Dr. Shalini Rajneesh Calls for AI-Powered Rural Transformation at Inauguration of Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya Rural AI Skilling & Experience (RAISE) Centre Muddenahalli, Karnataka | 27 July 2026
The Bharat Ratna Sir M. Visvesvaraya Rural AI Skilling & Experience (RAISE) Centre was inaugurated at Sathya Sai Grama, marking a significant milestone in empowering rural youth through Artificial Intelligence, digital technologies and innovation.
The programme was graced by Dr. Shalini Rajneesh, IAS, Chief Secretary to the Government of Karnataka, along with Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai, Shri G. Srinivasan, Co-Founder & Director of Rural Shores Business Services, senior government officials, industry leaders and academic representatives.
In her keynote address, Dr. Shalini Rajneesh described the initiative as a transformative step towards preparing rural youth for the future while ensuring that opportunities remain rooted in their own communities.
Congratulating Rural Shores and the One World One Family Mission, she observed that AI-driven employment and skill development can help reduce migration from villages by creating high-quality livelihood opportunities closer to home.
She urged that the RAISE model should expand beyond Sathya Sai Grama to villages across Chikkaballapur district and assured continued support from the district administration.
A particularly moving part of her address reflected upon her decade-long association with the Mission.
She recounted how, during her tenure in the Education and Health Departments, collaborative efforts led to the expansion of the SaiSure Nutrition Programme from schools to Anganwadis, addressing malnutrition among children and laying the foundation for improved cognitive development.
Dr. Shalini remarked that good nutrition is the starting point for every child’s learning journey.
She observed that children who receive proper nutrition develop stronger cognitive abilities, enabling them to embrace emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence with confidence.
Looking towards Karnataka’s future, she highlighted the Government’s plans to leverage AI for governance, public service delivery and employment, including the creation of digital platforms that will connect skilled youth with future industry requirements.
She also envisioned Chikkaballapur emerging as a centre for wellness, tourism, education, healthcare and technology-driven livelihoods.
The newly inaugurated RAISE Centre has been established through a collaboration between Rural Shores Business Services, One World One Family Mission and Shri Sathya Sai University for Human Excellence.
Addressing the gathering, Sadguru Sri Madhusudan Sai expressed deep appreciation for Dr. Shalini Rajneesh’s consistent support over the past ten years. He acknowledged her role in shaping several landmark humanitarian initiatives, particularly the expansion of nutrition interventions for school and Anganwadi children, and thanked her for helping translate compassionate ideas into impactful public programmes.
The inauguration reaffirmed a shared commitment between Government, Industry and Civil Society to ensure that rural India actively participates in the nation’s AI-led growth story.
With the launch of the RAISE Centre, Sathya Sai Grama continues to strengthen its vision of integrating nutrition, education, healthcare, technology and livelihoods to build empowered rural communities and contribute meaningfully towards a Viksit Bharat.
