‘Corporate sector should be genuine in CSR’

Shirajiv SIRIMANE

The corporate sector should be more genuine in their social responsibility programmes and commence projects that would bring long-term sustainable development to the community, said Director of World Vision in Sri Lanka, Suresh Bartlett.

Director of World Vision in Sri Lanka, Suresh Bartlett. Picture by Saliya Rupasinghe

A self-employment venture initiated by World Vision

He said that today almost all the companies allocate budgets for CSR but sadly there are a handful of entities that do this since they are compelled to do it and some times to gain mileage from it.

However, I am happy to note that the programmes under taken by blue chip companies are of high standard and the post monitoring which is a key component of CSR is satisfactory, he said.

Long-term sustainable programmes also help to overcome regional disparity which is very important.

Commenting on the Economic Ministry initiative of Divi Naguma which concentrates on providing self-employment he said that it was one of the best projects he has ever come across. “Firstly it is very well planned, executed and there are funds to carry it forward,” he said.

He said that Divi Naguma is not centred in one area but is spread to the entire nation giving benefits to all communities and one of the best poverty eliminations tools of the government. He also commended the home gardening project of Divi Naguma.

The World Vision boss said that similarly the World Vision too is engaging in several programmes and they have come to an understanding with the ministry not to duplicate programmes. He said that providing credit to rural community to launch self-employment projects is another area that is being identified by the World Vision programme. Last year we have dispersed over Rs 300 million, most of the recipients were women.

He said that one of the biggest advantages of this credit scheme is that there is no collateral being asked for, and loan settlement is very good. “We provide credit from Rs 10,000 upwards some people have taken the second and third loans,” he said.

World Vision has been in Sri Lanka for over 35 years living with the community and has come forward in natural disasters such as the tsunami in a big way. After the conflict we were also involved in rehabilitation programmes, he said.

He said with the war ending the shift is now from relief and rehabilitation to sustainable development.

People in former conflict areas today are not looking at handouts but want to engage in programmes where ownership would come their way.

He said that Sri Lanka can be happy that there is a great reduction of poverty than five years ago. it is also pleasing to note that the school drop rate too has decreased.