06/09/2025
FKCCI presents “India CSR and Sustainability” Award
Karnataka ranks third in social responsibility: Quality education is the need of the hour – Dr. G. Parameshwara*
*Bengaluru, Sept. 4*: Social responsibility is ingrained in Karnataka, which today stands third in the country in terms of CSR funding. The state has made remarkable achievements in the fields of education, industry, and healthcare, said Home Minister Dr. G. Parameshwara.
Speaking after presenting the “India CSR and Sustainability” Award at FKCCI’s Sir M. Visvesvaraya Hall, he noted that CSR is a system meant for the development of society. Karnataka has been witnessing such initiatives for four to five decades now. The CSR Act came into effect in 2013. In 2023–24 alone, ₹34,000 crore was contributed across the country under CSR, of which Karnataka ranked third with a generous contribution of ₹2,500 crore — a significant development. The state leads in education, with schools in almost every village, but quality education remains the pressing need of the day. Karnataka is also contributing immensely to the nation’s industrial growth, he added.
Eco-friendly measures have been taken to encourage investments in Karnataka. Investors are keen on Mangaluru, which stands second among coastal cities in attracting investments. Plans are in place to further develop Mangaluru. Health tourism was initiated during S.M. Krishna’s tenure as Chief Minister, which led to the establishment of hospitals such as Apollo, Wockhardt, and Narayana Hrudayalaya. All these sectors are serving society meaningfully. About 40% of India’s software exports come from Karnataka, and people from the state can be found across the globe, Dr. Parameshwara said.
He also recalled that former Prime Minister P.V. Narasimha Rao transformed universities through UGC reforms. From 1947 to 1991 was one phase, and the liberalization of the 1990s brought sweeping changes. Today, India is globally at the forefront, a strength that has emerged through industrial growth. At one point, the nation imported food grains; now, it exports them. Following the Green Revolution, production has multiplied two- to three-fold. Investments in defence, education, and green infrastructure have also risen significantly, he said.
Awards were presented across categories including Corporate, Corporate & Foundation, NGOs, MSMEs, and in sectors such as health, education, skill development, women’s empowerment, water, sanitation, hygiene, and water management.
FKCCI Institutional Responsibility Committee Chairman Keerthan Kumar, newly elected FKCCI President Uma Reddy, Senior Vice President T. Sairam Prasad, Immediate Past President M.G. Balakrishna, and several others were present.
