CSR funds helping several Govt. schools, says Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil

Karnataka Minister Patil highlights corporate contributions to school infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of education in rural areas.

Karnataka Infrastructure Development Minister M.B. Patil said on Saturday that several government schools are getting a facelift due to corporate social responsibility contributions by several companies.

He was speaking at the foundation stone laying ceremony for the construction of 10 school rooms at a government school in Kotyal village. The project is taken up under the CSR grant of the Kempegowda International Airport Foundation. “Such contribution of the industry is leading to a radical change in the education sector,” he said.

“Education is essential for society’s progress. We are trying to provide basic facilities such as well-equipped school buildings, separate toilets for children, quality education, smart classes, and others to facilitate children in rural areas to get quality education,’‘ the Minister said.

Mr. Patil said that the foundation would work with the government not only in the construction of school rooms, but to address the issue of shortage of teachers. “They have agreed to pay the teachers’ salaries, which has demonstrated the social concern of the institution,” he said.

Under the CSR grant of this foundation, development works are being carried out at a cost of ₹2.5 crore each in Kotyal and Katraal of Babaleshwar constituency. Accordingly, various companies have selected several villages and, using CSR grants, various development works are being carried out, like road development, construction of school rooms, smart classes, extracurricular activities for children, sports, well-equipped libraries, and separate toilets in schools for children, he said.

He claimed that nearly 45% of the industrial investment promised in the recent global investor conference was in rural areas in Northern Karnataka. “More than 500 people have already been recruited by the Toyota Company,’‘ he said. According to him, recruitment will also be done by Foxconn Company, and 10,000 people will get employment opportunities with the establishment of industries in this area.

Bhaskar Ananda Rao, Finance Officer of Kempegowda International Airport Foundation, said that the purpose of the foundation was to undertake various social welfare works. The foundation has undertaken development works in various fields including water, education, and health. He said that the foundation has already undertaken the reconstruction of five government schools and renovation of 25 schools.