Mumbai : Governor CH Vidyasagar Rao called upon business organisations and corporates to extend wholehearted support to the State Government in implementing various social programmes as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility.
He also asked Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to create a CSR cell in the government to be headed by a minister to facilitate cooperation with corporates and government on CSR activities, as he addressed the first meeting of corporate leaders ‘Maha CSR’ organised by the State Government at Raj Bhavan on Friday evening.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the State Government wants collaboration with corporates to create a convergence of developmental efforts. He assured the corporates that the Government has no intention to ‘governmetalise’ their CSR programmes.
Fadnavis announced creation of a portal which will help corporates to choose a programme for CSR collaboration. He also announced that one OSD in Chief Minister’s office will function as a bridge between the Corporate and the Government for CSR programmes.
Finance, Planning and Forest Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar sought the cooperation of corporates in transforming 97,000 ‘Anganwadis’ in Maharashtra into ‘Smart Anganwadis’. He also sought cooperation in increasing the forest cover in the State. He suggested that the corporates should work in Districts with Low Human Development Index.
Welcoming the Government’s initiative, Godrej Group Chairman Adi Godrej expressed the intention of the Group to work in the area of skill development as part of CSR.
“There is no unemployment in India. Unemployability is the real issue,” said Godrej.
Rajashree Birla, Nita Ambani, Sangita Jindal, Urvi Piramal, S Ramadorai also spoke on the occasion.
Minister for industries Subhash Desai, minister for water supply and sanitation Babanrao Lonikar, minister for rural development Pankaja Munde, captains of industries and heads of CSR of various organisations were present on the occasion.
During the course of the program, CSR projects for nine departments were showcased which includes subjects like Swachch Bharat Mission, conservation of forests, development of Anganwadis, skills development, renewable energy, department of cultural affairs, development of mobile connectivity in tribal areas, solid waste and waste water management under Swachch Bharat Mission in rural and urban areas, and Tribal Sports Academy.
