Integrating Corporate Social Responsibility Initiatives of Agro-Based Industrieswith Sustainable Rural Development in India” Sharma Sakshi1, Dr. Tyagi Ajay Kumar2 1Ph. D. Research Scholar, TMIMT, Teerthanker Mahaveer University, Moradabad (U.P.), India. Phone: 09997091685 2Professor, Doon Business School, Dehradun (UK), Online published on 8 August, 2018. Abstract There is very strong and positive relationship between development of Agro-based industries, rural area and conservation of natural resources. For uninterrupted supply of good quality of raw material agrobased industries solely depend on rural area/agricultural production. Therefore it is imperative on the part of agro-industries to invest on rural development and integrate their Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR) initiatives for improving skill of farmers for producing good quality and required quantity of raw material, development of infrastructure for quick transport of raw material and conservation of environment for sustainable development of industry and rural economy. It was observed that 25.7 and13.7 percent population is living below poverty line in rural and urban area respectively (Planning Commission's Report, 2013–14).Companies Act 2013, Section 135 states that each business organization with net profit of INR 5 crore or more should invest 2% of their average net profit in the previous three years on CSR activities. Therefore, it is imperative that agro based industries should integrate their CSR activities for sustainable rural development because their survival depends on sustainable development in agriculture, conservation of natural resources and finally on sustainable rural development. Keeping these facts into consideration a study was conducted to find out certain success stories of integrating CSR of agro-based industries for sustainable rural development. To have a deep insight into the problems and opportunities related to rural development comprehensive review of available literature was done. In this paper an attempt has been made to demonstrate the ways and means how some leading Agro-based industries are helping various stakeholders and country at large for sustainable development. Though there are large number of Agro-Industries engaged in CSR activities to help their stakeholders in different ways, however, examples of some success-stories of IFFCO (Indian Farmers Fertiliser Cooperative Limited), Nestle and ITC have been illustrated, which can be followed by other similar organizations also for building a stronger and self-sustainable nation for all times to come. Among several CSR programmes of these organizations, Farmers Advisory Service of IFFCO, echoupal of ITC and providing health service and good quality of feed for animals of milk producers of Moga (Punjab) by Nestle were found to be most important activities. Several opportunities for integrating CSR of agro-based industries for sustainable rural development have been suggested in this paper. Top Keywords Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Sustainable Development, e-choupal. Top |