Mumbai, Oct 16 (IANS) Maharashtra School Education Minister Dadaji Bhuse on Thursday said the industries should give funds under the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) for providing various facilities in the schools across the state.

“More than two crore students are studying in over one lakh schools in the state. These students are provided quality education based on the concept of Nation First. Various facilities are provided in schools through the government. Along with this, various industries also cooperate through the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) fund, but this fund should be used according to the needs of schools and students by bringing harmony in this,” added the minister.

Minister Bhuse today interacted with the CSR heads of various industries and hoped that the industries and government can work together with an aim of achieving coherence and spend funds to provide and upgrade various amenities in the schools across the state.

“With the feeling that we owe something to society, many industries cooperate with schools and students through CSR funds, but they can also spend on providing various facilities in the schools,” he noted.

“The state government is implementing various schemes and initiatives keeping the students at the centre. Along with teachers, facilities like clean drinking water, clean toilets, good buildings, laboratories and other amenities are provided in schools. Along with this, more information is provided on the Vidyanjali portal, keeping in mind the needs of students and schools. The industries should consider these needs and contribute so that more facilities are available to the students,” said Minister Bhuse.

Principal Secretary Ranjitsinh Deol said that CSR funds are being made available in the state with the cooperation of industries. Information related to all schools and students in the state is available through Unified District Information System for Education Plus (UDISE+) and on the central government’s ‘Vidyanjali’ portal, and he expressed the hope that this fund should be spent in the right place, keeping in mind the needs of the schools.

He said that the demand for schools is being registered on the ‘ Vidyanjali ‘ portal and that information will be used for proper planning of CSR.

He informed that the state government has announced the ‘Adopted School Scheme’ and if industries adopt schools through this medium, the name of the industry will be added to the name of the schools.

Deol made a presentation on the current status of school education in the state, the activities being carried out by CSR and for which activities the government wants cooperation from the industries through the CSR fund.

On their part, the industry representatives gave information about the areas in which they would like to work.

–IANS

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