Bhubaneswar, 18 August (H.S.): Governor Dr Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday urged corporate leaders to look beyond statutory compliance and view Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) as an opportunity to become responsible partners in Odisha’s development.

Addressing the Bridge Bharat Conclave 2026 and National Seminar on “Corporate Social Responsibility: Emerging Issues & Challenges” in Bhubaneswar, Kambhampati said CSR has evolved beyond charitable giving into a broader responsibility towards people, communities and the environment.

The event was organised jointly by the Odisha Corporate Foundation and Freadom Edu, in association with the Department of Public Enterprises, Government of Odisha.

The Governor said India’s CSR framework under the Companies Act, 2013, has created a structured mechanism for corporate participation in social development, directing resources towards areas such as health, education, livelihoods, women’s empowerment, environmental sustainability, rural development and disaster management.

“Compliance should never become the destination of CSR,” he said, calling for a shift from a “spend-and-report” approach to a strategic, participatory and outcome-focused model. He stressed the need for credible implementation, greater community participation and measurable assessment of CSR initiatives.

Kambhampati said rapid industrialisation in sectors such as steel, power, mining and manufacturing must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility, climate resilience and community well-being. He urged industries to prioritise education, healthcare, drinking water, nutrition, livelihoods, skill development, sports, rural development and disaster preparedness through CSR interventions.

Highlighting education as a key area, he said investment in foundational literacy and numeracy, teacher development, digital learning, scholarships and mentorship could transform lives across generations, particularly for first-generation learners in tribal and backward districts.

He also called for greater corporate support for forest and biodiversity conservation, water security, livelihood restoration, local employment and women-led enterprises in areas affected by mining and large industrial projects. Given Odisha’s vulnerability to cyclones and other disasters, he stressed the need for greater focus on disaster risk reduction and preparedness.

“Communities should not merely be beneficiaries of projects, but active partners in designing and sustaining them,” he said.

The Governor called for stronger collaboration among government, industry, academia, civil society and local communities, saying CSR could create a “win-win” situation when corporate technology, expertise, innovation and resources are aligned with social priorities. He said the principle of the triple bottom line—profit, people and planet—must guide sustainable corporate growth.

Kambhampati said well-designed CSR initiatives could play an important role in advancing the vision of Viksit Odisha@2036 and contributing to the larger national goal of Viksit Bharat@2047.

Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Jajpur MP Dr Rabindra Narayan Behera, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Department of Public Enterprises Md Sadique Alam and IREDA Chairman and Managing Director Bijay Kumar Mohanty also addressed the gathering.

Bridge Bharat Summit 2026 chairperson and visiting professor at IIM Nagpur Arun Kumar Rath delivered the welcome address, while Freadom Edu Service Pvt Ltd CEO Nikhil Saraf proposed the vote of thanks.

---------------

Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda