British Biologicals MD gifts Rs 2.25 crore for renovation of Karnataka government school

A government school in Karnataka has been renovated with a Rs 2.25-crore gift from alumnus and managing director (MD) of British Biologicals, V.N. Reddy.

Reddy visited his alma mater some time ago and, on seeing its dilapidated condition, donated the amount from his company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) fund to rebuild and renovate the structure.

The Karnataka government executed the project under the Marali Shaalege Baa (Come Back to School) scheme.

Reddy also plans to launch the Our School Our Contributions scheme for government schools in Bengaluru with the help of the education ministry. The scheme will operate with a singular focus of renovating the state’s schools.

The school now has a four-storeyed building with updated equipment and furniture. The renovated school was inaugurated by the primary and secondary education minister of Karnataka, B.C. Nagesh.

The Karnataka government will fill the gap in the teacher- ratio by employing 5,000 teachers across the state and also come up with a new scheme Namma Shaale Namma Koduge (Our School Our Contribution) to help schools in need of funds, Nagesh said. The state also plans to create an app to keep track of these funds and donors.

The minister revealed plans to collaborate with more philanthropists to renovate and refurbish other schools in Karnataka.

The freshly renovated school has got 150 new students on its rolls.

Reddy hopes that his alma mater will impart education to the poorest of students and nurture more talent in the days to come. He also aims to set up a well-equipped primary healthcare centre in his hometown.

Jayanagara MLA Sowmya Reddy, former mayor S.K. Nataraj, Bengaluru zilla panchayat CEO, Sangappa, public instructions department deputy director, Rajendra, and block education officer K Prakash were some of the dignitaries present at the inauguration ceremony of the renovated school.