THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

BHUBANESWAR, AUGUST 18, 2026

Calling for a fundamental shift in the way corporate social responsibility is conceived and delivered, Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati on Tuesday urged companies to move beyond the confines of statutory compliance and transform CSR into a strategic force for inclusive, sustainable and community-driven development.

Addressing the Bridge Bharat Summit 2026 here, the Governor said corporate initiatives must be measured not merely by the money spent or projects reported, but by the lasting change they create on the ground, particularly among communities living in industrial, tribal and economically backward regions.

 “Compliance should never be the goal of CSR,” the Governor emphasised, calling upon industries to adopt a strategic, participatory and outcome-focused approach centred on credible execution, deeper community engagement and measurable impact.

Dr. Kambhampati was speaking as the chief guest at the national seminar titled “Corporate Social Responsibility: Visible Problems and Challenges,” organised by the Public Enterprises Department in collaboration with the Odisha Corporate Foundation and Freedom Edu.

Recalling the structured CSR framework introduced under the Companies Act, 2013, the Governor said the initiative has already helped channel corporate resources into crucial areas such as healthcare, education, livelihoods, women empowerment, environmental sustainability, rural development and disaster management.

However, he said the changing development landscape required companies to raise their ambition, particularly in rapidly industrialising sectors such as steel, power, mining and manufacturing.

The Governor stressed that industrial expansion must go hand in hand with environmental responsibility, climate resilience and community welfare. He called for greater corporate focus on education, healthcare, drinking water, nutrition, livelihoods, skill development, sports, rural development and disaster preparedness.

Education, he said, should receive special attention, with interventions in basic literacy and numeracy, teacher training, digital learning, scholarships and mentorship having the potential to transform the lives of first-generation learners, particularly in tribal and backward districts.

In areas affected by mining and large industrial projects, Dr. Kambhampati called for stronger corporate interventions in forest and biodiversity conservation, water security, livelihood restoration, local employment and women-led enterprises.

Underlining Odisha's vulnerability to cyclones and other natural disasters, he also stressed the need for companies to invest more substantially in disaster risk reduction, preparedness and community resilience.

The Governor said communities should not be treated merely as beneficiaries of CSR projects, but must become active participants in designing, implementing and sustaining them.

Greater coordination among the government, industry, educational institutions, civil society and local communities, he said, could transform CSR into a genuine win-win proposition. When corporate technology, skills, innovation and resources are aligned with social priorities, CSR can create lasting value for Profit, People and Planet—the triple bottom line that should guide sustainable corporate growth.

Dr. Kambhampati said well-designed CSR initiatives could accelerate Odisha's journey towards Viksit Odisha @2036 while making a meaningful contribution to the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

The summit also featured addresses by Kandhamal MP Sukanta Kumar Panigrahi, Jajpur MP Dr. Rabindra Narayan Behera, Commissioner-cum-Secretary of the Public Enterprises Department Mohammad Sadique Alam, and IREDA Chairman and Managing Director Bijay Kumar Mohanty.

Arun Kumar Rath, Chairman of Bridge Bharat Sammilani 2026 and Visiting Professor at IIM Nagpur, delivered the welcome address, while Nikhil Saraf, CEO of Freedom Edu Services Private Limited, proposed the vote of thanks.