Strategy
Working With State Governments on CSR: The Power of Convergence
How companies and state governments can align CSR with public schemes, and why facilitation cells, project banks and conclaves attract more CSR.
CSR budgets are large, but small compared with what governments spend on health, education and rural development. The most effective CSR therefore does not replace government. It converges with it: filling gaps, testing new approaches and strengthening public systems.
What convergence looks like
- CSR funds equipment and training for government anganwadis, schools and primary health centres.
- Programmes align with national missions such as NIPUN Bharat, Poshan Abhiyaan and Jal Jeevan Mission.
- District administrations help choose locations and track progress.
- Successful models are adopted and scaled up by the government.
What states can do to attract CSR
Several states have set up dedicated systems to attract CSR. Common elements include:
- A state CSR facilitation cell: a single window for companies.
- An online CSR project bank: costed projects endorsed by the government.
- District CSR nodal officers who help companies on the ground.
- An annual CSR conclave where companies and the state sign MoUs.
- Recognition for companies that make outstanding contributions.
What companies gain
- Faster approvals and access to government facilities.
- Programmes that last, because the government maintains what CSR builds.
- Credible data for impact reporting.
A proposal for Bihar
Bihar receives about 1% of India's state-attributed CSR. A State-Orvys partnership could build these systems and work toward a 3% share, roughly ₹1,000 crore a year, by 2030. Read our proposal for governments.
