Getting CSR Support from corporates for Elders Welfare: Ball is in our court

Getting CSR Support from corporates for Elders Welfare: Ball is in our court

From Chairman’s Desk:

We do not need to point out that the major emerging challenge of the 21st century is the phenomenon of population ageing. This phenomenon can become a drag on the economy in addition to causing human misery, unless remedial measures are taken in time. This is what seems to be not happening. Out of 11.81 crore senior citizens in our Country 70% belong to BPL category or are very close to it and around 40% are so poor that they cannot afford even two square  meals a day. 

To provide them minimum social, financial and health security we need more  Old Age Homes for the indigent, better upkeep of the existing ones, Shelters for the homeless, multipurpose Day Care Centers, Nursing Homes, Palliative care Homes, Physiotherapy centres. Mobile Health care units, Help Lines etc, etc. Support from CSR was expected to make a difference. Somehow it has not happened. During the last four years its contribution to elder-friendly activities has been almost negligible. It has been the least favored social cause 

Considering that Elders deserve a little better treatment by society, the All India Senior Citizens’ Confederation (AISCCON)  constituted a CSR Committee to find reasons for this apparent indifference on part of the Corporate Houses and to try to correct the situation. The first action which we took to find reasons for it was to interview the CSR bosses of a number of Corporate Houses.

The result was most surprising and un-expected. Most of the Corporates expressed their desire to do the needful for the welfare of our elders but according to them they were not receiving proposals for elder-friendly schemes. If any proposal was received, it would be half ‘baked’ with incomplete information. Sometimes if the Corporate took interest and asked for additional information, it was not followed up.

All this shows that the ball li es in our court only. Most of the welfare activities for senior citizens can be taken care of by CSR if properly handled. I request our senior citizen friends to take initiative of suggesting schemes for CSR support which will improve the well being of the elder community around them.

The CSR Committee can arrange professional help in preparing the proposals if there is a need.

We will be discussing this subject again during the next National Conference of AISCCON on 29^th and 30^th  Nov 2018, in Hyderabad, which is expected to be attended by around 2000 senior citizens from all over India.

R.N.Mital

[ Extract from CSR and Elder Care -- Newsletter of AISCCON Committee for CSR August 2018 p1]

Report on Workshop on CSR for the Elderly held on 7th Sep 2017 in Hyderabad

CSR Workshop 7thSep17 Report by Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy on Scribd

CSR and Elder Care July 2017

CSR EC July 2017 Rev.compressed by Padmanabha Vyasamoorthy on Scribd

CSR & Elder Care July 2017

Lifelong Learner: An inspirational example

Lifelong Learner: An inspirational example

“After nearly seven decades I was in a class room as a formal student” said Mr RN Mital, about his participation in a one day training course on CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) Funding  organized by Navjeevan Center for Development in Hyderabad in March 2017. It was a fee based event and Mital wanted to learn about the intricacies of securing CSR funds for projects concerning senior citizens. He sat through the course for 8 hours, interacted with a number of NGO participants and came back richly rewarded. Not that he is a novice in the field. Having been associated with the problems of the elderly in India for the past 15 years, he is fit enough to talk on the topic with authority. In case you do not know, he maintains a blog of his own for the spreading the cause of Corporate Social Responsibility.

In fact he has been invited as a key note speaker in many events organized by leading associations and apex bodies. He was nothing less than the President of All India Senior Citizens Confederation for two terms. He was a member of National Council of Senior Citizens and a member of a committee on elders' welfare on NHRC. He, by himself, has conducted several meetings, conclaves, seminars etc on the subject of CSR. And senior officers in MOSJE, MOCA etc know him. But then what prompted him to take up a formal paid training program? His zeal and passion to know more and more and the eagerness to equip himself fully and to establish himself as an authority on a topic close to his heart.

I salute the Lifelong Learner in him. It is not easy to spend a whole day as a pupil in a classroom, keeping in mind that he is 90 plus. Hats off to RNM.

Report on Seminar on CSR for the Elderly 15th Nov 2014

A Note on CSR Seminar for the Elderly conducted by AOSC-H and HelpAge

15th November 2014 at Lions Bhavan Secunderabad Telangana

The seminar started at 10:30. Sri B Linga Reddy invited dignitaries to
the dais. On the dais were: Sri RN Mital, Sri Shiv Kumar Rungta, Dr
Vyasamoorthy, Dr Gayatri Subramanyam, Sri IM Bhalla.

Dr T Harish Rao, Minister for Irrigation, Government of Telangana did
not participate as a special session of the Assembly was being held on
that day. Sri S Dass joined, somewhat late, as he rushed directly from
Airport after attending an important meeting in Delhi HQ of HelpAge.

After presentation of bouquets to dignitaries on the dais, lighting of
the lamp was done. Thereafter, Dr Vyasamoorthy welcomed all – people
on the dais, participants groups like representatives from corporate
sector (BHEL, Midhani, Usha, Kabra Gas, Hetero Drugs, IOCL, Premier
Explosives etc), NGOs (HelpAge, Ramakrishna Mutt, Lions Clubs), SCAs,
Federations ( FESCO, TESCCON, TCSCCON), Media (Indian Express, Hans
India etc). He said that this seminar is the first one in India as far
as the topic is concerned and perhaps also the first in the State on
CSR initiated by SCA.

Keynote address by Sri RN Mital was very comprehensive, full of
impressive data to show that senior citizens are neglected by
corporate sector in their CSR activity. After highlighting the
lacunae, in the present CSR dispensation, he suggested some remedial
measures which have become resolutions of the event. Sri Rungta
emphasized that youngsters should be taught to respect the elderly; he
also advised that seniors should not part with their money or
property, in order to assure their own welfare and to avoid abuse.

Smt Gayatri Subramaniam presented the seminar proper. She traced the
history of evolution of CSR concept that has become mandatory under
law. Gandhi's Trusteeship Concept is forerunner to CSR. GOI spends 9
Lakh Crore rupees on developmental activities. But most of it does not
reach the target beneficiaries. Out of 13 Lakh companies registered,
some 11 lakh companies exist now; Some 16000 corporates come under the
purview of CSR. Such companies should spend 2% of their past three
years' average profits for CSR. Company Law has 400+ sections but only
one section – sec 135 – talks of CSR in entirety. Rules for this
section have also been framed. Schedule 7 of rules list activities,
expenditure relating to which, CSR obligation can be fulfilled.
Welfare of senior citizens has been added last year.

Some points that were new to most participants are:

· There is punishment if CSR obligations are not met.

· Liberal interpretation schedule 7 is advised and promoted

· What activities will not come under CSR explained and listed

· Companies that give money, NGOs who are implementers,
Communities that are targets, GOI as monitoring agency are various
arms / segments connected with CSR

Her presentation was precise, highly professional, educative and
interactive. It was listened to by a rapt audience.

Sri Dass spoke next, narrating his experiences in tapping CSR funds.
IT Companies are most reluctant group to open up, he said. HelpAge is
ready to help any SCA in preparing proper project report for
submission to corporate and act as a bridge. He requested NFCSR to
help convincing corporate to include Seniors' welfare in their
policies and budget. Companies are ready to give money for capital
expenses but are reluctant to provide for running / maintenance
expenses as monitoring such activities is a headache. It was with
their help we could ensure participation from CSR mandated companies.

Prof Visweswaraiah read out a two page memorandum addressed to the
State Government; this was to be given to the Chief Minister through
Dr Harish Rao. The memorandum listed several problems of senior
citizens that have not been attended to for the past several years.

Sri PVVGK Murthy read out five resolutions and all were passed.

Sri IM Bhalla, convener of the seminar doubled as Master of
ceremonies; His introduction of speakers and succinct summing up after
every speaker were marvelously professional.

After presentation of mementos for people on the dais, vote of thanks
by Sri Raza Mohamad, the meeting ended with National Anthem.

As against our expectation of about 150 participants, nearly 180
turned up. The hall was overflowing with every inch occupied. The
deepam decoration and Bathakamma were carried by Sobha and her team.
SCAs from districts like Adilabad, Kareemnagar, Nizambad, Nalgonda,
Warangal, Medak, Kurnool and even AP came in large numbers. Some
participants had flown from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi as well
exclusively for this meeting. A folder containing relevant material
was distributed to all. The lunch after the meeting was appreciated by
many. Seminar was covered in Indian Express and Hans India newspapers.
A team of eight volunteers from HelpAge took active part in all
activities.

Jeevanadhara (OGH), Centre for Research and Development of Ethics
(CRDE), Impex India, TCSCCON sponsored the event with some funds.
Exide Life Insurance Limited and AASARA did not fulfill their
assurances of financial help. However their names were included in our
banner based on their commitments.
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Companies helping Senior Citizens as a part of CSR

Companies helping Senior citizens as a part of CSR.doc - docs.google.com/file/d/0B4BttV… Source:Karmayog

— Dr Vyasamoorthy (@vyasamoorthy) January 24, 2013

Learning to embed tweets in Blog Post. Excuse me if you see same text in many places. Below is the actual embedded document from Google Docs === ===