Even 8 months after launch, Edu dept's web-based crowdfunding gets only Rs 7 L

The portal titled 'Be a Champion of Change for Government Schools', an initiative of the School Education Department, was launched in November 2019 to benefit more than 20,000 government schools and government-aided schools across the State and to help more than 25 lakh students.

A senior official from the Directorate of School Education told DT Next that apart from corporates, web-based crowdfunding platform could enable public participation to support the development of infrastructure and facilities in the State-run schools.

Pointing out that the portal will also facilitate the alumni of government schools to contribute to the growth of their institutions, the official said that so far, more than 30 multinational companies, including Dell, IBM, L&T and Infosys, have joined as support partners.

"Soon after the launch of the website, we got more than Rs 2 lakh," he said, adding that the funds were gradually coming even through contributions from the public and the amount reached to more than Rs 5 lakh in January 2020.

Stating that support was required for as many as 20,113 government schools across the State to benefit a total of 25,16,544 students, the official said, "So far we got only Rs 7,08,137 from meagre 169 supporters."

Though financial contributions made through the portal are exempt from Income Tax under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act, 1961 and all the contributors will get a certificate honouring themselves as 'Champion of Change', the official said, "Since March this year, only a few came forward to contribute, which was less than one lakh."