Ranchi: Corporate social responsibility (CSR) efforts in Jharkhand must move beyond broad commitments and focus on the pressing needs of women and children, panelists at the TOI Social Impact Conclave 2026 said on Saturday.The discussion, themed ‘CSR and the New Jharkhand: Investing in People, Communities and Sustainable Growth’, centred on making corporate interventions more responsive to vulnerable communities and ensuring that support reaches those most in need.Raj Shree Verma, associate professor, rural management programme, Xavier Institute of Social Service (XISS), said women in the state continue to confront serious gaps in education, healthcare and livelihood opportunities.“Female literacy in Jharkhand has still not crossed 70%. A large number of women work in the unorganised sector without access to adequate facilities or social security. Anaemia remains a major concern, while child marriage, child labour and child trafficking continue to threaten the well-being of children,” she said.Verma added that while the govt and several companies were making efforts to address these challenges, interventions needed to be expanded and sustained.Dr Nitesh Kumar, vice-president and facility director, Paras Hospital, said the state’s health indicators remained worrying, with access to healthcare heavily tilted in favour of urban areas.“Healthcare coverage in Jharkhand is geographically skewed, with urban centres receiving greater attention. The govt is working to extend services to remote parts of the state, but CSR initiatives must complement and strengthen these efforts,” he said.Kumar stressed that CSR programmes should be designed around measurable outcomes. “Small private entities can partner with larger organisations to create impact across sectors. A platform is needed to bring such players together and enable collaboration on CSR initiatives,” he said.Sanjeevv Shekhar, head of corporate affairs, Adani Power Ltd, said CSR planning should begin by listening to communities and understanding their priorities.“Once community needs are identified, strategies can be designed accordingly. In healthcare, Adani Power has deployed mobile medical facilities in several villages across the state, helping residents access treatment closer to home,” he said.
