Post new Companies Act, demand for trained CSR professionals rise
Published: May 16, 2017
By TIOLCORP News Service
NEW DELHI, MAY 16, 2017: WITH the passing of the Companies Act 2013, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has come into sharper focus in the country. About 8000 companies have taken part in CSR activities annually during the last two years. Around Rs. 9000 crores have been spent every year on various CSR activities listed in Schedule VII of the Companies Act 2013. In FY 2015-16, there has been considerable jump in CSR expenditure as compared to FY 2014-15. As per the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MCA) database, the total expenditure on CSR activities has increased from Rs. 8851 crores to over Rs. 9000 crores as per the limited data available on just 5097 companies.
The National Foundation for Corporate Social Responsibility (NFCSR), was established by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs at Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) in April, 2012, with a vision to build an enabling environment for the corporate sector to work in partnership with the Government, Non-Government and Civil Society Organizations, as well as local community organizations for effective contribution towards sustainable growth and development. One of the mandates of NFCSR is to provide research, training, practice, capacity building, standard setting, advocacy, rating, monitoring, recognition and related support in the field of CSR. Under this mandate NFCSR had launched the IICA Certificate Programme (ICP) in CSR in the year 2014. This course has helped the need to meet the burgeoning demand for trained CSR professionals in the corporate, public and NGO sectors, in light of the new provisions regarding CSR which took effect from April 1, 2014.
The Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs, Arjun Ram Meghwal will deliver the Keynote Address and give away the Certificates during the Valedictory Ceremony of Indian Institute of Corporate Affairs (IICA) Certificate Programme (ICP) in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) – Batch II at the IICA campus, Manesar, Gurugram tomorrow, May 17, 2017.
There will also be a panel discussion on: Role of CSR Professionals in delivering Impactful CSR. It will be Chaired by Madhukar Gupta, Addnl. Secretary, Department. of Public Enterprises (DPE), Ministry of Heavy Industries & Public Enterprises.
IICA Certificate Programme (ICP) in CSR is a 9-month intensive online course with a major thrust on developments/issues and challenges in CSR post the 2013 legislation. The programme has so far certified 170 CSR professionals in 2015, and another 130 students are currently undergoing the programme as part of Batch II.
