Niti Aayog: CPSEs should pool CSR funds

Niti Aayog on Tuesday suggested that all central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) should pool their CSR funds so that it could be used for development under its 'Aspirational Districts Programme'.

Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant addressed a meeting of CPSEs here to have a focussed approach on using their CSR funds.

The intent is to pool the CSR funds of all CPSEs and to use it for health, education and nutrition purposes for the cause of aspirational districts that have the potential to improve in overall development parameters, Kant said.

"As of now the public sector enterprises work in silos in small-small activities. If we use if for aspirational districts we can achieve more. So, we need to focus on a few aspects like health, nutrition, education, women and child welfare for a focussed attention in the Aspirational Districts Programme," he added.

He said these districts have made their respective action plans and Niti Aayog is working in close coordination with them for their development.

It is necessary to deploy CSR funds and place dedicated teams across the aspirational districts to ensure accelerated growth especially for visible impact in critical sectors, he added.

Launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in January this year, the ‘Transformation of Aspirational Districts Programme' aims to quickly and effectively transform over 100 most underdeveloped districts of the country.