Karnataka: Shivakumar urges corporates to prioritise primary education under CSR

Chief Minister DK Shivakumar on Thursday urged companies to channel their corporate social responsibility (CSR) spending towards strengthening primary education and announced that the state government would set up a dedicated team to monitor CSR projects across Karnataka.

He said the government would track about 10,000 CSR initiatives across the state to improve their effectiveness and ensure benefits reach all regions.

"Your priority should be primary education. I want companies to adopt schools and build educational infrastructure. Firms such as Toyota have already taken the lead, and I want more industries to follow," Shivakumar said while addressing the Global CSR and Sustainability Summit 2026 organised by the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI).


The Chief Minister urged companies to support schools not only through infrastructure but also by providing skilled professionals. "Our children must compete at global standards. That is why we have introduced several progressive policies," he said.

Shivakumar said Karnataka must now focus on balanced regional development instead of concentrating opportunities in Bengaluru. He said students should not have to migrate to the capital for quality education.

He described CSR as an investment in sustainable development rather than charity and credited former Union finance minister Pranab Mukherjee with introducing the framework.

Shivakumar highlighted Karnataka's strengths in education, technology and industry, saying the state has emerged as a global innovation hub because of its talent pool and strong industrial base.

Karnataka's IT sector employs about 2.6 million people, while the state has 71 medical colleges that produce nearly 13,900 doctors and around one lakh healthcare professionals every year, he said. Karnataka also accounts for 38 of India's 140 international schools.

Shivakumar said Bengaluru's population has doubled from about 7 million during his previous stint in government to nearly 14 million, reflecting rapid urbanisation and economic growth. He added that the city continues to attract global talent because of its skilled workforce, favourable climate and entrepreneurial ecosystem.

He also called for a balanced approach to labour welfare, saying industries and workers must grow together for Karnataka to sustain its economic momentum.