Assistant Professor, Department of Management, Kristu Jayanti College, Bangalore-77
In India, in the pre independence era, the businesses which pioneered industrialization along with fighting for independence also followed the idea. They put the idea into action by setting up charitable foundations, educational and healthcare institutions, and trusts for community development. The donations either monetary or otherwise were irregular activities of charity or philanthropy that was taken out of personal savings which neither belonged to the shareholders nor did it constitute an integral part of business. The term CSR itself came in to common use in the early 1970s although it was hardly ever shortened. By late 1990s, the concept was fully recognized; people and institutions across all sections of society started supporting it
CSR in India has traditionally been seen as a philanthropic activity. And in keeping with the Indian tradition, it was an activity that was performed but not deliberated. As a result, there is limited documentation on specific activities related to this concept. However, what was clearly evident that much of this had a national character encapsulated within it, whether it was endowing institutions to actively participating in India's freedom movement, and embedded in the idea of trusteeship. There is a need to increase the understanding and active participation of business in equitable social development as an integral part of good business practice.
