New guidelines on social responsibility activities for state owned business establishments have come into effect, aiming to prevent these initiatives from being used to achieve political objectives.

The rules, issued by the Privatisation & Corporatisation Board, seek to address concerns over the misuse of corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes for political gain.

The policy outlines values to be upheld in CSR activities, including respect for human rights, protection of employee rights, environmental sustainability, and the fight against corruption. The framework explicitly prohibits state owned enterprises from formulating CSR policies or engaging in activities that directly or indirectly aid the fulfilment of promises made to any political party.

In the past, certain social responsibility activities of state-run enterprises have been aligned with government manifesto commitments. The new framework aims to address such practices and ensure that social responsibility programmes are designed with a focus on broader societal benefits.

The new policy is viewed as a step towards depoliticising CSR activities, ensuring they are not influenced by political agendas. Analysts suggest that the guidelines could reinforce trust in state-run companies, provided there is robust monitoring and strict adherence to the rules. The board's move is expected to reshape CSR practices within the public sector, focusing on community welfare and sustainable development rather than political objectives.

The new policy aims to depoliticise CSR activities by preventing their influence by political agendas. It is intended to guide state-run companies in adhering to practices that prioritise community welfare and sustainable development. Effective implementation will depend on monitoring and compliance with the guidelines.