CB Bureau‘All these talks about corporate social
responsibility (CSR) – it is going to change the face of the nation, the
fundamental problems will be addressed, it will beget a whole new industry,
etc. – are more hype. The new fund or the cash that will be channelized in the development
sector through CSR is practically not that big and it alone cannot solve the
problem that the country faces at the grassroots. This new fund, which looks
huge in figures – over Rs 20,000 crore, as is being claimed – is like a drop in
the ocean as far as the needs of the nation go,’ said Lt Gen. Rajender Singh,
CEO, DLF Foundation, during a conversation with CauseBecause.
‘However, I would not say that this fund
is nothing; it is certainly needed and can help in many ways provided it is
invested and used efficiently. If the CSR fund is used in a manner that it
strengthens the development agenda of governments, it will be like a little
boost to the solutions for problems that have been identified and for initiatives
that are already being implemented.
‘There is a feeling of resentment, a
sense of being ignored, and sheer hatred among poor people across India. The
spread of Red terror, Naxalism or Maoism, as you call it in media, is an
outcome of this resentment. It cannot be fought with armies, but with
development. Before this Red spreads its wings further, it has to be addressed
with social initiatives. I believe this mandated two per cent spends are just a
first step towards that,’ added Singh.
Asked if DLF Foundation’s programmes
were based on this philosophy, he said, ‘We believe that if the poor person out
there is empowered enough to meet his aspirations, many of the problems will be
solved. If an individual wants a decent standard of living, which is rather a
must, he should be skilled enough to get a decent job that can help him in
attaining that standard of living. The efforts of DLF Foundation are focussed
on this aspect. Our focus is primarily skilling the talented among the most
poor and then getting them employment.’
The documents shared by DLF Foundation claim
that apart from technical skills in various areas including information
technology, customer relations, sales, retail, hospitality and construction,
the Foundation also helps in development of personality and basic traits
required for quality living.
In an effort to boost the government’s
efforts, DLF Foundation in collaboration with several partners has set up DLF
Life Skill Centres across the country. While the National Skill Development
Corporation (NSDC) has the target to skill approximately 500 million people in
the next 10 years, DLF Life Skill Centres are aiming to assist NSDC by training
one million youth. The Foundation intends to establish 250 skill training
centres and will invest about Rs 30 crore for the same. In the first phase it
has established 25 centres that are operational.
In order to support talented students,
the Foundation runs a Talent Nurturing Programme wherein it provides
scholarships to deserving underprivileged students for schooling as well as
under- and post-graduation programmes.
Another recent initiative of the Foundation
is the Cluster Village Development programme, which too is in sync with priority
areas identified by the Planning Commission in the 12th five-year plan. The Foundation’s
idea is to empower communities by creating opportunities and uplifting the
underprivileged in these clusters. It has started with healthcare initiatives
by creating out-patient departments (OPD) that have visiting paediatricians,
gynaecologists, dentists and ophthalmologists. The Foundation claims that about
5,000 care seekers have availed of this facility and panchayat members in the clusters
are actively helping in spreading the message on preventative aspects of
health.