PATNA: Vedanta through its foundation has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Bihar (Department of Education & Bihar Education Project Council, (SSA)) to help 1000 Government upper primary Schools in Bihar under the Vedanta E-Shiksha@Schools Programme.
The MoU was signed between Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation, Rajesh Bhushan (IAS) Principal Secretary Public Relations & State Project Director–Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) and Anjani Kumar Singh (IAS), Principal Secretary, Education. The function was presided over by Prashant Kumar Sahi–Hon. Minister for Education, Govt. of Bihar.
Over 1,00,000 underprivileged students from 6 to 8th standard will benefit from this initiative that aims to make learning interesting & interactive through the use of Technology aided learning. As per the MoU, Vedanta Foundation will provide hardware as well as software solutions like LED Pico Projectors with memory and battery backup and text book based educational software i.e. e-content based on course curriculum in local language.
The Foundation will also undertake 6 Days (3 days each in 2 phases) training in use of LED Pico Projector and multimedia content to 3 teachers per school for two years. The training will also be imparted to teachers from the existing 619 Computer Aided Learning Centres running in 619 upper primary schools.
Mr. Prashant Kr. Sahi, Minister for Education, Govt. of Bihar said, “Bihar has been a seat of learning since ancient times. Students of Bihar are very hard-working and have shown exemplary achievement.
Vedanta Foundation’s commitment to bring the latest in education tools through its E-Shiksha@Schools Programme across India is in line with state government’s vision to provide quality education infrastructure to the students of Bihar.
The government will like to see maximum students benefiting from the joint collaboration between Education Department Bihar through Bihar Education Project Council and Vedanta Foundation.”
Speaking about the MOU, Ravi Krishnan, CEO Vedanta Foundation said, “Education for all is a cause championed by our Chairman Anil Agarwal. We are working towards a larger objective to ensure equal education opportunity to the students of the government schools across the country.
Vedanta Foundation’s E-Shiksha@School Programme is designed to provide quality education tools to the underprivileged children of India. Currently, over five lakh students in 4720 schools across the states of Maharashtra, Goa, Rajasthan, Karnataka and Odisha have benefitted through this programme. Through this MoU, about one lakh students in rural Bihar will gain access to quality education tools.”
Vedanta’s Sustainable Development Work: Through 167 formal partnerships with NGOs, government bodies, academic institutions and hospitals, Vedanta through its foundation has reached out to 2.7 million people in 550 villages.The group has invested more than INR 180 Crores in various programmes through 2010-11. 10 lakh students have benefited through its computer education programme.
More than 22 lakh people are being provided healthcare through hospitals and rural health posts. 2.5 lakh children are provided healthy mid-day meals in schools in partnership with NGOs and Government.
Self Help Groups are empowering women through socio-economic independence. More than 35,000 women are currently enrolled in about 2000 SHGs.
