ROLE OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY IN RURAL DEVELOPMENT: EVIDENCE FROM INDIA

Abstract

India is a country of villages where about 65 per cent of the population are living in rural areas. These villages are underdeveloped. There are poverty, unemployment, hunger, illiteracy, ill health, inadequate infrastructure and high mortality in rural areas. CSR is the commitment of companies to contribute to sustainable development and improve the lives of the society. It has been recognized by policy makers and development specialists as a feasible driver for rural development. The paper makes an attempt to address CSR activities and the issues related to rural development in the light of implementation of mandatory CSR. This study is exploratory in nature and was based on the secondary data. The data were collected by using secondary sources, more specifically, document data in the form of studies and surveys. The government initiatives and mandatory CSR spends have made a positive impact and mitigate rural economic challenges. The article addresses CSR activities and the issues related to rural development in the light of implementation of mandatory CSR. The study concluded with the need of the efforts from different levels to improve the overall development of all the stakeholders and the entire rural community.