CSR in Health sector, What industries overlook

DB Power, A Bhaskar Group Company is planning to establish a 30 bed hospital under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) at Dharamjaigarh in Raigarh district in the state of Chhattisgarh, where company has been allotted coal block for its power project. The Clearance for coalmines is awaited. Company has demanded 2.5 acre of land for construction of hospital building from Gram panchyat, According to published reports in News papers.

Construction of such Hospitals is example of CSR works, going on in this district. it brings some satisfaction. Earlier, The Jindal organization has also build a Hospital in Raigarh which is run by Fortis group. 

Public Healthcare facilities in district need a boost, as government hospitals have repeatedly come under scanner of government itself, for their mode of functioning. Lack of Doctors, Machines, and Operators and have made government hospitals last choice of common men, even if he agrees to tolerate cracking infrastructure and poor hygiene. Nowadays, private healthcare industry is booming and benefitting by abysmal performance from government institutions.

Jindal Fortis Hospital at Raigarh 

However, few such Examples by industries are also not going to take care of people’s all healthcare needs. Making hospitals can turn-up a drop into ocean, as standalone hospitals cannot replace crumbling and overburden community health providing system. Healthcare providers like ANMs, Dais, Depot Holders, MPWs and Mitanins provide invaluable service in rural and tribal hinterland. Even RMPs, “Jhola Chhaps” and 3 year MBBS save a lot lives in such areas. They are easy to access, Cheap and have faith of people. Strengthening network, capacity and accuracy of these community health providers shall come under radar of CSR people.   


One Parallel Could be drawn from the works in education sector by Jindal CSR. They have made schools of their own, but also appointed social teachers to government schools where teacher student ratio was too high. This made visible difference to quality of education and also provided employment to local youth. 


Similarly in health sector, Putting paramedical, or BHMS, BAMS doctors (As MBBS are scarce and Costly) on payroll of industry, can strengthen basic health delivery system in CSR areas. (Provided, they stay among people rather than mammoth shiny buildings surrounded by 8 Km long and 10 feet high wall)  

A Mitanin, Making Malaria Slides in a village of Ghaghoda block

Most Pockets of Tamanar, Gahrghoda, Dharamjaigarh and some Parts of Raigarh (Blocks where most industries are doing CSR) are prone to epidemics. Very less is done in those villages to stop their recurrence. Sanitation, Hygiene and Nutrition are grey areas in our development stories. They pull people to hospitals, sooner or later. A serious deliberation by CSR think-tank of all industries needs to be made that, if health sector is your priority, please make hospitals last line of defense, not first.   

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By: Manish singh       janmitram@gmail.com           +91-989261-87810

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