CSR Initiatives in Education in India: A Critical Review of Initiatives, Issues and Challenges

Abstract

Education is backbone of any economy and it has pivotal role in national building and molding superb wings of human recourse. CSR, as a strategic practice, is a key to organizational success because it is one of the few practices that can positively impact all three elements of the Triple Bottom Line (Economic, Social, Environment), contributing to a healthy bottom line and long-term sustainability. There have been significant improvements made in education sector across India since Independence. With the advent of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), significant attention has been given to achieving the goal of Universal Primary Education, at the center of which is Universal Primary Enrollment. The SarvaShikshaAbhiyaan (SSA) and the Right to Education Act (RTE) were India’s responses to this commitment and in terms of enrollment figures, there has been substantial progress. However, considerable issues regarding quality of education, lack of learning, teacher quality, lack of accountability, good teacher retention irrelevant curriculum and pedagogy remain big challenges for Indian nation, and these challenges will have serious consequences on the growth and development potential of the country. In order to understand the current CSR trends in education, their implications for CSR and CSR issues & challenges in education, author has attempted this study.

Keywords: CSR, Corporate Social Responsibilities, Issues and Challenges, Educational CSR