Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR): Government of Karnataka partners with NGO Bal Utsav to revitalise 350 schools 

Bengaluru, India: The Government of Karnataka has partnered with Bal Utsav, the leading NGO in the school education space to revitalise 350 government schools in the state. Under the partnership, Bal Utsav has been selected as the implementation partner for the government’s pioneering initiative for public school development, ‘Nammoora Shaale, Nammellara Shaale’, which aims to improve the quality of education in State-run schools.

The Nammoora Shaale Nammellara Shaale initiative brings elected representatives, government departments, communities, private educational institutes, media and civil society organisations to revitalise government schools in Karnataka. The initiative aims to adopt over 350 schools with a commitment to establish at least one school complex (group of elementary schools, secondary schools and senior secondary Schools) in every district of Karnataka.

As the implementation partner, Bal Utsav has signed a State-Wide MoU with the Department of Education to establish and operate a model school in every district of Karnataka in the first year (2023-2024) and in every Taluk of Karnataka from the second year (2024-2025). The initiative is expected to bring public participation into public schools and make quality education accessible to children from lower-income families across the state. The general public can participate by providing monetary support here (balutsav.in/nsns) or by donating classroom supplies.

Bal Utsav will facilitate the rollout of this initiative across the State and will also be responsible for the operations like overseeing the school infrastructural developments, providing students with classroom essentials, WaSH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), teacher development and ensuring quality education through scholarships. The initiative has already received pledges from leading corporates and individuals to support over 60 schools in the next 12 months.

Shri BC Nagesh, Minister of School Education, Government of Karnataka, said, “The initiative Nammoora Shaale, Nammellara Shaale affirms the crucial role education plays in society and the nation’s growth. We must prioritise education and provide the necessary resources required to enhance our current education system. We express our gratitude towards Bal Utsav and its founder Ramesh Balasundaram, who understands the ground reality of this space, for their proactive efforts towards the goal of elevating our schools to the desired standard.”

Binu Verma, Co-founder and Director of Bal Utsav, said, “We at Bal Utsav believe that this initiative is a significant step towards ensuring quality education for all children in Karnataka and is an important milestone in bringing the ‘public’ into public schools. The overwhelming support that the initiative continues to gather from the Department of Education, Government of Karnataka and various communities has been inspiring and humbling. With education at the heart of it, we remain committed to creating a better future for children, their families and the society.”

Speaking about the overwhelming support from the Public for this initiative she said, “We thank you for being the kind of people who not only believe in a world where every child receives an effective education but are dedicated to making it happen. Thank You!”