Uttar Pradesh realises the power of partnerships and the importance of Corporates / Individuals in achieving our vision for sustainable prosperity for the people of the State, for which Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays a vital role. – M.Rajendran
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) plays a vital role in the development of society. The State of Uttar Pradesh has understood the importance of CSR in the State’s socio-economic development. In July this year, the Mahakumbh Mela Authority invited government and non-government organisations to “take part” in the Maha Kumbh-2025. It allowed corporations to contribute to the event through corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to arrange better and provide amenities at the venue.
The Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest religious congregation in India, attended by millions. The month-long fair marks the construction of a massive tented township with cottages, huts, platforms, civic facilities, and administrative and security measures. Mahakumbh Mela event venue is spread over 40,000 hectares. It is divided into 25 sectors: health, cleanliness, security facilities, camps, offices, and community areas. A total of 1.6 lakh tents are being set up, while a parking area is being created over 1,800 hectares. Ghats stretching 12 km are being equipped with facilities for devotees.
The Mela Authority is expanding its capacity to accommodate an estimated 40 crore devotees. Around six crore devotees will likely attend the Maha Kumbh during the Mauni Amavasya.
The legislative mandate empowers Uttar Pradesh to leverage CSR initiatives as a unique knowledge base, contributing significantly to the nation’s growth and development. Acknowledging the importance of collaboration with corporates and individuals, Uttar Pradesh strives to attain its vision for sustainable prosperity.
The State’s impact created through CSR initiatives could be humongous if they are customised to meet the specific needs of the State. Uttar Pradesh realises the power of partnerships and the importance of Corporates/Individuals in achieving our vision for sustainable prosperity for the people of the State, which is why we are continuously succeeding in setting milestones in different sectors.
In 2022-24, UP collected around Rs 1,500 crore in its CSR corpus, which was used in projects on women and child development, education, vocational education and skill development and others. The collection by the State through CSR has to be viewed in the context of its meagre collections in 2014-15. UP garnered only about Rs 148 crore in 2014-15 but improved in later years to Rs 435 crore in 2017-18. Later, in 2021-22, UP saw a CSR spending of Rs 1,321 crore that surged to around Rs 1,500 crore in 2022-23.
In 2015, the State had issued the directions to streamline philanthropic and welfare activities and ensure more transparency and accountability in CSR. Further, with the ever-increasing demand for welfare schemes, CSR seeks to address the problems of society in a cost-effective manner. Several large private and public sector companies are operating in UP.
These companies are already engaged in contributing to the development of society in a big way. The UP government then proposed developing a database of projects suitable for CSR to assist companies in selecting social projects. The state government has allocated a budget of Rs 2,600 crore for the Mahakumbh Mela, which will be held in Prayagraj from January 13 to February 25, 2025.
A government informed media in July 2024 that the Uttar Pradesh government has communicated that the organisations can contribute towards health, water and sanitation facilities, security, culture and heritage, infrastructure upgrades, diversity and inclusion initiatives, technology and mobility.
Early February of this year, UP’s Chief Secretary Durga Shankar Mishra said the State would organise a ‘UP CSR Summit’ to script a new chapter in the process of collaborative socioeconomic development. The State is counting on its large consumer market and growing wealth to impress the private sector and loosen its CSR purse strings. “The core idea of CSR lies in the ancient ideology of collectivism. During the pandemic, we witnessed a demonstration of the country’s collective strength,” Mishra said, addressing CSR heads of prominent companies at a recent CSR conference in Lucknow.
The State is experiencing a transformative wave propelled by CSR initiatives, strategic partnerships, and collaborative endeavours aimed at fostering sustainable development and economic growth.
Uttar Pradesh is witnessing a surge in initiatives that embody this ethos , reflecting a collective commitment to uplifting communities and driving positive change. The landscape of CSR initiatives, partnerships, and economic engagements shaping Uttar Pradesh’s trajectory towards sustainable development and community welfare is multifaceted.
In recent developments, Uttar Pradesh has witnessed significant strides in fostering partnerships and initiatives aimed at sustainable development and economic growth. The global stage saw Uttar Pradesh’s proactive engagement, with MoUs signed at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, emphasizing cross-sectoral collaboration for environmental stewardship. The surge in CSR initiatives and strategic partnerships in Uttar Pradesh reflects a concerted effort towards driving positive change and sustainable growth. Through collaborative endeavours across various sectors, from healthcare and education to rural development and environmental conservation, stakeholders are actively contributing to the State’s progress.
