IMPACT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY INITIATIVES OF PRIVATE COMPANIES ON ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT OF RURAL WOMEN
Loading...
Date
2018
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MPUT, UDAIPUR
Abstract
The present study was undertaken to explore the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives of private companies in Rajasthan, study the mode of implementation of CSR initiatives followed by companies for economic empowerment of rural women, assess the impact of CSR initiatives on economic empowerment of rural women and study the constraints experienced by rural women in CSR activities.The study was conducted in Rajasthan state. Judgmental sampling was used to select ten private companies. Further a sub sample of four companies comprising of Hindustan Zinc Limited (HZL), Chambal Fertilisers and Chemicals Limited (CFCL), JK Lakshmi Cement Limited (JKCL) and Shree Cement Limited (SCL) was purposively selected from the initial sample on the basis of their activities focusing on empowermentof rural women. From each of the four companies 60 rural women beneficiaries of CSR initiatives and 60 non beneficiaries from the neighbouring villages of rural women benefitted by CSR initiative were taken to make a total sample of 300 respondents. Interview schedule and questionnaire were used to collect data. Frequency, percentage, mean percent scores, mean weighted scores, Kendall’s coefficient of concordance, Z test, paired t test, and F-test were used to analyze the data.
Findings of the study revealed that various projects were carried out in all the thematic areas i.e. health, education, environment, livelihood building and infrastructure development by the selected companies. The companies catered to the needs of people residing nearby areas.The mode of implementation followed by the companies revealed that the companies followed democratic approach for planning, had separate CSR division, recruited staff through direct and campus placement, regularly held meetings and presented reports as per format given by Government of India. Majority of the beneficiaries (63.33 %) and non beneficiaries (80 %) were from low socio economic status whereas 36.67 per cent of beneficiaries and 20 per
62
cent of non beneficiaries had medium socio economic status with none having high socio economic status. All the beneficiaries (100%) received training under CSR activities, 44.16 per cent started their enterprise with 15 per cent individually and 29.57 per cent were involved in group enterprise. More than one third of the respondents (39.17%) took loans from their respective SHGs with 67.07 per cent taking it for consumption and 32.92 for production purposes. CSR personnels were reported to be the important source of motivation followed by self motivation by the beneficiaries. To earn money for better living, to improve the status in the family, and to become economically independent were the major reasons for starting the enterprise. Beneficiaries reported guidance in technical know how as the major support given under CSR initiatives, whereas no support was reported in terms of establishment of financial linkage with bank and provision of funding through company. More than half of the respondents (55.66%) were running the enterprise since more than 2 years and majority (85.84%) devoted 4-6 hours daily to their enterprise. More than one third of the beneficiaries (31.13%) were earning from ₹3001- ₹5000 per month. Respondents reported to contribute their income in food, education and clothing. Significant difference was found between monthly earnings before and after participation in CSR, involvement in decision making, access to resources and control over resources between beneficiaries and non beneficiaries, which indicates the impact of CSR initiatives on the economic empowerment of rural women. Among the constraints faced, respondents reported lack of communication facilities, lack of basic amenities like bank and post offices, high cost of initial investment, unfulfilled promises, neglect of domestic work and increased workload due to participation in the activities as major infrastructural, operational and; personal and family constraints respectively. Thus there is an urgent need to address these constraints so that CSR activities could cater to the needs of the beneficiaries efficiently.
Description
Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives of Private Companies on Economic Empowerment of Rural Women
Keywords
Citation
Bhati N.K. And Upadhyay R.