Corporate Social Responsibility in India

Abstract
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India as well as all over the world is a shift from industrial philanthropy of the past into strategic set of programmes to address the concerns of the stakeholders, besides the stockholders, what is commonly referred to as the “triple bottom line”—people, planet, and profits.  Manifestations of grave wealth inequalities in the world as well as in India, widespread poverty, destruction of the environment, frequent natural disasters because of climate change, and wars, terrorism, and political conflicts have discredited the capitalist mode of wealth accumulation. Societies based on unlimited wealth accumulation and mass consumption are unsustainable. CSR, promoted by the United Nations Global Compact, is a feeble effort to counteract it.  Revolutionary changes that go beyond CSR, and move our society toward the Gandhian vision of Gram Swaraj—self-governing, self-sustaining, decentralized and democratic village eco-communities, assuring good quality of life and wellbeing, are vital.  This alone will save humankind from an impending apocalyptic sixth extinction predicted by climate scientists.

Dr. Henry J D’Souza
Professor, Grace Abbott School of Social Work, 
University of Nebraska at Omaha, USA