Abstract:
This study was conducted to observe, identify, investigate, and explain the overall
Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices in Delhi Coal Mining S. Co. which is
located in Jimma zone, Dedo woreda and try to study its impact on the community and
the operation area, through evaluating the company's CSR performance levels against the
agreements made between the company and the concerned public authorities, identifying
strength and weaknesses of the activities, and look for reasons of underperformance (if
any) by the mining company with suggested possible measure for future improvement.
To undertake the study quantitative and qualitative data from primary and secondary
sources was collected from total of 68 participants categorized in to five groups which
constitutes 2 company high level officials, 12 company employees, 5 members of the
woreda investment & environmental protection board, 3 kebele administration office
executives, and 46 displaced and to be displaced communities using observation,
interview questionnaire, focus group discussion and company and other relevant
documents which were analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively depending on the nature
of the data.
Even though the company has showed willingness to incorporate CSR policies in its
documents, and there was participants awareness regarding CSR issues, the analysis of
the collected data revealed as that the company's CSR related activities were practically
poor and even those performed relatively well were not implemented on voluntary bases,
rather they were issues that were forced by law and mandatory for operation of the
company. The reasons for underperformance of the company's CSR related activities
were indicated as lack of coordination and awareness, poor control mechanism, profit
orientated management, company officials turn over, and budgetary problems
respectively where suggested remedies for future improvement includes Stakeholders
smooth and continuous relationship, Time bounded work schedule, Societal involvement
and creation of feeling of belongingness, Integrated and strong awareness program, and
Government enforcement /intervention respectively.
