlife, hills, tribes, handicrafts and handloom. Capital city Bhubaneswar is called the city of temples. The temple architecture style called Kalinga is unique to this region which is characterized by curvilinear shapes and delicate stone carvings. Odissi or Orissi dance, a major ancient Indian classical dance originated in the temples of Odisha ages ago.
Over 83% of Odisha’s population is rural, while nearly half of it belongs to various socially marginalised communities. The state can be divided into 2 regions – coastal and inland districts. While the former is fertile with a high agricultural yield capacity, the latter are remote, hilly and barren with little forest cover, thus restricting the people’s access to socio-economic development.
In the present day, how much is the coastal state benefitting from CSR activities? The CSR Journal takes a look into the top CSR projects in Odisha for the FY 2020-21.
Where does Odisha stand
As per data from National CSR portal, Odisha stands a little below Telangana, which holds the 9th rank in terms of the top nine states getting CSR expenditure in India with Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka leading the way. In the financial year 2020-21, the total CSR expenditure in Odisha has been Rs 547.57 crores, with a total of 313 companies investing in 26 districts of the state under nine different sectors.
Top 3 districts
The top 3 districts to get CSR benefits in Odisha are respectively Khorda (amount spent towards CSR 111.14 cr), Koraput (13.79 cr) and Ganjam (13.23 cr). Puri, Balangir, Bhadrak, Sundergarh, Kalahandi, Jajpur and Jharsuguda stand among the rest of the top 10 districts enjoying CSR benefits in the state.
Top 3 sectors
The top 3 sectors in which most of the CSR activities have been performed in the state are
• Rural Development (CSR spent 239.39 cr)
• Education, differently abled, livelihood (CSR spent 168.5 cr)
• Health, eradicating hunger, poverty and malnutrition, safe drinking water, sanitation (CSR spent 95.63 cr)
Top 3 companies
The top three companies spending for CSR in Odisha in FY 2020-21 are respectively Mahanadi Coalfields Limited (168.44 cr), Indian Oil Corporation Limited (40.37 cr) and National Aluminium Co Ltd (35 cr).
Mahanadi Coalfields Limited
Coal India Limited (CIL) started functioning in 1975 with 5 subsidiary companies under it. These were Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), Central Coalfields Limited (CCL), Western Coalfields Limited (WCL), and Central Mine Planning & Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL). Mahanadi Coalfields Limited was carved out of South Eastern Coalfields Limited in 1992 with its headquarters at Sambalpur.
Joint Ventures of MCL include Mahanadi Basin Power Limited (SPV), MJSJ Coal Limited, MNH Shakti Limited and Mahanadi Coal Railway Limited.
‘The main objective of CSR policy of MCL is to lay down guidelines to make CSR a key business process for sustainable development for the Society. It aims at supplementing the role of the Govt. in enhancing welfare measures of the society based on the immediate and long term social and environmental consequences of their activities. MCL will act as a good Corporate Citizen, subscribing to the principles of Global Compact for implementation,’ reads the company’s CSR policy.
Highest spender for CSR in Odisha (168.44 cr), in the FY 2020-21, the company has focused on welfare activities mostly in areas like Jharsuguda, Angul, Khurda, Nuapada, Sambalpur and Sundargarh. They have also carried out CSR activity in Bolangir, Dhenkanal, Ganjam, Gajapati, Jajpur, kalahandi, Kandhamal, Nayagarh, Rayagada and Sonepur.
The major projects include Construction of boundary wall and toilet, supplying drinking water, tree plantation, Construction of temporary sand bandha on the bed of Ib river, donating blankets and other necessities, road construction, construction of hostel and hall for schools, building toilets in schools, supplying water for domestic purpose and construction of road over bridge among others.
Indian Oil Corporation Limited
Indian Oil is a a diversified, integrated energy major with presence in almost all the streams of oil, gas, petrochemicals and alternative energy sources.
Indian Oil has been actively engaged in a gamut of social welfare activities across the nation. It spent Rs. 460.37 crores on its CSR initiatives in the last financial year. Its key CSR thrust areas include ‘Safe drinking water and protection of water resources’, ‘Healthcare and sanitation’, ‘Education and employment-enhancing vocational skills’, ‘Empowerment of women and socially/economically backward groups’, etc.
Over 123 lakh people have benefitted from the company’s CSR initiatives in FY 20-21. The company was also accorded with the National CSR award under the Women and Child Development Category by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.
The company’s CSR policy reads, ‘Indian Oil… helps to improve the quality of life of local communities residing in the vicinity of its establishments and the society at large. Indian Oil’s Sustainability & Corporate Social Responsibility vision aims to operate its activities in a manner that is efficient, safe and ethical practices that minimises negative impact on the environment and enhances quality of life of communities, thereby fulfilling its mission of sustaining a holistic business.’
Indian Oil is the second highest spender for CSR in Odisha ( 40.37 cr), in the FY 2020-21.
Taking a look into their major CSR initiatives in Odisha:
>> Indian Oil extended support to set up Covid Care Centre and 100 bed facility (92 General bed facility + 8 ICU Bed facility) Covid-19 Hospital at Medical College & Hospital (MCH) building of District Headquarter Hospital (DHH), Bargarh, Odisha
>>Spending towards ICT Mumbai Indian Oil Odisha Campus, Bhubaneswar. IndianOil collaborated with the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai to set-up an off campus of the Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai at Bhubaneswar. The institute named ICT Mumbai Indian Oil Odisha Campus, Bhubaneswar was inaugurated in 2018. It has been planned to evolve into an R&D / innovation hub to carry out high-end research in chemical engineering, petrochemicals, textiles, pharmaceuticals and energy.
>> Spending towards Skill Development Institute, Bhubaneswar. With an aim to provide livelihood enhancing skill development training to unemployed and underprivileged youth Skill Development Institute, Bhubaneswar (SDI-B) was set up in 2016 in a temporary campus. The SDI Main Campus is being developed as mega-worldclass, model skill development academy at Jatni Tehsil of Khurda; near IIT Bhubaneswar. During 2020-21, about 251 youth were skilled and certified.
>> ‘IndianOil Vidushi’ CSR programme was started in 2018. Under this CSR initiatve, specialised coaching and mentoring is provided to under-privileged girls after class XII, to help them succeed in JEE Mains, JEE Advanced & other Central and State Engineering College Entrance Examinations. During 2020-21, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, online classes were conducted for 120 girls from 2 centres.
National Aluminium Co Ltd
National Aluminium Company Limited (NALCO) was established on January 7, 1981 having its registered office at Bhubaneswar. It is one of the largest integrated Bauxite-Alumina-Aluminium- Power Complex in the Country. At present, Government of India holds 51.28% of paid up equity capital. The Company has been operating its captive Panchpatmali Bauxite Mines for the pit head Alumina refinery at Damanjodi, in the District of Koraput in Odisha and Aluminium Smelter & Captive Power Plant at Angul.
Third highest spender for CSR in Odisha, the company has spent nearly 35 crores for CSR activities in the state. Their major CSR activities in the FY 2020-21 include:
>>Open Defecation Free (ODF) programme in 05 villages of S&P Complex, Angul
>>Support for plantation in and around Chandaka Damapara Wild life Sanctuary
>>Construction of BT road from Malkarbandh to Maliput
>>Operation Battery operated vehicle from Jagannath Ballav Matha to Shri Jagannath Temple
>>Electrification work Post Fani renovation Works at Gandhi park and other places of PuriPost Fani developmental work at Gandhi Park and other places of Puri
>>Operation of Medical Health Unit (MHU) at peripheral villages of M&R Complex, Damanjodi Potangi, S&P complex, Angul and Utkal D & E Coal Block
>>Operation of OPD centre at Angul
>>Supporting residential education to poor backward & tribal children from periphery villages of M & R Complex, Damanjodi & Pottangi
>>School education in Company funded schools for students other than Nalco employee dependants
>>Ventilator Ambulance to State Government
>>Black topping of road from NALCO thana Chhak to IAPL square via Canal Road, Angul
>>Developmental projects like School building, Anganwadi centre, RCC road, Toilets & water drainage system in Ambagaon village, Damanjodi
>>Constructions of class rooms, furnitures & sports materials to Schools in Angul Districts
>>Drinking water supply & provision of tubewels in Angul districts
Other companies spending towards CSR in Odisha
Rungta Sons Pvt Ltd, Feegrade and Co Pvt Ltd, GAIL (India) Ltd, Bonai Industrial Co Ltd, Rungta Mines Litd, Vedanta Ltd and Hindustan Aeronautics Limited feature among the rest of the top 10 companies spending towards CSR in Odisha.
