Whether big or small, companies in India have started to become more and more active towards Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).
While major corporations have a legal obligation as well, under Section 135 in the Companies Act, 2013, many companies have started to conduct CSR activities in order to give back to the community that they are a part of.
Many companies choose CSR activities centred in their local area to uplift their communities. Even Section 135 of the Companies Act highlights that companies should give preference to the local areas where they operate.
According to India Welfare Trust, 49% of the top Indian companies disclose/involve employees as volunteers in CSR projects, which include supporting the company’s environmental efforts or spreading awareness in their local communities.
While the preference for the local area mentioned in the Act is only directory and not mandatory, many companies prefer this approach over working on a bigger scale.
Local CSR activities you can implement
When it comes to giving back to the community around you, there are multiple paths you can choose from. Depending upon the company’s values as well as local needs, each one of these activities provides a distinct set of advantages.
Many NGOs around India have started to partner with companies to promote local CSR activities. Through these NGOS, the resources of a company can be utilised in an efficient manner.
Support a local charity
If your choice of CSR activity is a financial donation, you can choose a charity active in your area. Research for organisations actively working with your local community and working on causes that directly impact the locals.
NGO in Action: In January 2025, employees and management of Consortium Gifts donated clothes, footwear, and blankets to Special Saathi, which the NGO distributed to marginalised communities.
Sponsor a local event
Events like free medical camps or blood donation drives often attract a large number of locals. By sponsoring them, you are supporting a popular cause and increasing your visibility within the community.
NGO in Action: Smile Foundation organises health camps that provide need-based healthcare services to specific target groups with specialised doctors, point-of-care tests, and sometimes surgical facilities
Volunteer for literacy programs
Literacy programs focus on teaching those who do not know how to read or write. Even with the established right to education, India’s literacy rate remains below 80%. By volunteering for local literacy projects, companies and their employees can uplift the standard of living for those around them.
NGO in Action: Nitya Foundation provides formal and non-formal education, vocational education, and basic computer literacy skills to empower women and unemployed youth in rural areas.
Skill-Building Workshops
With skill-building workshops, employees can teach local children and adults key skills that they can use both in their professional and personal lives. From operating computers to learning about cooking, every skill can benefit the local community in more ways than one.
NGO in Action: Team Everest, a leading CSR NGO that has partnered with companies like IBM, Freshworks, and IndusInd Bank, hosts Interview Simulations where employees teach college students about the interview process and how to overcome the fear of interviews.
Organise clean-up drives
Clean up drives like tidying up local parks or even cleaning local rivers are a significant way to give back to the community. Not only are you making the area around you a better place to live, but you are also showcasing your dedication towards sustainable development and ecological causes.
NGO in Action: Through its HARIT flagship program, Aroh Foundation has helped in rejuvenation of acres of pond and development of green and oxygen cover.
Tree Planting Campaigns
Planting trees is a basic and important activity for any company working towards sustainability. By planting trees in the local area, companies can not only create a cleaner and safer environment but also add to the beauty of the landscape around them.
NGO in Action: Following the motto “a seed planted today, grows its branches tomorrow.” Aahwahan Foundation organises tree plantation drives across its operating areas to give back to nature.
Plastic-Free Challenges
Plastic has long been termed a bane of recycling, and yet it has permeated most mundane aspects of a workplace. With plastic-free challenges, companies can easily reduce harmful waste, effectively reducing local pollution and increasing their sustainability standards.
Company in Action: In December 2024, Zomato launched the Zomato Plastic-Free Future Program, which is meant to recognise restaurant partners who are making active efforts to adopt sustainable packaging solutions for their food deliveries.
Advantages of Local CSR
In itself, local CSR activities are a great way to give back to the local community, which is perhaps the biggest advantage. In addition to that, though, there are various other benefits that can help your company.
Attracting Local Customers
By getting involved with the local community, you improve the standing of your company. This can help you gain loyal local customers, hence driving growth. In other words, CSR activities are not only a great way to helping those around her but can also serve as a promotional event.
Engaging Employees with Visible Causes
It is easier to involve your employees in activities whose impact they can see and even enjoy with their own eyes. From planting trees to literacy programs, employees can see just how their efforts are bearing fruit, encouraging them to participate in CSR activities in the future.
Improving Relationship with Community
Through the company’s efforts to make their local community a better place, they can improve their relationship with those around them, and this does not simply extend to potential customers. From future employees to product vendors, CSR activities can serve as a great way to improve the company’s brand and network.
Increased Revenue Opportunities
Companies can boost the economy and infrastructure of their area through financial aid and learning initiatives,. In turn, this can increase the revenue opportunities for the company in more ways than one.
In the End…
Local CSR activities can help in not only elevating the local community but also driving the company’s growth as an employer as well as a business. Creating a positive reputation in the local area attracts local talent and increases the number of customers interested in your business.
More often than not, local CSR activities are termed as opportunities to “give” back to the community, highlighting how the community helps the companies grow. By investing the the betterment of the local community, companies ultimately boost their revenue and image, driving their overall growth.