Corporate Social Responsibility and Social Development: New Vistas of Social Work Practice in India.

Abstract

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is an emerging area of social work practice. The list of thematic areas, given under the seventh schedule of the Companies Act, 2013, is wide in coverage and is aligned with the government's development agenda. The business houses that have hitherto practiced the social development agenda in tokenism have been replaced by a more scientific and sustained approach. This changed approach required professionally trained social workers who could efficiently take up the task. This is because the values enshrined in the social work profession are very much related to the philosophical assumptions of corporate social responsibility. The present form of professional social work is bringing social workers closer to CSR initiatives of corporate houses because of their varied kinds of experiences, rich fieldwork exposure and training. Business houses seek the increasing role of NGOs in the development activities, and the social workers are appointed in the CSR department of the companies to ensure that the new approach shall usher in the right direction. In this paper, an attempt is made to discuss the common developmental goals of CSR and social development. It also highlights the roles social workers can play in CSR initiatives.
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