Viksit Odisha / Odisha Governor Urges Corporates to Align CSR with Social Priorities

Bhubaneswar, Aug18: Odisha Governor Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday urged corporate leaders to move beyond statutory compliance and embrace Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as a strategic tool for inclusive development.

Speaking at the Bridge Bharat Conclave 2026 and a national seminar on “Corporate Social Responsibility: Emerging Issues & Challenges” in Bhubaneswar, the Governor said CSR has evolved from charitable giving into a broader responsibility towards people, communities, and the environment.

The Governor noted that India’s CSR framework under the Companies Act, 2013 has created a structured mechanism for corporate participation in social development, channeling resources into health, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, rural development, and disaster management.

“Compliance should never be the destination of CSR,” Kambhampati said, calling for a shift from a “spend-and-report” approach to a participatory, outcome-focused model. He stressed the importance of credible implementation, measurable assessment, and greater community involvement in CSR projects.

Highlighting Odisha’s rapid industrialisation in steel, power, mining, and manufacturing, the Governor said growth must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility, climate resilience, and community well-being. He urged industries to prioritise education, healthcare, drinking water, nutrition, skill development, rural infrastructure, and disaster preparedness.

Education was identified as a key area, with investment in foundational literacy, teacher training, digital learning, scholarships, and mentorship seen as transformative, especially for first-generation learners in tribal and backward districts.
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Kambhampati also called for corporate support in biodiversity conservation, water security, livelihood restoration, and women-led enterprises in mining-affected regions. Given Odisha’s vulnerability to cyclones and natural disasters, he emphasised disaster risk reduction and preparedness as critical CSR priorities.

“Communities should not merely be beneficiaries of projects, but active partners in designing and sustaining them,” he said, urging stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, civil society, and local communities.

The Governor added that CSR, guided by the triple bottom line principle — profit, people, and planet — could play a pivotal role in advancing the vision of Viksit Odisha@2036 and contributing to Viksit Bharat@2047.