Bengaluru, 23 July (H.S.):

Addressing the Global CSR and Sustainability Summit 2026 organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI), Mr. Shivakumar said Karnataka has nearly 10,000 CSR initiatives and that the government would constitute a separate team to track their implementation across districts, ensuring greater accountability and impact.

Describing primary education as the government's immediate priority, the Chief Minister appealed to industries to adopt government schools, strengthen educational infrastructure and support skill development. He said CSR should not be limited to constructing buildings but should also focus on improving learning outcomes by involving professionals in mentoring students and strengthening teaching standards.

“I want you to adopt schools and build infrastructure,” he said, citing companies such as Toyota as examples of corporates contributing to government school development.

Mr. Shivakumar said CSR should be treated as an investment in sustainable development rather than an act of charity. He also credited former Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee with introducing the CSR framework, which has encouraged industries to play a larger role in nation-building.

Highlighting Karnataka's strengths, he said the State has developed a robust education and innovation ecosystem, with 38 international schools and 71 medical colleges producing nearly 13,900 doctors annually, besides around one lakh other healthcare professionals. Karnataka's information technology sector, he added, provides employment to nearly 26 lakh people.

The Chief Minister also spoke about Bengaluru's rapid growth, noting that its population had nearly doubled from around 70 lakh during his tenure as a minister in the S.M. Krishna government to about 1.4 crore now. He attributed the city's global prominence to its educational institutions, technology ecosystem and the vision of earlier governments.

Calling for balanced regional development, Mr. Shivakumar said quality educational opportunities should be created across rural Karnataka to reduce migration to Bengaluru. He also stressed that labour welfare and industrial growth must go hand in hand, adding that investments in education and sustainability are essential as artificial intelligence and other emerging technologies reshape society.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman