Rajesh demands Minister’s intervention to ensure companies spend CSR funds locally

Rajesh demands Minister’s intervention to ensure companies spend CSR funds locally

PORVORIM: Cumbharjua MLA Rajesh Faldessai on Thursday sought the intervention of Industries Minister Mauvin Godinho over what he said was the failure of a majority of companies at the Corlim industrial estate to spend CSR money locally.

Faldessai said that it is only Deccan Fine Chemicals that has been spending money for community events and the poor events in the vicinity while the rest of the 100-odd units were instead spending their money elsewhere.

“At the Corlim industrial estate there’s a company called Deccan Fine Chemicals. It is the only company out of the 100 odd companies who operate at the industrial estate who are spending CSR funds locally,” he said.

“Others are there but they are spending the money where their head office is located. CSR funds have to be given to those who are affected. First of all they do not give jobs to locals, but they are doing nothing here, not even on parks and gardens, or for poor children or for others in need,” he also said.

He raised the issue of the availability of buses in villages of his constituency. While thanking the minister for responding to his request for a bus to Akhada in St Estevam for students who need it, he demanded that his request for a bus at 7:30 am in Carambolim and Cumbharjua also be acceded to.

“Whenever I request for buses where they are needed, they have made it available especially during hours when there’s demand. Similarly I’ve been demanding that there be a bus for the people of Carambolim and Cumbharjua, especially the farmers who have been growing vegetables. If they do not get the bus at that time, to take it to the market, then the bhaji goes stale. The minister has to pay attention to this,” he said.

Finally he demanded that village panchayats in his constituency be given proper infrastructure instead of being made to live with poor buildings that are falling apart, especially in Divar.

“The panchayats in the village do not have a hall and the building itself is in bad condition. At least the panchayat building should be built well along with a hall so that they get some money as well,” he said.