Abstract

Corporate world has always been a source of charity and philanthropy to the society. In ancient times CSR was done by wealthy merchants in the form of charity and donations. But with passage of time and introduction of new concept of welfare state, this concept become more organised. State wants to make businesses responsible to the society, by asking them to contribute in the welfare and the development of the weaker sections of the society. In today’s, world of globalisation and privatisation if a company wants to survive in long run, it has to cater and protect the interests of their stakeholders, society and the environment.

On 11th March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared Corona virus crisis as a pandemic. Whole world has been suffering with this deadly virus including India. From time to time, Ministry of Corporate affairs of Government of India have been issuing notifications to corporate sector with respect to this pandemic. Under these notifications, Ministry of Corporate Affairs made certain clarification to Indian corporate houses and asked them to make donations in the PM CARES Fund and to carry out CSR initiatives which will strengthen the country’s fight against the deadly corona virus infection. In response to it businesses made huge contributions to the PM CARES Fund and also take CSR initiatives relating creating awareness among the people about the preventive measures of corona virus, providing medical equipments, masks, sanitizers, and other facilities to frontline workers and people, provided free treatment, ventilators and liquid oxygen, created isolation wards and ICU beds for covid patients. They also provided meal to the needy and poor people and to those who lost their employment during this pandemic. In this research paper I, have discussed the CSR initiatives of some companies during pandemic in India.