Top 5 Indian Companies in terms of CSR Spending for the Fiscal Years 2020–21

India required businesses to donate 2% of their average net profits from the previous three fiscal years to charitable causes starting in 2014. However, the pandemic that began at the tail end of fiscal 2020 pushed businesses to strike a balance between their commercial objectives, employee well-being initiatives, and societal responsibilities.

Since 2014, the CSR contribution made by companies has been mostly used to combat the public health crisis, leaving little money for other social purposes. In order to combat the pandemic, businesses built medical facilities, started oxygen production facilities, and funded covid19 assistance programmes run by the federal and state governments.

Godrej Consumer Goods has taken the top spot on the CSR ranking list for the first time in 2021, followed by Infosys and Wipro, two reliable top achievers. Two more Tata businesses are included in the top 10. In general, IT leads all other industries in CSR performance in FY 2021.

In this article, we will emphasize the top Indian companies who have made the highest CSR contribution to the unprivileged and impoverished sections of society.

The list of top 5 Indian Companies in terms of CSR Spending for the Fiscal Years 2020–21:

1. Godrej Consumer Products Limited

In the fiscal years 2020–21, Godrej Consumer Products Ltd. (GCPL) invested Rs. 34.08 crore in CSR projects. More than 2.77 lakh individuals from the most marginalised communities were addressed by the company’s CSR programmes. GCPL allocated 63% of its CSR funding during the most recent fiscal year to launch medium- to long-term livelihood recovery programmes to aid over 9000 nano entrepreneurs.

Additionally, GCPL achieved water positive and zero waste-to-landfill in the previous fiscal year. The business complies with Extended Producer Responsibility regulations in full. It collects the identical amount of waste from post-consumer plastic packaging as it does from the packaging it sends out. According to the Climate Disclosure Project’s leadership index, the company ranked among the top 15 in India. It received an “A” rating for climate disclosure, placing it in the top 25% of all worldwide corporations.

2. Wipro Limited

With its COVID-19 response, Wipro has contributed to over 1,561 initiatives over the past 12 months that address humanitarian aid, comprehensive care services, and the restoration of livelihoods, collectively benefiting over 10 million people. In accordance with this, it has provided 330 million meals, over 10.2 million people with food, dry rations, and health and hygiene kits, over 8.2 million people with assistance in reestablishing their livelihoods, and more than 500 non-profit organisations that work to provide humanitarian and medical aid.

Through methods including mohalla classes, provision of worksheets, books, and other materials, the company’s educational efforts helped to reach nearly 1.1 lakh kids in 14 states.

3. Tata Chemicals Limited

In the most recent fiscal year, the firm provided 6,878 farmers with assistance with livestock management, field demonstrations, and capacity building. It also supported the rural Okhai women artisans and turned the area into a marketplace that brought 25,190 craftspeople from all over India together with buyers. The company has seeded 1.15 lakh wetlands as part of its greening initiative, and Mithapur native plant biodiversity has also been preserved.

One of the top sustainability champions in recent years is Tata Chemicals. The company has started a number of programmes and projects to protect the environment, and it works with regional communities to create a sustainable and eco-friendly habitat. In FY21, the company invested 21 crores of rupees in its CSR initiatives.

4. Vedanta Limited

Across our key effective sectors of education, health, sustainable livelihoods, women’s empowerment, sports and culture, environment, and community development, Vedanta spent more than Rs. 331 crore on social development initiatives in FY2021. With the development of 2,300+ Nand Ghars in 11 states, its flagship Program for women and children has reached a new milestone and positively impacted the lives of 52,000 women and 65,000 children.

Vedanta Limited has a number of CSR activities that focus on issues including water management, energy conservation, and carbon management, in addition to supporting agricultural and rural development. The group has implemented cutting-edge technologies through its group companies, including Hindustan Zinc (HZL), Cairn Oil & Gas, Electrosteels Steel, Sesa Iron Ore Business, and Vedanta Aluminium, to optimise water consumption, increase energy productivity, mitigate climate change, and safeguard diversity.

5. Infosys Limited

In India, Infosys Limited was a pioneer in the CSR movement. The majority of its CSR projects have been carried out through the Infosys Foundation, which was founded in 1996—long before CSR was required in the nation. The corporation invested Rs. 325.32 crores in CSR programmes in FY 2020–21.

The company has been concentrating on sustainable business practices for a number of years. These practises cover economic, environmental, and social imperatives that affect not only the company’s operations but also the communities in which it operates. The company’s CSR encompasses holistic community development, institution-building, and sustainability-related projects in addition to charitable giving.

In line with its ESG Vision 2030, the company introduced Infosys Headstart during the previous fiscal year with the goal of enabling digital skills at scale. A platform called Infosys Headstart contains educational materials created by Infosys and other top content providers. It has been designated as a leading intervention to strengthen individuals, groups, and society. By 2025, Infosys hopes to equip over 10 million people with digital and life skills through this initiative.