Jharkhand Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore urged state control over Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds. He recommended approvals through the Chief Minister, ensuring transparency and directing funds toward genuine causes like education, environment, and women’s empowerment
The utilization of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funds in Jharkhand has come under the spotlight, as Finance Minister Radhakrishna Kishore voiced strong concerns about transparency and the real impact of CSR spending in the state.
Minister Calls for State-Level Oversight
Minister Kishore, in a direct letter to Chief Secretary Alka Tiwari, stressed the urgent need for bringing CSR funds under the administrative control of the Jharkhand Government, inspired by the model currently practiced in Himachal Pradesh. He pointed out that, in Himachal Pradesh, not a single rupee from CSR funds is spent without the explicit approval of the Chief Minister, which ensures that the funds are used transparently and effectively at the grassroots level
Also Read: Ramgarh District Administration Pushed for Faster Compensation and Development
Minister Alleged Misuse and Deviation
The minister outlined several cases where CSR funds in Jharkhand were allegedly diverted from their core objectives. He raised alarm over reports that banks and corporate institutions have been buying and installing costly items such as ceiling fans, air conditioners, and LED screens for police lines and collectorates using CSR funds. He argued that such expenditures stray from CSR’s true purpose, which is to bring tangible benefits to society, especially for environment protection, water management, women’s empowerment, nutrition, poverty alleviation, and strengthening the education system. He further alleged that in many cases, certain organizations have manipulated paperwork to show CSR spending without actually implementing projects, resulting in misuse and lack of real-world impact.
Demand for Centralized Approval and Monitoring
In his letter, Shri Kishore insisted that if the Jharkhand Government directly oversees CSR fund approval and monitoring ideally through the Chief Minister’s Office or a dedicated state authority then the proper and meaningful use of these funds could be ensured. He suggested that the procedure for CSR approval and surveillance should be centralized, with all proposals and disbursals subjected to Government vetting before execution
Also Read: Government Extended NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh’s Tenure Till July 2026
Join the WhatsApp Group of Business Jharkhand to Stay tuned for all the latest updates of industrial-political developments in Jharkhand.
