State announces CSR Policy for school-related activities

11-06-14

By Kartik Lokhande
After conducting a ‘KG to PG Conclave’ recently, Maharashtra Government has come up with Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy for school-related activities in the State. Under the policy, committees are to be formed at State, Commissionerate (Education), and Division levels.
Already, in Maharashtra, different companies are supporting a variety of CSR activities with a focus on improving access and quality of education in schools. School Education and Sports Department of the State Government also is working on school management system and learning outcomes in schools by implementing reforms through programmes at all levels. The Government has announced the CSR Policy as it felt ‘the need to create a framework to support the corporate efforts and channelise them so that they get adequate support from the Government’s side’.
It may be recalled here that the provision regarding CSR in the new Companies Act, 2013 has brought within its ambit all the companies with net profit of at least Rs 5 crore per annum or Rs 1,000 crore turn-over or Rs 500 crore networth. It has made it mandatory for them to spent 2 per cent of their three years’ average net profit on CSR activities. To take advantage of the provision and aim at attracting sponsorships for school-related activities, the Government has announced the CSR Policy.
Under the policy, a CSR Cell is to be created at Mantralaya level. It shall comprise of a CSR Steering Committee to drive CSR activities in each block and district of the State and ensure that these activities are processed. CSR Cell will be a single-window for corporates to initiate any CSR activity. School Education and Sports Department also intends to subsequently form a company that may absorb the CSR Cell or support its functioning in providing all required assistance to corporate bodies and monitor their progress in CSR activities. Apart from State-level Steering Committee, there will be Commissionerate (Education) and Division level CSR Committees. The Division-level committee will be headed by Deputy Director (Education).
The Division level committee will be responsible fr publishing information regarding the requirements at various schools in its districts in the CSR portal and process the same for approval to the Commissionerate level Steering Committee. It will also be responsible for preparing a ‘time-bound plan’ for implementation of sanctioned works, collating the information about various corporates keen on CSR activities, and monitoring implementation of the CSR activities.
While issuing the CSR Policy, the State has mentioned it categorically that no land or any other asset of a school will be transferred to the company carrying out CSR activities. Besides, the School Education and Sports Department has stated that it would not be responsible for any kind of liabilities of the company.

Projects proposed under CSR Policy

* Improvement in school infrastructure requirements like toilets, drinking water facilities, boundary wall, ramps, electrical and civil maintenance of class-rooms, playgrounds etc

* Setting up computer, science, Mathematics, language laboratories

* E-learning tools such as smart-boards, computer projects, digital content etc; setting up vocational training facilities

* Adopting schools specially in rural and remote areas

* Enrichment programmes for outstanding students, remedial teaching programmes for children with learning deficiencies, incentivised learning programme for low performing students, health awareness programmes and health camps, excursions/study tours/exposure visit to institutes of education and learning in India and abroad, provision of equipment/aid to children with special needs

* Strengthening State and district level training institutes, audio-visual content and use of information technology for training, assistance in implementation of proper evaluation, monitoring, and feedback system in various Government programmes.