The role of corporate in combining social exclusion of women in rural Odisha

Pages: 402-406
Bikram Keshari Mishra (Department of Sociology, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha)

The paper focuses on the specific strategic approaches followed by the corporate in bringing about sustainable development through corporate social responsibility. There is a vast intensity of social exclusion of tribal and specially women in rural Odisha. Multinational companies play a significant role in combating social exclusion of tribes through their corporate social responsibilities. The present paper examines the role of Vedanta Company in empowering the Dongria Tribe in Rural Odisha through its strategic CSR practices. Dongria tribe which is the most primitive and socially excluded tribe in Odisha is found to be uplifted by the Vedanta Company. The study is carried by reported information by the company and secondary sources of analysis. The present paper addresses the role of Vedanta Company in transformation of health, education and sustainable livelihood of rural people. The paper also attempts to examine the practical application of Corporate Social Performance theory by taking Vedanta Company in context. In Odisha there is vast disparity and inequality between schedule caste women and other caste women with regard to accessibility of health, education and livelihood facilities. The CSR strategy of Vedanta i.e., Integrated Rural Development Program (IDVP) has provided income generating activities through formation of self help groups of women and made them self dependent. Tremendous changes in the reproductive health services have been brought in the Dongria women and the literacy rate of the target population have been increased by the company. Vedanta Company has been successful to a great extent to empower the tribal in Rural Odisha by providing a health, education and livelihood opportunities through CSR. The company plays a significant role in combating social exclusion of rural Odisha and thereby bringing sustainable development.