BANGALORE: While there is a cry for educated politicians across the country, many politicians in Karnataka run educational institutions serving the student community. Not because they are too concerned about education, but that is one sector that rakes in the moolah.
Though some educationalists who were already running schools and colleges became politicians, many started running educational institutions only after becoming members of the Legislative Council, Assembly or City Corporation.
Former union minister for civil aviation, C M Ibrahim, is the founder chairman of HKBK Group of Institutions which offers engineering, management and also degree courses like BCA and B Sc. He started the institutions in 1997, after he become the union minister in 1996.
Former union minister for railways C K Jaffer Sharief runs KNS Institute of Technology, which was started in memory of his son C J Khader Nawaz Sharief in 1999.
When S M Krishna was the chief minister, as many as eight ministers in his cabinet were running educational institutions. Out of these, former higher education minister G Parameshwar, is the the joint secretary of Siddartha Education Society, Tumkur which runs 84 educational institutions including engineering, medical, dental, first grade, nursing, TCH colleges and many schools.
The present MLA Shamanur Shivashankarappa who is also the KPCC treasurer is the honorary secretary of Bapuji Education Association, Davangere. The Association runs many colleges including engineering, medical, dental, pharmacy and nursing. His son S S Mallikarjun was a minister in S M Krishna’s cabinet. He is also the joint secretary of the association.
Former MLA, M R Seetharam is the vice chairman of M S Ramaiah Group of Institutions that runs a chain of educational institutions from kindergarten to master degree courses. KPCC working president D K Shivakumar runs Global Academy of Technology in Bangalore.
The East West College of Science and Management runs engineering, medical, nursing and many other colleges.
This group belonged to ex-mayor of Bangalore late C M Nagaraj.
One of the prominent educational institutions in Doddaballapur - R L Jalappa Institute of Technology - was started by former MP R L Jalappa. He also runs Dr Devaraj Urs Medical College in Kolar. Apart from these, he runs many other colleges.