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May 23, 2025
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Frauds in Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Activities in India

By
Hency Thacker
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An EY Forensic & Integrity Services’ report has said, Companies could see frauds in their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programs as they may not have the bandwidth to conduct due diligence or monitor these amidst Covid-19 pandemic.
The frauds in CSR projects is not a new process. There is an obvious gap in the law making it possible for fraudsters to take advantage and siphon the funds meant for social or environmental projects.

Why do Frauds Happen in CSR?

The CSR mandate in India has converted the CSR funds into public money rather than mere philanthropic funds. It is now a responsibility of corporates to not only allocate the necessary funds but also set up a team to implement structured CSR projects. The mandate has brought about a transformative change in India Inc. in terms of enthusiastic participation by them for social and environmental causes.
However, often, these for-profit companies do not have bandwidth to have a dedicated team in place to implement and monitor their CSR projects as they have for their business operations. In fact, it has been observed that many companies have just one or two dedicated employees in CSR teams who are also loaded with some other responsibilities. Many companies do not have even that, and an eye is kept on CSR projects by the HR teams. This gap has given a chance for many middlemen to enter the field in the garb of CSR consultants and encourage the CSR funds to be spent on fake CSR projects.
The situation has been intensified especially amid COVID-19 pandemic where the companies have limited staff, therefore lesser time to monitor the allocation of funds efficiently.
The Report by EY Forensic and Integrity Services titled Corporate Social Responsibility in India: re-engineering compliance and fraud mitigation strategies said, Lack of due diligence on implementation partners, weak governance and limited management involvement are contributing to ethical lapses and fraud in corporate social responsibility (CSR) programs. These state of affairs are prevalent in 75 per cent of companies. According to the report, there is a high dependence on third parties to execute CSR programs, 65 per cent of the companies that participated in the research sample of the report, did not have a clear due diligence policy and only 45 per cent admitted to checking the past record of implementation partners.
The report also highlighted the willingness of companies to spend the CSR funds for COVID-19 relief. However, they do not have structures in place that would help them detect the frauds and take preventive measures. This may lead to inefficiency and inadequacy of funds amid the pandemic.
More than anything though these frauds are not merely the loss of public money. It is a dent on the integrity of the company who releases the funds and on the inefficiency of the government for leaving such a major loophole in the law which can lead to such corruption. While the government figures out a way in which the fault can be addressed, the companies need to take effective measures to ensure that such frauds do not take place and the CSR funds get allocated to the desired causes.

CSR of Muthoot Finance is supporting widows in getting daughters married

By
The CSR Journal
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Marriage is one of many milestones in most parts of the world. In India however, it’s easily the most pivotal (and most lavish) life event, one that renders many families bankrupt. In this scenario, consider the plight of a widow hoping to throw a respectable wedding for her daughter! Muthoot Vivahasammanam is a CSR initiative by Muthoot Finance Ltd. that is directed towards solving this conundrum.
Under the project, the company will provide financial assistance of Rs. 1 lakh each to 20 girls from Chennai and its suburbs, getting married between August-December 2020. Daughters of financially deprived widows, getting are eligible for the grant. Also, the household monthly income should be less than Rs. 10,000. George M. Jacob, Executive Director, Muthoot Finance Ltd. said, “Marriage expenses in India is a major challenge for economically weak households. Supporting such families financially, through Muthoot M. George Foundation, is our way of giving back to society.”
These grants can be availed by the mothers of eligible girls, by filing an application with a letter from the Local Councilor/Panchayat member/MLA certifying the case. Marriage invitation or letter indicating the date of marriage with any other document proving the genuineness of the application should also be attached. Muthoot Vivahasammanam was started in Kerala and now is being extended to Karnataka, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

3 Made-in-India climate solutions winning accolades

By
Kasmin Fernandes
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A complete recovery from the pandemic will be made possible largely through green solutions. Here are three successful Made-in-India climate solutions that have been gathering international momentum.

1. ITDP India Programme in Chennai

The first of the award-winning climate solutions comes from the city of Chennai. Commuting in Chennai has many factors working against it, from high road fatalities, shortage of local transport to soaring private car ownership. Despite increasing air pollution, cars are status symbols for us Indians, and Chennai is no exception. This fact was rightfully acknowledged by the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy (ITDP) India Programme when it began a collaboration with the Chennai City Connect Foundation in 2009, to infuse new life into walking and cycling in the city. Since then, Chennai has transformed 100 km of “complete streets” that have wide footpaths and ample lighting.
The programme broke barriers in how sustainable mobility is perceived. The ideas implemented in the project went on to become such a success, it won the 2020 Ashden Awards held last week. The prestigious prize champions the most exciting green solutions across the globe every year. The project also won the 2015 Sustainia Awards for “improving sustainable transport”.

The genius of the project was debunking the notion that cars own our streets. ‘Car-free Sundays’ were a step in that direction. People had the streets to themselves for one day. Car-free days have become quite popular in other Indian cities after Chennai took the lead. The city is rolling out a 120-kilometre Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system. On-street parking management is a large-scale plan to have 12,000 car parks spread across Chennai. The spaces will boost revenue upward of 550 million bucks per year. A city-wide street network for walking and cycling is in the works.

2. Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan

This joint project bagged the 2018 Earth Care Award for Leadership in Urban Climate Action. After a deadly heatwave hit the rapidly urbanizing city of Ahmedabad in 2010, the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) partnered with the NRDC (Natural Resources Defence Council) and IIPH (Indian Institute of Public Health) to improve the city’s heat disaster response with a comprehensive early warning system and preparedness plan for extreme heat. Identifying the city’s most heat-vulnerable residents (children, the elderly, slum communities, and outdoor workers), the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan was launched in 2013.

The project deploys a three-pronged approach to reduce heat-related health risks:
1. Building public awareness of health risks through trainings, public advertisements, and community outreach.
2. Implementing an early warning system that coordinates government agencies, health officials, emergency response teams, and media outlets to alert the public of impending heat waves.
3. Increasing capacity among health care workers to recognize and treat heat-related illnesses.
Cutting-edge research is the foundation of the Ahmedabad Heat Action Plan and heat preparedness scaling efforts. The climate solutions plan saved numerous lives during its first three years of implementation, in addition to preparing the city’s 7 million residents for future deadly heat waves. Based on the Ahmedabad model, NRDC and IIPH are collaborating with other Indian cities to craft their own early warning systems and heat preparedness plans.

3. S4S Solar Conduction Dryer

This innovation has won the 2012 United Nations Environment Leadership Award. It was the Grand Prize winner of the Dell Social Innovation Award out of 2600 innovations from 90 countries. Farmers’ markets may cut out the middle-man, but they don’t protect small holder farmers from the low shelf life of their vegetables. A young student from Mumbai ended up solving this problem vegetable vendors have been facing for aeons.

Vaibhav Tidke was grocery-shopping in the market when he noticed how vendors sold their produce at throwaway prices every evening, since it was bound to rot. Rather than ignore the problem of food wastage, he decided to do something about it. Vaibhav teamed up with his friends and developed a solar conduction dryer, which expands the shelf life of fruits and veggies by 6 months. He came up with a neat little business model to thus process extra fruits and vegetables and supply them to the market.
Under their startup, S4S Technologies, Vaibhav and his friends-cum-business partners made women farmers their target audience. Women were a natural fit for the model, since they are experts at preserving foods through sun-drying. Remember how your grandmother would dry red chillies on the terrace for making pickles? The 6-foot dryer is easy enough to assemble and dismantle for the average farm-hand. It makes the list of zero-maintenance climate solutions since there’s no additional maintenance. The dryer works on solar energy – a clean energy source – doing away with the stress of electrical fluctuations common in village farms.
S4S Technologies follows a rent-based model in order to make the contraption more affordable for women farmers. The startup also helps sell their fresh produce to individuals and reaches out to restaurants and distributors with the dried products. Marico Innovation Foundation and Nestle India have helped the startup keep up the standard of quality.

एनएमडीसी ने छत्तीसगढ के दंतेवाडा, जिले को हरित बनाने में की पहल

By
Rahuldeo Sharma
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एनएमडीसी ने दंतेवाडा जिला, छत्तीसगढ में लगभग 650 जनजातीय किसानों के लिए 50 प्रशिक्षण सत्र पूर्ण करने के बाद फल धारण करने वाले पेडों के पौधारोपण में ग्रामीणों की सहायता की। श्रीमती देवती कर्मा, एमएलए, दंतेवाडा  अलनार गांव में सैपलिंग के वितरण तथा प्रशिक्षण कार्यक्रम के अवसर पर  उपस्थित रहीं। उन्होंने किसानों को उनकी भाषा -हल्वी- में प्रेरित करते हुए अन्य कृषकों एवं स्वयं का उदाहरण दिया जो फलों की बिक्री से अच्छी आय अर्जित कर रहे हैं। किसानों ने उनकी बातों को ध्यानपूर्वक सुना। श्रीमती देवती कर्मा ने एनएमडीसी की सीएसआर टीम के प्रयासों बहुत सराहना की।
जनजातीय समुदाय के जीवन स्तर में प्रगति लाने के प्रयास में एनएमडीसी ने आय अर्जन / टिकाऊ जीवनयापन के लिए अनेक बहु उद्देशीय कार्यनीतियां अपनायी हैं। इस दिशा में अनेक प्रयासों में से एक दंतेवाडा जिला प्रशासन के साथ मिलकर 25 ग्रामों ( बेनपाल, पेडापुर, पिना बचेली, डुगेली , बडे कमेली, नरली, भांसी, धुर्ली, गमावाडा आदि) में फल की उपज वाले पेडों की 50,000 सैपलिंग लगाने का मिशन है।
एनएमडीसी के इस प्रयास में सहायता करने के लिए जिला प्रशासन बागवानी विभाग से फल धारण करने वाले पेडों की 38000 सैपलिंग निशुल्क प्रदान करेगा तथा शेष सैपलिंग एनएमडीसी, बचेली द्वारा अपने सीएसआर निधि से खरीदी जा रही हैं। जिला कलेक्टर,       सीईओ- जिला पंचायत तथा जिले के संयुक्त कलेकटर जनजातीय समुदाय के जीवन स्तर में उत्थान के कार्य को समर्थन दे रहे हैं। इस पहल का उद्देश्य अमरूद, कटहल, नीबू, अनार, चीकू, लीची, मोरिंगा, पपीता, नारियल, काजू आदि फलों के बगीचे लगाना है जिससे प्रति एकड आय में 10-15 गुणा वृद्धि हो सकेगी और ग्रामीणों की आमदनी बढेगी।
इस संबंध में कृषकों के लिए 50 प्रशिक्षण सत्र भी आयोजित किए गए थे। राज्य बागवानी विभाग के विषेशज्ञों तथा एनएमडीसी की सीएसआर टीम ने 650 कृषकों को प्रशिक्षण प्रदान किया। प्रशिक्षण के दौरान मृदा तथा जलवायु परिस्थिति, सैपलिंग के बीच रखे जाने वाके फासले, गड्ढे बनाने, इनमें डाले जाने वाली ऑर्गेनिक खाद की गुणवत्ता एवं मात्रा , बरती जाने वाली सावधानियों  आदि के बारे में जानकारी दी गयी। यह कार्य प्रतिभागियों को मॉस्क वितरित करने के बाद, सैनिटाइजेसन के नियमों का पालन करते हुए तथा शारीरिक दूरी बनाए रखते हुए किया गया।
प्रशिक्षण 09 से 20 जून 2020 तक दिया गया, सैपलिंग लगाने तथा गढ्ढों में ऑर्गेनिक खाद भरने का कार्य 10 से 25 जून तक किया गया। सैपलिंग बांटने तथा उनके रोपण का कार्य 29 जून 2020 से प्रारम्भ किया गया। फल धारण करने वाले पेडों की 50,000 सैपलिंग को 25 गांवों में लगाने का कार्य जुलाई 2020 में पूर्ण कर लिया जाएगा।
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

CSR arm of Relaxo Footwears salutes municipal staff in Delhi

By
The CSR Journal
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As a gesture of appreciation, Relaxo Foundation contributed 25,000 pair of slippers for MCD sanitation staff. Sanitation workers with the municipal corporations have been at the forefront in the pandemic, putting their lives at risk, in ensuring a clean and healthy environment. Acknowledging their selfless service to the society at large, Relaxo Foundation donated 25,000 pair of slippers among North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) sanitation workers who have been battling the COVID-19 pandemic for over 100 days now and counting.
Ramesh Kumar Dua, President, Relaxo Foundation, said: “Sanitation workers across the country are warriors on the frontlines, whose courage and commitment helps us stay safer. This global pandemic has brought to the fore the realization of their silent, selfless service to society which we do appreciate and acknowledge. Due to the nature of their work, it is critical for them to have easy-to-clean and comfortable slippers. We are thankful to North Delhi Municipal Corporation for agreeing to accept our sincere gesture of appreciation and hope this benefits these warriors fighting the virus.”
Responding to the need of the hour, Relaxo Foundation supported AIIMS Delhi, and other hospitals in Haryana and Uttrakhand, in purchasing medical equipment and also aided Government administration and various charitable organizations in distributing relief materials for migrants and marginalized families.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

CSR News: Joy Personal Care distributes 1 lakh hygiene kits to sex workers and transgenders in Kolkata

By
The CSR Journal
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Joy Personal Care (from RSH Global Private Limited) has launched a drive to help ensure the safety and sanitisation of one of the most marginalised and neglected communities during the pandemic. This CSR initiative has distributed over one lakh hygiene and personal care products to underprivileged transgender and sex workers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic in Kolkata.
While people in India are doing everything they can for the welfare of the underprivileged groups amidst the pandemic, sex workers and transgenders are amongst the worst hit and in need of hygiene and personal care kits more than ever. Their source of income has largely ceased as a result of social distancing and lockdown measures, making it difficult for them to make their ends meet.
Additionally, the residents of the red-light area in the city live in smaller rooms with about 10 to 12 people making it difficult to practice social distancing. They also share a common bathroom which often does not have adequate water supply or appropriate sanitisation norms. Hence, providing them access to personal hygiene products to help them maintaining sanitisation is of utmost importance for this community.

The Personal Care Company recently launched ‘Joy Pure & Safe’, its range of hygiene products and wanted to make a humble offering by providing personal sanitisation products to them. The brand partnered with renowned NGOs – Sombhabona and Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee who have been doing a commendable job for the welfare of sex workers and underprivileged transgenders.
Joy distributes personal hygiene kits to transgenders in Kolkata
Joy distributes personal hygiene kits to transgenders in Kolkata
Sunil Agarwal, Chairman, RSH Global, said, “The COVID-19 pandemic has given a chance to all corporates to showcase their solidarity and inclusiveness, but we realised that unfortunately the most vulnerable members of society have been largely ignored. These people are participating members of the economy, invisible, unfortunate and marginalised though they may be. Times of crisis do not exclude them: they hit them harder. The most vulnerable in society are always most easily ignored and forgotten, we wanted to make a small yet significant change in their hygiene conditions by distributing these products & we will continue to extend support in future.”
Poulomi Roy, Chief Marketing Officer, RSH Global, said, “While sex workers have lost business as a result of the coronavirus pandemic shutdowns; underprivileged transgender has also been severely financially compromised. The COVID-19 pandemic has created a catastrophic health and economic crisis for them. Therefore, Joy has launched a humble CSR initiative aimed at improving the personal hygiene conditions of the sex workers and transgender community to support them during the pandemic.”
A representative at Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee, said, “We are extremely happy to join hands with Joy Personal Care in their endeavour to spread awareness on the importance of hygiene in the fight against COVID-19, especially amongst the marginalised sex workers and underprivileged transgenders. We wish more brands come ahead with similar initiatives.” A rep at Sombhabona, said, “This is a wonderful addition in the transgender care and contribution support work that we’ve been doing for years. Hope other brands realise the importance of the welfare for the transgender community.”
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

Magneto Solutions Partnering Major Corporates to Combat Spread of Airborne COVID-19

By
The CSR Journal
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As scientists around the world based on various research studies have found out that coronavirus is airborne, and the subsequent acknowledgement by the World Health Organization (WHO), the safety of public places, hotels and all kinds of indoor establishments is an important question. With conventional knowledge on the infection spread still being limited, the use of finite means of surface sanitization, hand sanitization and covering your face in a mask is perhaps not enough.
For thorough protection against the novel coronavirus, it is becoming clear that sanitizing the air we are breathing is critical. It is now more important than ever to keep indoor air rid of all kinds of virus, bacteria, and other microorganisms, as schools, workplaces, hotels, shopping malls and other public places open up.. There is considerable literature in the public domain pointing out the ineffectiveness of air conditioning systems in tackling the health hazards caused by indoor air pollution.
International associations such as ASHRAE and EUROVENT have issued guidelines and recommendations regarding the adoption of high efficiency ISO-certified central air filtration systems equipped with Ultraviolet Germicidal Irradiation (UVGI) technology for protection against coronavirus. High-efficiency air purification systems can actively trap and kill harmful bacteria, viruses and all other pollutants from the indoor air with over 90% efficiency, ensuring no further proliferation of these pollutants, and providing healthy air to breathe for the building occupants. These high-efficiency air purification systems even eliminate the SARS-CoV2 category of viruses (where coronavirus belongs) with over 90% efficiency.
At Magneto CleanTech, the commercial air purification systems were designed keeping these challenges in perspective. Magneto solutions offered during lockdown, to major corporations and business houses like Jindal Group, French International School (Delhi), IFFCO, EESL and Medanta Hospital in the country are already in use and producing optimal results in mitigating the risks related to spread of deadly viruses and harmful microorganisms. Magneto CleanTech’s expansion plans in the advent of the current crisis focus on delivering solutions across industries, while bringing latest innovations in the technology to the forefront, making it cost-effective and accessible for the Indian industry.
Magneto Central Air Cleaner (MCAC) comes with internationally patented three-stage ‘Trap & Kill’ and filter-less magnetic technology, which eliminates particulate matter and harmful germs with over 90% efficiency. The latest version is powered with UVGI technology, trapping particles with sizes up to 0.1 microns, smaller even than the COVID-19 virus size. MCAC commercial central air purification systems were customized as per the requirements of premium customers such as Taj group of hotels and Godrej Air residential complex well before the pandemic and the results have been studied to significantly impact the Indoor air quality. Healthy indoor air quality does not just protect people from harmful viruses, but also improves their productivity, reduced health issues and protects expensive assets indoors. The young country that India is, air purification should be a top priority for everyone in order to provide a healthier, happier life to the next generation.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

CSR arm of Mphasis Supporting Magic Bus India Covid-19 Relief Efforts

By
The CSR Journal
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Mphasis F1 Foundation – the CSR arm of Mphasis, an Information Technology (IT) solutions provider specializing in cloud and cognitive services, announced support of Magic Bus India COVID-19 relief to distribute 2,300 dry ration kits to 1,150 households (5,770 people) impacted by COVID-19 in India’s Bengaluru and Hyderabad regions. More than 346,200 meals, representing a months’ supply, will be provided to vulnerable families in Doddananagar, Adugodi, Viveknagar in Bengaluru and across several communities in Hyderabad.
The initiative is part of Magic Bus India’s ongoing fundraising to secure 18 million meals for 57,000 vulnerable families.
Jayant Rastogi, Global CEO, Magic Bus, remarked, “We are very proud of our team, which has quickly mobilized to provide relief to communities most in need across India. We will continue to support vulnerable families by providing basic essentials and ensuring that children develop key skills to adapt to the current environment. With the support of Mphasis, we are optimistic we will achieve our goal of providing 18 million meals to 57,000 families. We cannot thank them enough for their unwavering support.”
“Mphasis is pleased to collaborate with Magic Bus, one of India’s most impactful NGOs. For more than 20 years, Magic Bus has empowered children and youth with knowledge, skills and resources to elevate from poverty and live fulfilling lives. We have been impressed with their enthusiasm, dedication, and team of committed young leaders, especially during this time of crisis”, said Nitin Rakesh, Chief Executive Officer, Mphasis.
Disclaimer: This media release is auto-generated. The CSR Journal is not responsible for the content

उत्तराखंड – अब एक रुपये में मिलेगा पानी का कनेक्शन 

By
Rahuldeo Sharma
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पानी की एक एक बूंद की कीमत हर प्यासे को बखूबी पता होता है, रेगिस्तान में पानी के एक घडे की तलाश में पूरा का पूरा दिन निकल जाता है, कहावत है कि “जल है तो कल है” ऐसे में उत्तराखंड सरकार की पानी को लेकर ये पहल बेहद ही सराहनीय है। हर घर को नल से जल देने के लिए जल जीवन मिशन के तहत ग्रामीण इलाकों में पानी का कनेक्शन सिर्फ 1 रुपए में दिया जाएगा। उत्तराखंड सीएम त्रिवेन्द्र सिंह रावत की अध्यक्षता में हुई कैबिनेट मीटिंग में यह फैसला लिया गया। देश में इस तरह का कदम उठाने वाला यानि सिर्फ एक रुपये में पेयजल कनेक्शन मुहैया कराने वाला उत्तराखंड पहला राज्य है।

उत्तराखंड में 15 लाख गरीब लोगों को एक रुपये में पानी का कनेक्शन

अबतक ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में पानी के कनेक्शन के लिए 2350 रुपये देने होते थे जिससे आम आदमी के लिए मुश्किल हो रहे थे, लेकिन उत्तराखंड सरकार के इस योजना के अंतर्गत गांवों में पानी का कनेक्शन एक रुपये में दिया जाएगा। उत्तराखंड में जल जीवन मिशन के तहत राज्य के 15,647 गांवों में 1509,758 परिवारों तक पीने का स्वच्छ पानी पहुंचाया जाएगा। इस अभियान के लिए उत्तराखंड जल संस्थान, स्वजल और उत्तराखंड पेयजल निगम को कार्यदायी एजेंसी बनाया गया है। कुल 3806 राजस्व गांवों में 361654 परिवारों के घर में नल पहुंचाने का दारोमदार उत्तराखंड जल संस्थान का है। स्वजल 2078 राजस्व गांवों के 235994 परिवारों के घरों तक पीने का स्वच्छ पानी पहुंचाएगा। पेयजल निगम के पास सबसे अधिक 9754 राजस्व गांवों के 911953 परिवारों तक पानी पहुंचाने का जिम्मा है।

जल जीवन मिशन 2024 तक होगा पूरा

मुख्यमंत्री ने कहा कि प्रधानमंत्री ने हर गरीब के कल्याण की योजना बनाई है। जिनमें जल जीवन मिशन के तहत 2024 तक हर घर को नल देने की योजना भी है। नल देने का मतलब पीने का स्वच्छ पेयजल देना है। जिसमें मानक के हिसाब से पानी उपलब्ध कराना है। जल जीवन मिशन के लिए 1565 करोड़ मंजूर हुए हैं। मुख्यमंत्री त्रिवेंद्र ने जल जीवन मिशन के तहत होने वाले कामों को शीर्ष प्राथमिकता में रखा है।  2024 से पहले ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में हर घर में जल पहुंचाने के लिए हर साल का लक्ष्य निर्धारित किया गया है। जिसमें पानी की उपलब्धता के साथ-साथ शुद्धता का भी पूरा ध्यान रखा जा रहा है।

COVID-19 makes going vegan more attractive

By
Kasmin Fernandes
-
Newly-vegan actress Rakul Preet Singh admits to “feeling lighter” ever since she stopped consuming animal products. She is also proactively being a responsible celebrity after going vegan. Rakul Preet is collaborating with international nonprofit Million Dollar Vegan to share 1,000 vegan meals a day with people in Dharavi. Masoor biryani and vegetables are on the menu. Million Dollar Vegan works with world leaders and personalities like Hollywood actress Alicia Silverstone, singer Mya and others to take a vegan pledge and grow the community.
When news of Rakul Preet turning vegan broke earlier this year, it went viral. Her intention was to do her bit to protect the planet. However, many celebrities and regular folk are switching to vegetables and fruit after the coronavirus pandemic hit. An increasing number of millennials are ditching dairy and meat, citing food safety as a reason. What is the relationship between veganism and COVID-19, you may ask. After all, the novel coronavirus doesn’t spread by eating meat or animal products, nor are vegans and vegetarians less likely to be infected.
There are two links between COVID-19 and being vegan. One is that the virus is widely reported to have originated from a ‘wet market’, where animals are caged and slaughtered. These wet markets and animal factory farms are breeding grounds for zoonotic diseases. When animals are imprisoned together in tiny cages with other species they would not live alongside, or packed tightly in a shed as happens at dairy farms, viruses can mutate and spread in ways scientists wouldn’t imagine.
COVID-19, SARS, bird flu, swine flu and the bubonic plague (currently rearing its head in China again) leap from animals to human beings. If everyone is vegan, wet markets wouldn’t exist nor would factory farms. Activists and researchers are waking up to this fact.
Another link is that the lockdown has showed us that entire populations can make drastic changes to their lifestyle, nations can put their economies on hold if millions of lives are on the line. Making a collective shift in our daily diet would be a small deal then. If we transition from a meat-based diet to a plant-based one, it could save many human lives. It will reduce the threat of future pandemics and other health crises associated with animal consumption, like antibiotic resistance for example.
If we want to get serious about preventing future pandemics, animal breeding needs to be phased out. More government subsidies for vegan farming (nutritious protein crops, for one) means better soil and lower carbon emissions. Re-allocating public subsidies away from meat and dairy consumption will ensure fewer epidemics.
Going vegan does not necessarily mean there would be no pandemics, of course. Health crises could emerge in ways completely unrelated to animals. But there is every reason to believe that a vegan world would be one with far fewer pandemics – and it would almost certainly be one without COVID-19.
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