CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A GENDER PERSPECTIVE

Abstract

Companies in India are required to understand the constitutional mandate of social justice and to act in harmony with it. For such corporate social responsibilities, the companies traditionally integrate the constitutional morality and the concept of social justice with the economic growth and business activities. A comprehensive legal framework under the Companies Act of 2013 along-with the Companies (CSR) Policy Rules of 2014, obligates the companies to understand their social responsibilities and indulge into the activities related thereto, amongst which, there is a locus of responsibility towards gender education, employment and empowerment. The gender perspective, however, questions the real impact of CSR on gender, specifically in the event of deviation, wherein the company focuses on building a gender friendly image to fetch the attention of the consumers rather than adhering to the real ideology behind. The feminist analysis of CSR highlights the lack of gender mainstreaming and intersectionality in the approach suggesting female stakeholders’ involvement in CSR policy making and an in-depth scrutiny of the CSR efforts by the Government authorities.