Jharsuguda, Oct 24: Industries must go beyond profit-making and fulfil their social responsibilities by investing in the development of communities affected by their operations, speakers said at the Western Odisha-level CSR Conclave 2026 organised by Prameya and News7 in Jharsuguda.

The speakers emphasised that Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) should not be treated as a burden but as a major responsibility towards society. They warned that neglecting the needs of local communities could lead to growing resentment among people living in industrial areas.

The conclave was held at Hotel Mayfair, with MLA Tankadhar Tripathy attending as the chief guest. He highlighted alleged irregularities in the utilisation of CSR funds and said companies were required under the Companies Act to spend at least 2% of their average net profits over the preceding three financial years on eligible social development activities.

Tripathy said the government and administration also needed to take greater responsibility for ensuring proper utilisation of CSR funds. He called for a comprehensive master plan to monitor expenditure and urged industries to adopt villages and support their overall development.

Jharsuguda Collector Kunal Motiram Chavan, who attended as a guest of honour, urged industries to prioritise local employment, examine the reasons behind public opposition and ensure meaningful utilisation of CSR funds.

Superintendent of Police Gundala Raghavendra Reddy stressed the need for a structured plan for CSR spending. He identified road safety, cyber security, women's and children's safety, and drug de-addiction as key areas requiring attention in accident-prone Jharsuguda district.

Representatives of seven industrial organisations presented details of their CSR initiatives and expenditure at the conclave. They included JSW JFE Steel Limited, the Aditya Birla Group, TRL Krosaki Refractories Limited, OPGC Limited, TP Western Odisha Distribution Limited and Dalmia Bharat Limited, among others.

Group Director (Sales and Marketing) Himanshu Hota, in his welcome address, said Prameya and News7 had earned the trust of the public. He expressed hope that the conclave would help address challenges in CSR fund utilisation and promote inclusive growth and sustainable development.

TRL Krosaki Refractories Limited, Belpahar, received the first prize for its contribution, followed by the Aditya Birla Group in second place and Dalmia Bharat in third place.

Khidmat Committee, Jharsuguda, and the EJV Foundation were felicitated for their notable contributions to social work.

Jharsuguda GM DIC Arindam Pradhan, Professor Tapan Kumar Barik and senior chartered accountant Himanshu Badapanda served as judges.

Representatives of several industries, officials and members of the Prameya and News7 teams attended the event.