B'luru has 2nd most philanthropists in India

Bengaluru is the second city in the country to have the highest number of philanthropists who spend more money, compared with New Delhi, states the fourth Harun India Philanthropy List 2016.

HCL founder Shiv Nadar tops the Hurun India Philanthropy list with Rs 630 crore donation towards education in the list, which has 27 individuals who have spent above Rs 10 crore for various philanthropic causes. Bengaluru has a total of four philanthropists, led by Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan and wife, Sudha Gopalakrishnan, who came in second in the ranking with a total donation of Rs 313 crore primarily towards healthcare, social development and education.

Kris and his wife have a total networth of Rs 8,400 crore. They spend money through Pratiksha Trust and also provide scholarships to medical and engineering students and monthly pensions to senior citizens.

The other Bengaluru philanthropists include Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy and family, Wipro’s Azim Premji and family and Biocon Chairman and Managing Director Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw.

While Murthy and family spent Rs 14 core to encourage entrepreneurship out of their total net worth of Rs 10,400 crore, Premji and family spent Rs 34 crore for education from their total net worth of Rs 74,700 crore.

Kiran shared Rs 45 crore for healthcare-related philanthropic activities from her total net worth of Rs 10,800 crore. “My philanthropic efforts are directed towards building a society, where everyone has equal access to quality healthcare irrespective of person’s economic and social status,” she said.

According to the report, Indian philanthropy witnessed a dull year in 2016, as the total amount pledged came to Rs 2,334 crore, and the list shortened from 36 to 27 names.

Even though education remains the most favoured philanthropic cause in the country, the Modi government’s initiatives such as Digital India, rural electrification and other social initiatives are encouraging entrepreneurs to invest more into rural areas as part of long-term business goals.