CB BureauBiocon Foundation, the CSR arm of Biocon Ltd, has inaugurated a newly constructed block of five classrooms at the Government Higher Primary School at Huskur in Anekal taluk, Bengaluru.
As the decision to reopen schools was kept in abeyance, Biocon Foundation utilised the last few months to construct classroom blocks and renovate schools and anganwadis in locations across Karnataka. The Government Higher Primary School has about 200 students from semi-urban and rural populations in Anekal taluk. Currently, such projects are being carried out in Karnataka only.
The spokesperson informs CauseBecause that the Foundation regularly gets involved in infrastructure development in schools of Karnataka, and in this financial year it has rebuilt two new schools – GHPS, Sira town, Tumkur district, and GHPS, Huskur, Anekal taluk – and two model anganwadis in Kalavaru and Maravoor (DK district). It has also refurbished a toilet block in GHPS, Pejavara, DK district, and provided computers and printers in 5 schools in DK district as well as equipment and electrical and minor repair works in 14 anganwadis.
The Foundation takes up these activities only if request comes from the government department and with due approvals from Biocon’s CSR Committee. This, again, is subject to availability of funds and criticality of initiative. In the past, it has contributed to improvement of subject/ textbook-based workbooks through DSERT, developed modules on life-skill education and provided basic first aid for teachers in Karnataka through the Guruchetana programme, provided adolescent health education in select high schools of Anekal taluk, improved co-curricular skills among tribal children in Kodagu district, distributed computers to schools in Bangalore Urban, Kolar and Udupi districts, and set up a digital lab in NASD (VTU) in Haliyal, Uttara Kannada district.
In a press release shared with CB, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, founder and managing trustee, Biocon Foundation, said, ‘The new premises will facilitate safe distancing and improved hygiene. This is a time when teachers should plan the reopening with great care and train the students in safe practices. We hope that students will return enthusiastically to their newly revamped school when the situation improves.’