Edu dept’s crowdfunding slumps further, yields just Rs 49,000 in five months

Chennai

The portal, ‘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.

“From the launch till July this year, the portal attracted more than Rs 7 lakh, which was contributed by as many as 169 support partners and individuals”, a senior official from the School Education Department told DT Next on Tuesday.

Stating that the online crowdfunding could receive only about Rs 49,000 since July till date, he said, “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’, only 12 supporters have enrolled since July by pushing the total to 181.

Claiming that the portal would provide an online platform for the alumni of government schools to contribute to the growth of their institutions, the official said that more than 30 multinational companies, including Dell, IBM, L&T, Cognizant, and Infosys, besides Indian organizations including SBI, Tafe, Ashok Leyland have joined as support partners, the total amount received as on date (Tuesday) was Rs 7,57,122” 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, “After a further survey, the support is needed for 20,298 State-run institutions with beneficiaries also increased to 26,36,409”.

Pointing out that lack of marketing tactics and less awareness among the public besides the pandemic, the portal could not get the expected funds so far, he said, “Once the normalcy is restored in the State, intensive awareness drive will be launched through schools and also through advertisements to get more funds”.

The official also said the website’s design will be further improved to attract philanthropists and firms by adding videos of the schools, which were desperately required funds for improving the infrastructure of the campus.