CSR: Toyota education program to cover 24,500 school children from 327 schools

BENGALURU: Toyota Kirloskar Motor kicked off the distribution of essential school supplies to children covering 327 government schools from the state. The school supply kit consisting of bags, books, geometry box’s, drawing books and crayons will be distributed to 24,500 students across first to tenth grades in Government schools at Ramanagara district, where the company’s manufacturing plant is located.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor handed over the books and bags to the local school children in the presence of Gangemare Gowda, Deputy Director of Public Instruction and Marilinge Gowda, Block Education Officer, Ramanagara, marking the commencement of the activity.

Toyota’s timely interventions and focused approach has stimulated a steady increase in the overall enrolment of school children amongst various Government schools at Bidadi region at various grades up by 24% in 2018, as compared to 2016-17. Such initiatives have been a significant step in ensuring uninterrupted learning and reducing school dropouts amongst the financially challenged children.

Additionally, for past three years TKM has been working to build capacity of teachers in Government Schools on their English Communication and teaching skills.

Gangemare Gowda, Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Ramanagara said, “The company has been committed ensuring education of highest quality and encouraging education for all. We encourage more corporates to come forward and help us provide free and quality education among the weaker sections of the community, so that together we can build a better tomorrow..”

Naveen Soni, Vice President – Toyota Kirloskar Motor said, “We have been working closely with local communities to catalyze sustainable impact through system and behavioral change. Children are at the core of these interventions and act as change agents.”

“In addition to providing learning aids, sports kits, we have also upgraded the infrastructure of Government Lower Primary Schools in Ramanagara. This has helped in motivating the students, teachers and changing the perception of the parents. Our aim is to significantly contribute towards reducing school dropouts rate in the local communities with such sustained efforts.” he added.

These programs have expanded over a period, enhancing the beneficiary coverage to around 24,500 school children across 327 Government Schools this academic year, as compared to 3000 children in 2007.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor over the years has initiated several sustainable projects to accelerate access to quality education in the country. The company has reconstructed many Government schools, Yandahalli & Kupya villages in Mysore District, Dyavalinganapalya and Thalaguppe villages of Ramanagara District in May 2017, benefitting over 95 students covering 1st – 5th grades. They also constructed Ashrama School at Byramangala, LPS School at Medanahalli & Ashrama School at Hosadoddi.

In 2018, the company distributed 1,30,000 notebooks, 1750 nos. of bags, drawing books & crayons and 2700 geometry boxes to over 24500 students across 327 schools. Also these programs have expanded over a period, enhancing the beneficiary coverage to more than 24,500 school children during last academic year, as compared to 3000 children in 2007 when first launched. The passing package introduced to 10^th std children, contributed Ramanagra district to become No 2 in SSLC passing rank in the state.

Under the Government’s national campaign to provide clean sanitation facilities for girl child in India, Toyota has pledged its support to ‘Swachh Bharat – Swachh Vidyalaya’ – by constructing sanitation facilities at identified schools by the Government in 3 locations across India. The company constructed 588 units of sanitation facilities in 257 government schools in Ramanagara district & 218 units in 28 schools in Varanasi [UP] & Vaishali [Bihar].