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Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has been a growing trend among corporations in India and throughout the world. This study documents the ITC PSPD social responsibility towards the local communities and natural resource management that address the elements of corporate social responsibility. Study focus on ITC´s social forestry programme. The programme is for the economic development of poor tribals and schedule caste through financial assistance to reclaim their wasteland and take up multi-species plantations to promote economic development in an environmentally sustainable manner and without posing a threat to their food-security. The study shows that partnership has provided opportunity for the company to accommodate the socio-cultural aspects of the local communities. For the time being, in short term, company would not gain economic benefit from the amount of wood produced under social forestry plantations partnership, but more by sharing the risk (and benefits) with local communities by establishing plantations partnership. However the challenges are quite complex and the long-term viability of partnership depends on a continuing and dynamic process.

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He holds masters in Anthropology from UoH and post masters in natural resource management from IIFM, Bhopal. He has more than 6 years of experience in social and health development and presented more than 10 papers in international conference on health issues. Currently pursuing his Erasmus Mundus Fellowship in public health in Europe

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