Bhubaneswar: The Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) successfully hosted the Odisha CSR Conclave 2025 at Lyfe Hotels, Bhubaneswar, bringing together business leaders, policymakers, development partners, and civil society to deliberate on strengthening the role of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in driving Odisha’s socio-economic transformation.
Addressing the gathering, Shri Sampad Chandra Swain, Hon’ble Minister, Department of Industries, Skill Development & Technical Education, Government of Odisha, urged the corporate sector to integrate their CSR models with state government projects focusing on child and women welfare, skilling and digital inclusion, tribal development, smart agriculture, healthcare and nutrition. He called for a cluster-based CSR approach in industrial hubs like Kalinga Nagar, Jharsuguda and Keonjhar to strengthen education, healthcare, and infrastructure initiatives.
He invited corporates to expand their CSR footprint to underserved districts and to adopt participatory models involving Panchayats, Self Help Groups (SHGs), and youth clubs. “The Government of Odisha is ready to support corporates with a dedicated CSR cell and voluntary evaluation mechanisms,” he assured.
Smt Anu Garg, IAS, Development Commissioner & Additional Chief Secretary, Department of Planning & Convergence, Government of Odisha, underlined that both large and small industries are contributing significantly to sports, education, health, and livelihoods in the state. She urged industries to create mutually beneficial initiatives with local communities to ensure peaceful co-existence.
Highlighting Odisha’s economic vision, she said, “Currently, Odisha contributes about 2.8–2.9% to the national GDP. By 2036, we aim to raise this to 4% and to 5% by 2047, which requires accelerated growth.” She emphasized skilling, urging industries to adopt ITIs and absorb trained youth into their workforce.
Mr. Sunil Gupta, Chairman, CII Odisha State Council & President – Advocacy & Business Development, Vedanta Limited, highlighted the necessity of development in tribal areas and shared details of CII Foundation’s initiatives to promote livelihoods in alignment with government priorities.
Mr. Prashant Hota, President, Group Head CSR & Education and Head–Odisha Corporate Communications, Jindal Steel Limited, noted that more than ₹35,000 crore is spent annually on CSR initiatives in India, with Odisha accounting for over ₹5,000 crore. He recalled how CSR interventions, such as oxygen cylinder supplies during the pandemic, proved to be lifesaving and said several initiatives in Odisha have become national models.
Sharing the industry perspective, Ms. Akanksha Chaturvedi, Co-Chairperson, CSR Subcommittee, CII ER & Head–Corporate Strategy, Gainwell Commosales Pvt Ltd, emphasized sustainability, entrepreneurship, and community empowerment. She urged industries to focus more on basic healthcare and education in underserved tribal regions.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. G Suresha, Vice Chairman, CII Odisha State Council & Executive Director, AM/NS India, reiterated that CSR is not just compliance but a true commitment to sustainability, society, and environment. He stressed that Odisha’s diverse socio-economic fabric and emerging challenges require a collaborative CSR approach where government, civil society, and industry work hand in hand.
The conclave featured sessions on Strengthening Industry-Government Partnerships for Strategic CSR, Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction and Women-Centric CSR – Empowering Odisha’s Women for Inclusive Growth.
The conclave reaffirmed the importance of CSR as not merely a statutory mandate, but a catalyst for inclusive and sustainable development in Odisha. Leaders and stakeholders committed to deepening industry-government-civil society partnerships to ensure equitable growth and transformative community impact.
The conclave served as a flagship platform to align CSR with the state’s development priorities, focusing on areas such as education, healthcare, climate resilience, women empowerment, and sustainable livelihoods.
