Corporate Social Responsibility (hereinafter referred to as “CSR”) is a management concept
whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations
and interactions with their stakeholders. It is generally understood as being the way through
which a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives,
while at the same time addressing the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders. 14
Mallen Baker has defined Corporate CSR as “CSR is about how companies manage the
business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society.”15
Under the Indian legal framework, Section 135 of the Companies Act (2013)16 compulsorily
mandates the following three categories of …show more content…
women empowerment, supplementary education,
animal husbandry etc.19
A few of its well-recognised schemes have hereinafter been elucidated in greater detail
below. It is pertinent to note that most of the CSR schemes adopted by ITC are aimed at rural
development and upliftment.
[2.2.2.1] E-Choupal
The Agri Business segment of ITC is engaged in innovatively leveraging digital technology
to transform rural lives and landscapes. ITC believes that the inter-dependence between its
agro-based businesses and the farm sector constitutes a sustainable platform to enlarge its
contribution to the Indian rural sector.
ITC's rural development initiatives embrace several critical areas including Web-enablement
of the Indian farmer to help him access relevant knowledge and services to enhance farm
productivity. ITC's trail-blazing initiative to the endemic problems faced by farmers owing to
their lack of infrastructure and other technological requirements is the e-Choupal initiative;
the single- largest information technology-based …show more content…
The model helps aggregate demand
in the nature of a virtual producers' co-operative, in the processs, facilitating access to higher
18 (ITC Ltd., 2014)
19 (ITC Ltd., 2013)
quality farm inputs at lower costs for the farmer. The e-Choupal initiative also creates a direct
marketing channel, eliminating wasteful intermediation and multiple handling, thus reducing
transaction costs and making logistics efficient.
Despite the first green revolution, Indian agriculture sector has not been able to achieve the
world level productivity. Cardinal reasons behind this are highly fragmented nature of Indian
farming with close to 33% of arable land held in units of less than 2 hectares per owner. It
doesn’t let farmers enjoy the economies of scale in operations and modern farming
equipment. So there is a need to look for interventions that can help the farmers realize higher
level of income. The e-Choupal project is already benefiting over 4 million farmers and 6500
e- Choupals have been installed mitigating risks faced by farmers through the use of
technology.20
The entire initiative has been made on a general assumption that information equips
whereby companies integrate social and environmental concerns in their business operations
and interactions with their stakeholders. It is generally understood as being the way through
which a company achieves a balance of economic, environmental and social imperatives,
while at the same time addressing the expectations of shareholders and stakeholders. 14
Mallen Baker has defined Corporate CSR as “CSR is about how companies manage the
business processes to produce an overall positive impact on society.”15
Under the Indian legal framework, Section 135 of the Companies Act (2013)16 compulsorily
mandates the following three categories of …show more content…
women empowerment, supplementary education,
animal husbandry etc.19
A few of its well-recognised schemes have hereinafter been elucidated in greater detail
below. It is pertinent to note that most of the CSR schemes adopted by ITC are aimed at rural
development and upliftment.
[2.2.2.1] E-Choupal
The Agri Business segment of ITC is engaged in innovatively leveraging digital technology
to transform rural lives and landscapes. ITC believes that the inter-dependence between its
agro-based businesses and the farm sector constitutes a sustainable platform to enlarge its
contribution to the Indian rural sector.
ITC's rural development initiatives embrace several critical areas including Web-enablement
of the Indian farmer to help him access relevant knowledge and services to enhance farm
productivity. ITC's trail-blazing initiative to the endemic problems faced by farmers owing to
their lack of infrastructure and other technological requirements is the e-Choupal initiative;
the single- largest information technology-based …show more content…
The model helps aggregate demand
in the nature of a virtual producers' co-operative, in the processs, facilitating access to higher
18 (ITC Ltd., 2014)
19 (ITC Ltd., 2013)
quality farm inputs at lower costs for the farmer. The e-Choupal initiative also creates a direct
marketing channel, eliminating wasteful intermediation and multiple handling, thus reducing
transaction costs and making logistics efficient.
Despite the first green revolution, Indian agriculture sector has not been able to achieve the
world level productivity. Cardinal reasons behind this are highly fragmented nature of Indian
farming with close to 33% of arable land held in units of less than 2 hectares per owner. It
doesn’t let farmers enjoy the economies of scale in operations and modern farming
equipment. So there is a need to look for interventions that can help the farmers realize higher
level of income. The e-Choupal project is already benefiting over 4 million farmers and 6500
e- Choupals have been installed mitigating risks faced by farmers through the use of
technology.20
The entire initiative has been made on a general assumption that information equips