Hyderabad: In a bid to significantly enhance corporate participation in the state’s development agenda, chief minister A Revanth Reddy on Thursday directed officials to formulate a comprehensive policy for the effective mobilisation and utilisation of corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds. Expressing concern over the low share of CSR spending in Telangana, which currently stands at around 3% of the national total, the CM stressed that companies operating in the state should allocate at least 50% of their CSR funds within Telangana. He underscored the need for a structured approach to ensure better inflow as well as optimal utilisation of these funds. Reviewing CSR activities with officials, the CM proposed the establishment of a dedicated CSR cell at the state level, with a separate office to monitor, coordinate, and streamline CSR initiatives. Bridging the gap He emphasised that such a mechanism would help bridge the gap between corporate entities and govt departments, enabling more focused and impactful implementation of projects. “The arrangements for the felicitation ceremony should be made as part of the state formation day celebrations. There should be a dedicated CSR cell at the state level with a separate office to coordinate CSR initiatives currently being implemented by corporate companies within the state, as well as compiling information on projects available across various govt departments that are suitable for execution through CSR funding,” the CM said. To further strengthen engagement, the CM approved the creation of a ‘Telangana CSR portal’, envisioned as a dynamic platform linking corporates with govt projects. The portal will provide comprehensive information on projects across departments and will be designed in a user-friendly manner to help companies identify and support initiatives aligned with their priorities.Strong industrial baseOfficials informed the CM that Telangana’s CSR share remains limited despite a strong industrial base. In response, Revanth directed officials to take proactive measures to increase CSR inflows and ensure that funds generated within the state are spent locally. He instructed officials to study models adopted by other states and incorporate best practices while framing the new policy, with focus on attracting greater corporate participation and strengthening development outcomes.
