VEDANTA KHUSHI - JEEVAN TARANG ENHANCING SPECIAL TALENT OF SPECIAL CHILDREN

Hindustan Zinc improving academic opportunities of these specially abled children by distributing Android Smartphones to educate & learn…

Hindustan Zinc under its unique initiative  - “Jeevan Tarang”, on the occasion of World Disability Day distributed Android Smart Phones to blind students of Pragya Chakshu School, Udaipur and Badhir Baal Kalyan Vikas Samiti, Bhilwara on 4^th December, 2017 with an objective of enhancing academic opportunities for these children and mainstreaming them into the society.

These Android Smart phones will enable the visually impaired students to ‘Read & Write’ using Accessibility Features on the device. These phones will allow these students to access their textbooks in DAISY format from the world’s largest Online Library for the Print Disabled – ‘Bookshare’. This will bring these students at par with other students by allowing them to comprehend, read and prepare their academic content for better understanding hence making them competitive & ready for any exam. These Accessible devices will also allow the students to access the power of the internet and also gain worldly knowledge. They will also be able to enjoy games specially designed for Blind users on their phones.

The report says, India is home to the world's largest number of blind people. Out of 37 million people across the globe who are blind, over 15 million are from India. It is also known that quality education is an absolute necessity in order to succeed and progress in this knowledge driven world. Most of the current educational curriculum is oriented towards the use of the eyesight thus poses paramount challenges to the blind and visually impaired students.

Many organizations are working consciously and tirelessly to ensure these children get their due attention. Through Jeevan Tarang, Hindustan Zinc has provided these Android phones to the students from Class 1^st – Class 5^th of Pragya Chakshu School, Udaipur and to all the students of Badhir Baal Kalyan Vikas Samiti, Bhilwara accessing them the basic human right to educate & learn, a critical step on the path to economic, educational, and social development. Hindustan Zinc has partnered with experts to build capacities of these institutions and under this initiative Mr. Nitin Patel has been appointed in both these schools as a trainer to train these students in these advanced gadgets.

The Chief Guest of the event, Amitabh Gupta – CFO, HZL expressed his happiness to see the passion of these students to learn and climb up the ladder of success. He emphasized that through Jeevan Tarang, Hindustan Zinc strives to provide better opportunities to these students to grow and learn.

Pavan Kaushik – Head Corporate Communication said “There is a need to understand and up-bring these children with all love and care. Jeevan Tarang is an initiative to ensure that every single ability & disability gets the same opportunities and recognition thus ensuring the development of both social & cognitive skills.”

‘Jeevan Tarang’ endeavours to support people with disabilities, with a focus to identify needs of deaf-mute, visually impaired and children with brain damages. Around 500 beneficiaries have been identified from HZL’s operational areas; Kayad Mine, Rampura Agucha Mine, Chanderiya Smelting Complex and Udaipur.

VEDANTA HINDUSTAN ZINC OPENS 2 NAND GHARS IN AJMER, RAJASTHAN

Delivering long-term benefits to communities by strengthening the foundation of children below the age of seven years - their nutrition, health and education… 

The report says, there are 7.5 crore underprivileged children living in remote rural areas, below the age of seven years, who are in need of proper nutrition, health care and education. Our primary focus, therefore, is to start at the grass root level with the holistic development of children and women, who form the future of our nation.

This is where, Vedanta came up with the concept of “Nand Ghar" designed in partnership with the ministry of women and child development. It is an extension to the existing Anganwadi initiative for providing a better environment to the children of India by addressing issues relating to pre-primary education, health care, nutrition and economic empowerment for women in rural India.

Mr. Anil Agarwal – Chairman, Vedanta Group believes “In order to secure the future of India, we have to safeguard the present. To strengthen the foundation of children, it is important to address issues relating to pre-primary education, health care, nutrition for children and economic empowerment for women in rural India”.

Taking his vision forward, Vedanta has joined hands with the Government to revamp 4000 anganwadi centres across India under the Project ‘Nand Ghar’. Today, more than 100 “Nand Ghars” across three states has resulted in marked improvement in attendance, learning abilities and school readiness, by deploying e-learning modules in education and soft skills in collaboration with world-class partners and they are now equipped with TVs, solar panels and toilets. 

On 31^st July, 2017, 2 “Nand Ghars” - Khanpura & Parbatpura have also been inaugurated in Ajmer District by the Chief Guest - Ms. Anita Bhadel – Hon’ble Minister of Women and Child Development, Government of Rajasthan and with this 10 Nand Ghars have been constructed in Ajmer district with 25 more Nand Ghars are in pipeline.

During the inaugural ceremony, Ms. Bhadel said “Government and Vedanta Hindustan Zinc have done their bit by providing well equipped facilities for primary education, nutrition services along with related healthcare services for both mother and child including skill training for women, it’s now the communities have to come forward and support it by actively participating in it.” She also mentioned that if a mother anchors the responsibility of her child’s education, the benefit will percolate to her next 7 generations.

To make the project more cohesive, “Nand Ghar” act as a focal area for immunisation, gender sensitisation and maternal care. It also aims to enhance the learning environment through an e-learning module and skill enhancement program for women where they will undergo entrepreneurship training, including skill enhancement, to start their own micro enterprise with credit linkages, thereby increasing their contribution towards the Indian economy.

The Nand Ghars are in line with Prime Minister of India’s vision of social development and will prove to be a stepping stone for building the future human capital as productive, passionate and persistent towards the growth.

Also present on the occasion were Mrs. Neelima Khetan – Head CSR, HZL, Mr. Sampat Sankhla – Dy. Mayor, Ajmer,  Mrs. Anupama Tailor – Dy. Director, Women & Child Development, Mr. Nitesh Yadav - ICDS, Mr. Raes Ahemad - Counsellor along with Anganwadi workers and Hindustan Zinc’s CSR representatives.

EDUCATING THE NEEDY...

Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College at Ringus in Sikar, Rajasthan reaches 3000 rural and tribal girls 

India has the 2nd largest educational system in the world but less number of enrollments of girls from school to colleges, primarily in rural areas, is a matter of concern. 

Early marriage, distant schools, household chores, lack of transport, lack of safety, absence of female teachers and most importantly poverty are some of the several reasons not permitting Girl's education. The fact that 'educating a girl or a woman leads to educating the whole family' is still not known to the people.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta Group company operating in Rajasthan in zinc-lead-silver business, has always been focused towards community service and to build a strong self-sustaining community in the rural and tribal areas. Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College at Ringus in Sikar, Rajasthan is one such project that is providing quality education to rural and tribal girls since its inception in the year 1995 in a fully integrated sustainable environment.

Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College has developed the environment for personal growth, knowledge, exposure, personality and career development of about 3000 girl students. While charging either a nominal fee or free education for BPL students selected by Hindustan Zinc, the college has become a craze for girl students. But, convincing the parents for sending to college has never been easy. The interest of girls in pursuing higher education and to be recognized in life has been a motivating factor for all.

Sugna Salvi lives in village Peepawas, Rajsamand with her parents and 2 younger brothers. Her father, Bhagwanlal Salvi is a small painter who somehow manages to earn about Rs 4000 per month. Sugna good in her studies, completed her 12th in PCB with 1st division in year 2011, wanted to join college to pursue higher studies. But insufficiently low income of her father and poor economic status left her in a thinking mode.

Then, Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc team came to know about Sugna. The team tried convincing her family but her parents were not willing to send their daughter outside the village. But then Hindustan Zinc team informed them about the Vedanta College and assured them of the protective environment. The team also convinced them about the need of higher education for better future and career development of their daughter. The parents finally agreed. 

At present, Sugna has completed her 2nd year of graduation in B.Sc with 1st division and now is in final year. Like Sugna, there are many girls who are pursuing their higher education.

Lalita Khati from Khatikhera village of Hurda Tehsil at Bhilwara District is daughter of small farmer who is the only earning member of the family of seven members. She was aware that with a very limited source of income, it was difficult for her father to meet both ends with a lot of responsibilities ahead. But she was also aware that Vedanta’s Hindustan Zinc has sponsored girls from her village earlier. 64% marks scorer, she was approached by HZL team and Lalita is now pursuing her education in Arts stream. She even won third prize for her presentation in Public administration subject and now Lalita is willing to complete her Master’s degree further.

With Reshma Meena from Gram Panchyat Singhatwara, Zawar, things were little different. Even she planned to drop-out from her studies seeing low family income and not finding any financial help from relative and friends. Then, in year 2011-12 she was selected for the higher studies in B.A. Course at Vedanta Post Graduate Girls College, Ringus. But unfortunately, her mother refused to send her at a distant place away from the village. Then HZL CSR team did regular dialogues with her mother. Finally she got convinced on one condition i.e., she would herself visit to the college for assurance. She then visited the college, liked it and got agreed; now Reshma is in final year - B.A.

For the prosperity and development of our country, girls' education is must. It is also one of the most effective ways to reduce poverty and build a strong society.

14TH CONVOCATION CEREMONY OF DHARMSINH DESAI UNIVERSITY, NADIAD, GUJARAT

9th May, 2014 

Shri Anil Agarwal was invited as Chief Guest at the 14th Convocation Ceremony of the Dharmsinh Desai University, Nadiad, Gujarat on 9th May 2014. The convocation ceremony was attended by over 2000 students, faculties and parents of the students. 

The program saw screening of recently completed Chairman's Biopic. Chairman addressed the mammoth gathering and presented PhD Degrees to the passing out students. Students were also keen to ask questions on Chairman's vision and inspiration, to which Chairman keenly replied.

VEDANTA KHUSHI: TIMES OF INDIA: RAJSAMAND KIDS’ LEARNING LEVEL HITS NEW LOW

Survey Also Highlights Increasing Drop-Out In Schools, Widening Teacher-Student Ratio

Rajsamand: The marble town Rajsamand which produces 90% of India's white marble has registered lowest basic learning levels among students in Rajasthan in the last five years. The percentage of students of classes III to V who can do subtraction has reduced from 41.3% in 2009 to 27.8% in 2013. The percentage of students who are out of schools has increased from 2.6% in 2009 to 5.2% in 2013.

As per the Annual Status of Education Report, widening pupil-teacher ratio, poor quality of mid-day meals and no water facility are prevalent in majority of schools. But so far no political party has shown concern to make these issues their poll plank. 

Both BJP and Congress candidates are riding on issues like Pakistan, terrorism, Gujarat model, inflation, jobs, opening of new schools and hospitals. Manju Khatik, a social activists based in Rajsamand, said, “Three schools in two gram panchayats Bhatoli and Maduri were closed by the government this year. This decision caused 200 students to forcibly drop out. We have adopted 40 students and are teaching them at our NGO Jatan sansthan. The rest of the students are either working or have left the city in search of work,” said Khatik. She added that ignoring these issues has highlighted the indifference of political parties towards the city. 

TOI asked the BJP national vice president and MLA Rajsamand Kiran Maheshwari to explain the reasons behind the decline in learning levels. She passed the buck on the Gehlot government for ignoring the education sector leaving a gross imbalance in the pupil-teacher ratio. “The district had faced government indifference for last five years. Here 130 schools don't have a single teacher leading to drastic fall in the learning levels,” said Maheshwari. 

She assured that once the code of conduct is over, BJP government will begin the hiring of teachers to put the education system on track. Sitting Congress MP Gopal Singh Shekawat is promising complete implementation of Right to Education Act here. “Our party enacted this act and we are serious about providing free and compulsory education,” said Shekawat.

VEDANTA KHUSHI - TRANSFORMING LIVES

In Vedanta Anganwadi Centers, the Group supplements morning breakfast, with poha and groundnut, providing clean drinking water, new utensils, colorful books, toys and other necessary items, much to the needs of these children.
Improvement in attendance & retention of children and a significant progress in their health & hygiene is apparent in health check-ups & weight measurement of these children which is carried out periodically. The teaching through play-way method has been another significant factor responsible for increase in attendance.

Children are groomed for about 3 years in Vedanta Anganwadi Centres and they learn good habits, etiquette, discipline, importance of health & hygiene and basic education.