Corporate Social Responsibility in the Mining Sector A Comparative Study of AMC and DMC on CSR Expenditure

Mining companies often carry a low public opinion, and are a constant target of pressure groups, largely because of the nature of business they are in. This, combined with an increased social awareness about the environment leads to a poor public image. Can companies involved in such sectors, which are seemingly extractive in nature, offset a large part of this unwanted negative image by indulging in positive and beneficial CSR practices? If these CSR practices are targeted mainly at the people directly affected by the activities, the companies do stand a greater chance of shedding bad publicity. The paper deals with the nature of CSR in the mining sector, with a special reference to the statutory compliance regarding CSR in India.