Question : Private Investment under CSR

(a) whether the Railways has sought the contribution from private companies under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) funding to increase investment in Railways;

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether the Railways has notified the activities in which the CSR funds are likely to be used and if so, the details thereof;

(d) the investment estimated to be made from the CSR funding and to be spent under the CSR activities; and

(e) the other modes of investment proposed by the Railways in the absence of adequate private investment?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF RAILWAYS

(SHRI MANOJ SINHA)

(a) & (b) To encourage participation of Private companies and PSUs in identified works/activities to be done under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Railways, the policy framework has been put in place by Indian Railways in February, 2016.

(c) Yes, Madam. The policy guidelines of Indian Railways details out the works/activities executable under CSR in the field of Environment sustainability, sanitation and cleanliness, such as Rain Water Harvesting, Water Recycling Plants, Solar Panels, construction of toilets, provision for Solid Waste Management, supply of filtered drinking water etc.

(d) As the activities under CSR are typically implemented by the companies (Sponsoring Entity) or its agency as per their CSR policy, no estimation of CSR funding is available with the Railways.

(e) Railway has been executing required works with gross budgetary support from General Exchequer, internal resources, IRFC borrowing, Institutional financing and through other modes of financing as per requirement and feasibility.

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