Policy balance
The recent appointment of Sanjay Malhotra as Governor of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), replacing Shaktikanta Das, signals a pivotal shift in India’s monetary policy dynamics.
The corporate spending for various activities related to COVID-19 including the promotion of healthcare, preventive healthcare, sanitation, disaster management would be considered as a part of the Corporate Social Responsibility, the government said.
The Ministry of Corporate Affairs in a circular said that corporate spending for various activities related to COVID-19 would be treated as CSR.
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The interpretation of the activities qualifying as CSR for Covid-19 will also be interpreted liberally to prevent red tape from squeezing fund flows.
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Ministry of Corporate Affairs in its official statement said, “Keeping in view of the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in India, its declaration as pandemic by the World Health Organisation (WHO), and, the decision of Government of India to treat this as a notifies disaster, it is hereby clarified that spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is eligible CSR activity.”
In view of the spread of novel #CoronaVirus in India, its declaration as pandemic by the WHO, and decision of Government of India to treat this as notified disaster, it is hereby clarified that spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is eligible CSR activity. #IndiaFightCorona pic.twitter.com/XQneNBaJe8
— Nirmala Sitharaman Office (@nsitharamanoffc) March 23, 2020
The CSR rules make it mandatory for large Indian firms to set aside at least 2 per cent of their average net profit for socially responsible expenditures.
The norms are applicable to firms with at least Rs 5 crore net profit or Rs 1000 crore turnover or Rs 500 crore net worth.
With the approval to include COVID-19 huge funds flow is expected to come into the healthcare segment.
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