Bengaluru, Jul 23 (PTI) Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Thursday announced that the state government had decided that CSR funds generated in Karnataka should be spent within the state.
He said priority would be given to primary education in rural areas to help curb migration to cities.
The CM said the initiative was aimed at strengthening rural education and reducing migration to Bengaluru, while reaffirming the state’s commitment to supporting the electronics, defence and aerospace sectors.
“As far as Karnataka is concerned, we have decided that Corporate Social Responsibility funds generated here should also be spent here.
“Our priority is primary education in rural areas. We want to stop migration to cities,” Shivakumar said while inaugurating the 15th Strategic Electronics Summit – Defence and Aerospace, organised by the Electronic Industries Association of India in Bengaluru.
Highlighting Karnataka’s leadership in the electronics, aerospace and defence sectors, Shivakumar said the state produces more than one lakh engineering graduates every year and has built a strong talent pool over the decades through institutions such as IISc, HAL, ISRO, BEL, ITI and BHEL.
He said Karnataka remained India’s leading hub for technology, research and innovation, hosting over 900 Global Capability Centres, the country’s largest startup ecosystem and Google’s largest campus outside the United States.
“If companies are stronger, we are stronger,” he said, urging industry to invest in innovation, research and rural education.
Referring to the defence manufacturing sector, the CM welcomed the Centre’s incentives for entrepreneurs and said strategic electronics was central to national security.
“You are not only helping your businesses, but also strengthening the country’s security and making India proud,” he said.
On artificial intelligence, Shivakumar said the government was working to introduce AI into school curricula to prepare future generations, despite concerns over job displacement.
Inviting industry stakeholders to work closely with the government, he said Karnataka was open to suggestions for policy improvements.
“The Karnataka government is committed to working with you to make both Karnataka and the country proud,” he said. PTI GMS SSK
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.