Sharp rise in CSR spending has been seen in eastern India’s main industrial districts of Odisha and Chhattisgarh. According to recent data, CSR inflows have increased manifold in the last couple of years. This was driven by the expansion of mining, metal and power industries in these states – sectors which are legally bound to invest a part of their net profit in community development.
Growing Inflows of CSR: District-level Data
Jharsuguda in Odisha has emerged as one of the highest CSR-receiving districts in India. The district attracted ₹549 crore in CSR funding in the financial year 2023–24 alone. This is among the largest district-level CSR allocations in the country and indicative of large aluminium and power companies operating in the region.
Another industrially very active district is Raigarh in Chhattisgarh. Here too, the presence of steel and mining industries has ensured a steady rise in CSR investments. Though the district-wise numbers may have fluctuated year after year, Raigarh has always emerged as one of the topmost CSR-receiving areas in eastern India.
Odisha has received over ₹1,500 crore of CSR inflows in 2023–24, driven by districts like Jharsuguda, Angul, Sundargarh, and Keonjhar. The numbers reflect a broader shift in India’s CSR map towards the mineral-rich east.
What Companies Are Funding
Funding for CSR is being targeted at key regional development priorities. Some examples of commonly implemented projects include:
- Upgrading health infrastructure, including medical equipment to district hospitals and rural health centers
- Educational development: smart classrooms, renovation of schools, and scholarships
- Piped water supply and filtration units in rural settlements are examples of safe drinking water systems.
- Sanitation facilities, at least, in disadvantaged blocks
- Skill development programs for youths and women, where main areas of focus are industrial trades and micro-enterprise
- Community Infrastructure: This will include libraries, anganwadi centres, community halls, and access roads.
These projects are implemented in partnership between corporate foundations and district administrations to allow for coordinated development in accord with local needs.
Why Eastern India Is Receiving Higher CSR Funds
This rise in CSR inflows is directly proportional to industrial concentration. Firms that have large aluminium smelters, steel plants, coal mines and power stations are required to spend two per cent of their average net profit under the CSR mandate. As Eastern India becomes the key industrial corridor, CSR funds would naturally flow in.
Demographic profile influences the CSR planning in the region: many districts have high tribal populations, relatively lower levels of literacy, and deficits in development. Companies, therefore, align CSR investments with health, education, nutrition, and livelihood needs to create positive community relationships.
A Region Under Active Corporate Development
The trend indicates that eastern India is fast emerging as one of the most active CSR zones in India. More and more industrial projects are being commissioned, and this may imply that CSR investments could increase manifold in the coming years. The emerging CSR landscape indicates considerable coherence between corporate presence and local-level development goals, particularly in areas where communities interface with the industrial ecosystems.
The CSR investments continue to strengthen public facilities, expand access to essential services, and support skills and livelihoods in districts that have historically required deeper development attention. In sum, as eastern India continues to industrialize, CSR activity is likely to remain a major contributor to local development.
Clear Cut CSR Desk
New Delhi, UPDATED: Dec 01, 2025 12:54 IST
Written By: Janmojaya Barik
