By TIOL News Service

NEW DELHI, APR 17, 2017: CSR performance of companies with respect to requirements of CSR legislation have substantially improved over FY15. The results are based on disclosures of close to 1,270 companies listed on BSE that had to comply with Section 135 of Companies Act 2013. The analysis was conducted by CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development in form of Annual CSR Tracker 2016, which on yearly-basis captures annual CSR disclosures.

In FY16, these 1,270 companies collectively spent Rs 8,185 cr, which is 27% more than spend of Rs 6,400 cr in FY15. The spend is 92% of the required CSR budget of Rs 8,900 cr, using two percent of average net profits of three financial years. The companies collectively had budgeted Rs 10,257 cr, which is 15% more than the minimum budget required.

A notable feature of CSR disclosures in FY16 is that some companies have begun to disclose output data. 13 percent, or 166 of 1,270 companies making such disclosures, reflects going beyond legislative requirements and improving the quality of disclosures. 1.5 cr people benefitted from Rs 3,747.97 cr spent for which output data has been reported. This averages to Rs 2,498.65 spent per person.

The number of companies spending CSR budgets exclusively through corporate foundations increased to 72 from 60 in FY15. The number of companies exclusively spending money directly marginally increased to 233 from 227, whereas that spending money exclusively through implementing agencies remained stable at 249 as compared to 251 in FY15. This tends to suggest that companies are building their own capacities for implementation.

Health and sanitation, education and skill development, and rural development are the top three developmental areas for spends. The absolute amount of money contributed to PM’s Relief Fund reduced by 25% to Rs 80.55 cr. Though the absolute amounts spent in incubation centres, protection of national heritage, and sports development, are small as compared to the top three areas, the percentage increases over the previous year are anywhere between 18 to 122%.

Out of the 32 industry categories, absolute spends have decreased in just two industries, viz., commercial services and supplies, and oil and gas. Big increases are reported in automobiles and auto components, consumer durables, metals and mining, financial services, pharma and biotech, telecom services and equipment, textiles, apparels and accessories, transportation, and utilities.

Naushad Forbes, President, CII said, "this extensive and elaborate analysis of almost 1,300 companies is indicative of their commitment to directly contribute to development of hundreds of thousands of fellow citizens. Companies do good in myriad ways and companies should encourage contributions in unique and innovative areas. CSR is a matter of board-level accountability and the boards should be allowed the space to conduct their job without interference or influence from certain stakeholders that have tendencies to exploit CSR legislation for their narrow gains."

The purpose of CII’s Annual CSR Tracker has been for key stakeholders to reflect on yearly and inter-year performance of companies on CSR. In sum, FY16 has been a significant improvement on almost every aspect of CSR legislation. Some companies going beyond the legislative requirements. CESD projects that CSR spends will further increase in FY17, with a back-of-the envelope calculation of around Rs 10,000 cr. There should be improvements in quality of disclosures and more companies disclosing beneficiary data.

CII via its members has been one of most active business-led organisation engaged in development activities. CII Foundation and CII-ITC Centre of Excellence for Sustainable Development, have been contributing to improving the CSR legislation, building capacities of companies on various subject matters, and enabling collaborations and partnerships between business, governments and NGOs.