The Indian state of Karnataka recently unveiled a new technology platform to facilitate and streamline Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding for various developmental activities. Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa called it a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country. The online portal, Akanksha, was developed in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). It allows corporates to identify sectors where they want to put their CSR money. The collaboration also enables the CSR stakeholders to align their CSR goals with the state’s SDG (Sustainable Development Goals) priorities and showcase the best CSR practices for further scale-up.
The law mandates wealthy companies to spend at least 2% of their average net profits of the previous three years on welfare activities. The portal will be a transparent bridge between the government and donors in implementing CSR projects smoothly, Yediyurappa said. “This will ensure CSR money goes to projects that are really in need.” Authorities had announced last September that Karnataka was developing an online portal to streamline the flow of CSR money towards various government requirements.
Through the portal, donors can connect with government officials and non-profits and provide prompt assistance to those in need. It aims to support and facilitate collaborations with public-private partnerships, CSR organisations, NGOs, and government departments. The government said that it “takes this opportunity to reemphasise its commitment to work with all the stakeholders across sectors and region for holistic development of the state.”
According to a news report, the Akanksha portal is linked with the state government’s SDG targets. According to Yediyurappa, the government has set aside IN₹61,407 crores (US$8.5 billion) to meet SDGs in the current 2021-22 fiscal. Last year, the health sector had IN₹11,527 crores (US$1.5 billion). This year, its allocation is IN₹11,650 crores (US$1.6 billion), he said.
The CSR potential in Karnataka is huge. Between 2014 and 2018, some 2,588 companies based in Karnataka spent IN₹4,143 crores (US$570 million) of CSR money, according to the Chief Minister’s Office. Much of this money went into the education, environment, and healthcare sectors. Corporates have donated largely ever since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out last year. The Chief Minister’s Relief Fund received donations of over IN₹300 crores (US$41 million) last year. This time, during the second COVID-19 wave, the government received IN₹175 crores (US$24 million) by way of donations that include ventilators, oxygen concentrators, the Remdesivir drug, and pulse oximeters.
The state also recently implemented a tech-driven Remdesivir allocation and information system. Through the system, patients will receive a text alert and can also check their allocation online using their SRF ID. This way, they will know what their dose is and whether they have received it. As per a news report, the measure was introduced in the wake of increasing cases of people, including healthcare professionals, selling the antiviral drug in the black market. The Drugs Control Department will send an SMS to patients in whose name the hospital has allocated Remdesivir.
The Health and Family Welfare Minister, K. Sudhakar, said the technology-based system aims to bring in transparency in the allocation of Remdesivir. If the drug is allocated against a particular SRF ID and the hospital has not provided it to the patient, a facility will be provided for people to report it to the government, he said.
