According to official figures, 3,730 government schools across the State have been adopted, and the total contribution was almost Rs 30 crore since June 2008.
Commissioner of the Department of Public Instruction G Kumar Naik said, “The response has been tremendous and it shows the kind of goodwill education enjoys among the public. There have been some senior citizens who have pledged their entire wealth to the schools.”
Thousands of poor students studying in these government schools have been benefited by the scheme which has proved a success, he added.
The credit goes to corporates and small entrepreneurs coming in large numbers to adopt schools.
Under the scheme, benefactors can adopt schools for a maximum of five years and can contribute according to their capacities towards the infrastructure, school bags, uniforms, meals etc.
As many as 35 schools from the Bangalore North educational district have received funds to the tune of over Rs 6 crore. Bellary district stands next with a total of 74 schools adopted and Rs 4.2 crore contribution.
Uttara Kannada has taken the lead with 702 schools adopted and Rs 1.32 crore contributed by the benefactors.
In Mysore district about 370 schools have been adopted.
The official figures are extremely impressive with schools being adopted in all but one district of the State.
Over two hundred schools each have been adopted in Hassan, Shimoga, Chitradurga and Tumkur districts.
The one district that drew a blank out of the 33 educational districts is the Coffee-rich Chikmagalur district.
Token of gratitude
Entrepreneur Ashok Reddy, who along with his three siblings has adopted the Government high school in Lakshmi Sagara village in Anekal Taluk, said that the success has not come as a surprise.
Speaking to Deccan Herald, Ashok said “A number of benefactors happen to be students of schools that they have adopted. There is an immense gratitude amongst many of them and they just want to give back.”
Ashok and his siblings were the alumni of the school, and have funded the construction of classrooms and other infrastructure. “It was suffering from neglect and we entered into an agreement with the government to build a few classrooms. We have also been giving away notebooks, uniforms and school bags in the name of our parents,” he said.
He added that over 50 students from surrounding hamlets were benefited from this largesse.
DH News Service