Nodal officers to monitor CSR-funded public schools; ‘diversion' of corporate funds flagged
The State government has appointed nodal officers to coordinate and expedite the construction of CSR-funded Karnataka Public Schools (KPSs), following a review of the progress of the schools and their funding.
Commissioner for Industrial Development Gunjan Krishna has been appointed as the coordinating officer, and Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation managing director Khushboo G. Chowdhary has been appointed as the CEO. The two officers will work with various corporates to mobilise CSR funds for the KPSs.
Slow progress
The decision to appoint nodal officers was taken in view of the slow progress in setting up 2,000 KPSs in the State.
Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed unhappiness over slow progress in the construction of KPSs in the State and diversion of funds to NGOs in other States. He pulled up the Deputy Commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs during a meeting to review the progress of KPSs.
'CSR funds to the tune of ₹8,000 crore are available in the State. We had given clear instructions two years ago that CSR funds of corporates must be used to build KPSs. It has come to our notice that some corporates from the State are allocating CSR funds to some NGOs in other States and taking back 50% of that amount in cash. This is resulting in a loss for the State. It is our responsibility to use it for building the schools here,' he said.
'Branding' schools
'The corporates need not give the government any funds, they can build a school and hand it over to the government. The government can even provide land and building designs. The corporates can even brand the schools in their name,' he said.
'We are building 13 CSR KPSs in my constituency, and each of these schools costs anywhere between ₹9 crore and ₹12 crore. The work on the schools is progressing well only in some regions, while there is negligence in other regions,' he said.
Mr. Shivakumar urged the district administration to write letters to corporates in their districts and hold a meeting to discuss the construction of schools using their CSR funds. 'Set a target to build one model public school in every taluk and based on that feedback, set a target to build one school for three gram panchayats,' he told the Deputy Commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs.
'I have instructed the Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner and zilla panchayat CEO to call a meeting of all corporates in their jurisdiction and discuss the allocation of CSR funds. Similarly, district administrations must hold meetings with corporates,' he said, adding that he would take regular progress reports from now on.
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Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Karnataka government seeks aid from corporates to build public schools
Bengaluru: Unhappy with the progress of Karnataka public schools, the state govt has appointed nodal officers to coordinate and expedite the construction of CSR-funded schools. Commissioner for industrial development, Gunjan Krishna was appointed as the coordinating officer; and Karnataka state industrial infrastructure development corporation, MD Khushboo G Chowdhary will be the CEO. The two officers will work with various corporates to mobilise CSR funds for schools. KPSes are kindergarten to class 12 schools, which the govt wants to project as signature schools providing quality education with robust infrastructure. The decision to appoint nodal officers was taken in view of the slow progress in setting up 2,000 KPSes in the state. The two officers will work to expedite the execution of this project, said the DCM's office in a press statement. Currently, there are 285 KPSes, and the plan is to add 2,000 more in three years. In a review meeting, deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar took a dig at the district commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs. "CSR funds to the tune of Rs 8,000 crore are available in the state. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo We gave clear instructions two years ago that they must be used to build KPSes. It has come to our notice that some corporations from the state are allocating CSR funds to private NGOs in other states and taking back 50% of that amount in cash. This is resulting in a loss for the state; it is our responsibility to use it for building the schools," he said. He said the corporates need not give the govt any funds; they can build a school and hand it over to the govt. "The govt can even provide lands and building designs. The corporates can brand the schools in their name," he said. He asked the district administration to write letters to corporates and arrange a meeting with them. "The education department will provide designs for the schools; the corporates need to get a building up and running. Set a target to build one model public school in every taluk and, based on the feedback, set a target to build one school for three grama panchayats," he told DCs and CEOs. The DCM said 13 CSR Karnataka public schools are being constructed in his constituency, and each of these schools costs between Rs 9 crore and Rs 12 crore. "The work is progressing well only in some regions, while there is negligence in other regions," he said.
India Gazette
3 days ago
- India Gazette
Nodal officers appointed for Karnataka Public Schools project
Bengaluru (Karnataka) [India], May 31 (ANI): The state government on Saturday appointed nodal officers to coordinate and expedite the construction of CSR-funded Karnataka Public Schools, as per a release. Commissioner for Industrial Development Gunjan Krishna has been appointed as the coordinating officer, and Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation and MD Khushboo G Chowdhary have been appointed as the CEO. The two officers will work with various corporates to mobilise CSR funds for the Karnataka Public Schools. The Karnataka Public Schools is a dream project of the DCM to upgrade educational infrastructure in rural schools and provide high quality education to students from rural areas. All the schools would be built with CSR funds from corporates. The decision to appoint nodal officers was taken in view of the slow progress in setting up 2000 Karnataka Public Schools in the state. The two officers will work to expedite the execution of this project. In another move, the Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramiah issued strong instructions to officials across state during a progress review meeting and stated that districts must work to reduce the percentage of severely malnourished children by at least one percent every year. Addressing the issue of malnourished children, the CM said that although the problem cannot be eliminated overnight due to social challenges, districts must work to reduce the percentage of severely malnourished children by at least 1 per cent every year. He issued this directive to the Deputy Commissioners of Bidar, Vijayanagar, and Ballari. 'There are social reasons why it's not possible to eliminate the issue all at once. Therefore, reducing the percentage by 1 per cent every year can help,' he said. The meeting, attended by ministers and senior bureaucrats, witnessed the CM giving clear directives aimed at improving governance and service delivery. He also emphasised continuous health monitoring of children, including tracking haemoglobin levels, and questioned the lack of visible improvements in nutritional status despite the provision of milk, eggs, and supplements. 'A scientific report must be prepared to understand why there is no progress. Based on that, corrective steps should be taken,' the CM said. (ANI)
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Nodal officers to monitor CSR-funded public schools; ‘diversion' of corporate funds flagged
The State government has appointed nodal officers to coordinate and expedite the construction of CSR-funded Karnataka Public Schools (KPSs), following a review of the progress of the schools and their funding. Commissioner for Industrial Development Gunjan Krishna has been appointed as the coordinating officer, and Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation managing director Khushboo G. Chowdhary has been appointed as the CEO. The two officers will work with various corporates to mobilise CSR funds for the KPSs. Slow progress The decision to appoint nodal officers was taken in view of the slow progress in setting up 2,000 KPSs in the State. Earlier, Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar expressed unhappiness over slow progress in the construction of KPSs in the State and diversion of funds to NGOs in other States. He pulled up the Deputy Commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs during a meeting to review the progress of KPSs. 'CSR funds to the tune of ₹8,000 crore are available in the State. We had given clear instructions two years ago that CSR funds of corporates must be used to build KPSs. It has come to our notice that some corporates from the State are allocating CSR funds to some NGOs in other States and taking back 50% of that amount in cash. This is resulting in a loss for the State. It is our responsibility to use it for building the schools here,' he said. 'Branding' schools 'The corporates need not give the government any funds, they can build a school and hand it over to the government. The government can even provide land and building designs. The corporates can even brand the schools in their name,' he said. 'We are building 13 CSR KPSs in my constituency, and each of these schools costs anywhere between ₹9 crore and ₹12 crore. The work on the schools is progressing well only in some regions, while there is negligence in other regions,' he said. Mr. Shivakumar urged the district administration to write letters to corporates in their districts and hold a meeting to discuss the construction of schools using their CSR funds. 'Set a target to build one model public school in every taluk and based on that feedback, set a target to build one school for three gram panchayats,' he told the Deputy Commissioners and zilla panchayat CEOs. 'I have instructed the Bengaluru Deputy Commissioner and zilla panchayat CEO to call a meeting of all corporates in their jurisdiction and discuss the allocation of CSR funds. Similarly, district administrations must hold meetings with corporates,' he said, adding that he would take regular progress reports from now on.
