It has been a decade since companies were mandated by law to spend a percentage of their profits on corporate social responsibility or CSR. The company board, through a committee under it, became answerable for the choice of CSR projects and how they were implemented. What impact has this had on social initiatives that companies take up and what is the quality of interaction that takes place between the board and the people working with NGOs and local government to implement projects on the ground?

Tata Steel is a company we in this magazine have known for a long time. Many of their projects in healthcare, education and youth empowerment make great stories. Its annual tribal conclave, Samvaad, in Jamshedpur is unique and we have featured it more than once.