Guwahati, June 4: The National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has convened a meeting of at least 40 corporate groups for an interaction with NGOs from across the Northeast here tomorrow to discuss ways to increase corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending on welfare of children in the region.

The daylong meeting will be organised jointly by the Assam social welfare department and trade organisations - Confederation of Indian Industries (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry. It is likely to come up with a roadmap to help NGOs in the region to get CSR funds for the welfare of children.

"Trafficking is a huge problem in the Northeast. Child labour and child marriage are also rampant. There are many organisations working for the welfare of children but funding is still a constraint for them. According to the Companies (Corporate Social Responsibility Policy) Rules, 2014, every qualifying company allocates two per cent of their profit as CSR fund for welfare purposes. But many NGOs in the Northeast have not yet been able to get the funds for various reasons. We will discuss all these issues tomorrow and try to find out how the CSR spending for welfare of children can be increased significantly," commission member Priyank Kanoongo said here today.

He said a study by the Confederation of Indian Industries last year found CSR spending in the Northeast was only 11 per cent.

The study covered CSR allocation of Rs 8,000 crore by 1,200 companies.

"Another survey of CSR funds of 250 companies in 2014-15 found that the Northeast received no such funds in the region. We want to help the NGOs approach the corporate groups for funds and utilise them according to the guidelines," he said.

The country generates Rs 4.2 billion in CSR funds every year.

The chairperson of the Assam state commission for protection of child rights, Sunita Changkakoti, hoped the meeting would address the funding problem of NGOs working for welfare of children in the Northeast.

Some of the major corporate groups who are likely to attend tomorrow's meeting are International Finance Corporation, Bengal Chemicals Pvt. Ltd, Marico Ltd, Hindustan Unilever Ltd, SBI Capitals, Yes Bank, Airtel, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, Oil India Ltd, Indian Oil Corporation and ITC.