COVID Care facilities & makeshift hospitals are eligible CSR activity

E-file no. CSR-10/9/2020-CSR-MCA
Government of India
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
5th Floor, ‘A’ Wing, Shastri Bhawan,
Dr. R. P. Marg, New Delhi – 110 001

General Circular No. 05/2021 Date: 22nd April 2021

To,

All Stakeholders.

Subject: – Clarification on spending of CSR funds for setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID Care facilities – reg.

Ma’am/ Sir(s),

In continuation to this Ministry’s General Circular No. 10/2020 dated 23.03.2020 wherein it was clarified that spending of CSR funds for COVID-19 is an eligible CSR activity, it is further clarified that spending of CSR funds for ‘setting up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID Care facilities ‘ is an eligible CSR activity under item nos. (i) and (xii) of Schedule VII of the Companies Act, 2013 relating to promotion of health care, including preventive health care, and, disaster management respectively.

2. The companies may undertake the aforesaid activities in consultation with State Governments subject to fulfillment of Companies (CSR Policy) Rules, 2014 and the circulars related to CSR issued by this Ministry from time to time.

3. This issues with the approval of competent authority. Yours faithfully,

(Shobhit Srivastava)
Deputy Director (CSR Cell)
Tel: 011-23070216

Copy to:

1. E Governance for uploading on MCA website

2. Guard File.

*****

Rajesh derma, lAS
Secretary
Government of India
Ministry of Corporate Affairs
New Delhi

D.O.No. CSR-10/9/2020-CSR-MCA Dated: 22nd April, 2021.

AN APPEAL

Dear Friends,

At the outset, I would like to thank the Corporate India for extending their wholehearted support in combating COVID-19. Your contribution towards this cause has been supplementing the efforts of the Government. However, this second COVID surge requires more coordinated and focused approach so as to provide immediate relief to the people of the country.

2. The current COVID 19 situation in India is worrisome, with active cases rapidly increasing and a large number of new cases being reported daily. In view of the rapidly rising cases, the existing bed capacity needs to be ramped up significantly. Various Central Ministries/ Departments/ PSUs have dedicated COVID hospitals and COVID beds since the beginning of this pandemic and have also committed to continue doing so. I would like to draw your attention to the excellent initiatives taken by DRDO and CISR in setting up temporary COVID Care facilities and makeshift hospitals. Taking this initiative further, this Ministry has issued a clarification vide General Circular No. 05/ 2021 dated 22nd April, 2021, wherein it has been clarified that spending for ‘setting up COVID Care facilities and makeshift hospitals’ is an eligible CSR activity.

3. On the similar lines, you may like to utilize the CSR funds to set up makeshift hospitals and temporary COVID Care facilities in consultation with the States. Further, in view of the ongoing work-from-home mode of working, you may have some vacant buildings at your disposal. You may like to consider converting these vacant office buildings to temporary COVID Care facilities with either isolation beds or a combination of isolation and oxygen beds to cater to rapidly increasing COVID caseload in many parts of the country, some of which may lie in your vicinity.

4. As you are the leader of a highly successful Company, I would like to appeal to your Company to come forward and supplement Government efforts in fulfilling the rising hospitalization needs in view of the second COVID surge. Your prompt and targeted efforts will certainly help in providing the much needed relief to the citizens during this difficult time.

5. I am quite hopeful that with our resolve to work together we would be able to tackle this unprecedented crisis in an efficient manner.

With warm regards,

Yours sincerely,

(Rajesh Verma)

Secretary

Ministry of Corporate Affairs

To: Chairman/ CMD/ MD/ CEO (As per list enclosed)