IT WAS around 2009 Seraikela in Jharkhand’s Seraikela-Kharswan district was in deep distress as 96 per cent of the deaths in the block occurred at neonatal stage. Eighty three per cent of these deaths were because of weakness due to low birth weight, pneumonia and other infections, and asphyxia due to prolonged delivery and other birth complications. To tackle this, Tata Steel Limited launched Maternal and Newborn Survival Initiative as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR). The programme brought under its fold women from 167 villages who belonged to low income families and those who did not have access to quality maternal facilities. As many as 200 workers were trained to generate awareness and to increase demand for healthcare services. These workers went from house to house collecting real-time information on the health of mothers and children on tablets provided to them. Corrective action was taken without delay. The programme helped reduce neonatal mortality up to 32.7 per cent and infant mortality up to 26.5 per cent within three years.
Such philanthropic initiatives have a long history in India. But the idea was brought into a legal framework in 2014 when CSR was introduced as a statutory obligation under Section 135 of the Companies Act, 2013. Under this, every company with an annual net worth of over ₹ 500 crore, turnover of over ₹ 1,000 crore, or net profit of over ₹5 crore, must spend at least 2 per cent of its net profit on CSR. Latest data with the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) shows expenditure on CSR activities has increased from ₹10,066 crore in 2014-15 to ₹13,624 crore in 2017-18. During this time, the number of public sector undertakings (psu) and private sector firms also increased from 16,548 to 21,397.
Denne historien er fra February 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra February 16, 2020-utgaven av Down To Earth.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara
