Corporate Social Responsibility and Gandhian View

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) has become fundamental principle of Corporate world and Government. It is presumption of common people and companies that Government by making law to spend 2% of profit of companies, forcing companies to work for social development and this step is enough to ensure social responsibilities of  companies. In nutshell this is called CSR. By merely making law on this point it does not satisfy the view of Gandhi ji. His view on Trusteeship is very different from what is being followed today. Gandhi ji was well aware of the social responsibility of corporate people and how they can play role in nation building and reconciliation in societies by way of non-violence. 

On June 29, 1919 Gandhi ji while inaugurating the orphanage named Vinita Ashram in Ahmedabad, Gujarat said : "It is alleged everywhere that in Ahmedabad people are money centric and commercial ageing but I don't feel bad about this. Apart from commercial ageing, knowledge, devotion to society, social responsibility are important character which must be present in every human being. Corporates are the person who gives money for country in various forms. A true corporate should not hesitate in giving his all money for nation building. He should run his business with this feeling only. The nationalist feeling cannot come without the feeling of Spiritualism which means if anyone is underprivileged then it is our responsibility to come forward and help him".

The concept of Trusteeship was born in 1990 to get rid of communism and capitalism. The era of communism was almost come to an end. It seemed that capitalism is the only option for social development. To create balance and remove monopoly the concept of trusteeship was developed. 

Business and Trusteeship:

The fundamental of trusteeship is, how to make money and to what extent. Trusteeship is not against ownership of business or creation of money. In the concept of trusteeship, creation of money and ownership is very well-balanced. When this concept was developed there were protest going on everywhere between the labours and owners. At that time Labour Union had strong base not only in India but all over the world. Many times Government and Labours were brought to negotiating table but Labour Unions were playing role of opposition. There was sense of rivalry between these two. At that time these corporates were asked to make their company trust so that the labours can also be benefited by the property of corporates for whom they are working. Reason being the property of corporates are result of hard work of labours.