The University of Calicut is planning to seek CSR funds for some of its future development projects. A Syndicate meeting held on the campus at Tenhipalam in Malappuram district earlier this week approved a proposal for the purpose, moved by Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran to take up 11 such projects which will be funded by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) scheme of companies or by individual philanthropy.
According to Vice-Chancellor P. Raveendran, a major source of funding for the university continues to be the limited grants received from the government.
On the other hand Andhra Pradesh is seeking CSR Funds to tackle the fluoride contamination crisis and ensure safe drinking water for the residents of Prakasam district.
Why University of Calicut seeking CSR funds?
The University of Calicut seeks CSR funds for projects such as a centre for music and performing studies, student science centre, placement and training centre, renovation of the auditorium at the Dr. John Matthai Centre in Thrissur under the university that also houses the School of Drama, interpretation centre and meeting hall at the botanical garden, convention centre and new library complex, a multi-purpose centre titled Unity Square, new ladies’ hostel, open stage and architectural beautification, Freedom Park in memory of the Independence struggle, and an international hostel and guest house.
According to a proposal which was approved on April 28, work will be conducted either by the university or an external agency decided by the grantor organisation. It will be based on a Memorandum of Understanding signed between the university and the organisation. However, such buildings or facilities shall remain the property of the university. Based on individual cases, branding or commemoration of such buildings shall be permitted based on mutual agreement.
The agencies/individuals may also construct the facility and hand it over to the university on mutually agreed terms and conditions. The mode of operations and auditing for such expenditure shall be as per the terms and conditions arrived at jointly by the university and the donor agency.
CSR Funds needed to tackle Fluoride contamination in Andhra Pradesh
Meanwhile, CSR funds are needed to tackle fluoride contamination crisis in drinking water in Andhra Pradesh’s Prakasam district. According to Lanka Dinakar, Chairman of the state’s 20-Point Programme, only new infrastructure can end the fluoride contamination crisis in Prakasam.
Out of 1,769 villages across 729 panchayats that are affected, safe drinking water facilities have been arranged in 27 villages. However, more than 1,000 villages remain affected. Addressing a press conference at the Ongole collectorate, Dinakar emphasised the drinking and irrigation water challenges in western Prakasam.
Dinakar highlighted alarming fluoride levels as high as 8–9 ppm (parts per million) in some villages, compared to the safe limit of 1.5 ppm, particularly in Kandukur, Kanigiri, and Marripudi mandals. He stressed on the urgent need to leverage CSR funds to establish more dialysis centres and water treatment plants.
There are also plans to address drinking water shortages in Ongole (4 million liters per day), Markapur (3.43 MLD), and Chimakurthy (0.34 MLD) with Rs 13.92 crore already sanctioned for urgent needs.
