Abstract
The corporate initiatives in social development in Gujarat indicates that the state with its long drawn traditions in entrepreneurship as well as philanthropic traditions, emanating from both harsh economic conditions as well as close links with religious and national movements, have given rise to a sustained contribution from the industrial/trading community for social development. In the process, it has also shown a definite shift from mainly ‘charity’ to developmental orientation. To a large extent, these have been prompted by a deep rooted understanding that economic prosperity of the few in the midst of sufferings of the large mass of the people, cannot be sustained unless it is greased with some kind of positive contribution towards people's development. This understanding has become sharper and more explicit in the recent period, especially in the context of environmental issues. The need therefore, is to widen this understanding and identify the specific role that the corporate sector “ought” to play in social development, rather than make “voluntary contribution at its free will, towards whatever it finds convenient to do for the society”. This kind of a shift in perspective may necessitate simultaneous changes in the policy framework.
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