Karnataka govt join hands with GE for CSR activities

They came together for effective promotion of 'Sakala' scheme

General Electric (GE), an American multinational conglomerate, today joined hands with Karnataka Government for effective promotion of 'Sakala' scheme and corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

Sakala scheme under Karnataka Guarantee of Services to Citizens Act was launched by the previous BJP government to deliver its services to citizens within a stipulated time.

"A meeting was held today, with GE company representatives Tejpal Patil, General Counsel and Sharmila Barathan, Director-Corporate Affairs, to discuss Sakala and CSR," state Parliamentary Affairs Minister Jayachandra told reporters here.

The focus of Sakala-GE discussions was on building awareness of citizen serices and training the women in Sakala for women services through cyber-cafes, Jayachandra said.

GE has a strength of 7,000 workforce who are volunteering in training on technical aspects to schools and has tied-up with an NGO IDIA for IT training across the state.

He also said there is a CSR committee in GE which overlooks the activities of CSR initiatives.

Jayachandra said of the 4,033 Sakala complaints received, 3,750 had been resolved with a closure rate of 93 per cent. "As many as 188 complaints are in progress and 283 are pending," he added.

Of 9,882 non-sakala complaints, 4,674 complaints had been resolved and 4,203 are in progress and 5,208 are pending, Jayachandra added.

A manual is being prepared to assist cyber cafes to function more efficiently, the minister said. As many as 135 online services now available for citizens to avail, he added.