Congress govt turns to CSR as fiscal strain deepens

Facing mounting debt and limited fiscal space, the Telangana government under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is turning to corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support welfare initiatives in education, healthcare, and conservation.

Hyderabad: Amid mounting debt and tightening finances, the Congress government in Telangana is now looking at corporate social responsibility (CSR) funds to support key welfare sectors. Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy pitched CSR as a partnership rather than an expense, urging companies to step up spending in education, healthcare and water conservation that are traditionally funded by the State.

At a meeting with corporate representatives on Wednesday, the Chief Minister stressed the need for 100% effective utilisation of CSR funds and invited firms to directly coordinate with the government to implement projects. He announced the appointment of a dedicated special chief secretary to streamline CSR usage, indicating a clear desperation of the government for funds.

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Corporate representatives expressed willingness to invest in school education, healthcare and heritage conservation, after Revanth Reddy pointed out that companies that benefit from local infrastructure should reinvest in those regions, particularly in improving education standards and skill development.

The outreach yielded immediate commitments, with the Raheja Group and Ramky Group pledging Rs 50 crore each, and the Yashoda Foundation Rs 10 crore, primarily for education.

The Chief Minister’s meeting with corporate companies gained significance at a time when public finances are under stress, with rising liabilities limiting fiscal space for large-scale social spending. By actively mobilising CSR funds, the government appears to be supplementing budgetary constraints through private participation.