VEDANTA KHUSHI

"KHUSHI" is an AWARENESS CAMPAIGN, launched by Vedanta Resources plc, with a focus to sensitize people towards care for the underprivileged and deprived children – their Nutrition – Education – Health and overall development. Join Khushi on facebook at www.facebook.com/groups/vedantakhushi and send motivational stories at khushi.creatinghappiness@gmail.com . LET US MAKE INDIA A CHILD MALNOURISHED FREE NATION..

VEDANTA KHUSHI : THE JOURNEY HAS BEGUN

 
India, home of the largest number of children in the world, also has 2nd largest educational system in the world. With a total enrolment of 114.6 million at primary and 41.3 million at upper primary levels, India has shown remarkable improvement in the education enrollment scorecard. But when it comes to sustaining it, the country's biggest challenge is increasing number of children who drop out or in simple language out of the school. This population was as huge as 8.1 million in 2008. Worse is out of 8.1 million children more than 2/3rd are girls.

‘VEDANTA KHUSHI’ campaign started with a thought that government, corporate and NGOs together cannot do it all and there has to be a direct participation from common people. We need to be aware and sensitive towards the alarming issues concerning our country and participate equally for its prevention and cure. 

While sharing the experience of the members through numerous debates and discussion on KHUSHI platform, it was realized that everyone had their point of view and perspective to look at these problems and also for had their probable solutions.   The words may be different but the meaning was same.  The first change KHUSHI members observed was the temperamental change in their behaviour, that inculcated a sense of responsibility towards underprivileged children, that extra instinct coming after the launching of KHUSHI campaign. The long running debates on girls’ education, infrastructure in schools, problem of street children, beggary, quality of education, rehabilitation, disparities in urban and rural education, sending underprivileged children back to school, not to burst crackers, effects of TV advertising on children etc. saw participation from over hundreds of members.

Their real-time experiences and suggestions have given KHUSHI the advise to formulate new strategies and act accordingly. The members mentioned that improved infrastructure, furniture in schools, sponsorships for the meritorious students, introducing computer education, counseling parents, improved mid-day meal programs, organizing extra classes, appointment of teachers, constructions of toilets would certainly facilitate increase in the enrollment and also help in reducing the out-of-school statistics.
It was evident, the work needed to begin - in short span, 9000 rural Anganwadi children were promoted to Government Schools, 92 rural government schools have been adopted to improve infrastructure, 100 tribal children in Odisha have been sent to formal schools, educational support has been provided to about 700 migratory children in Nilgiri in Tamil Nadu, Vedanta Hindustan Zinc Heart Hospital has been upgraded, 2500 Anganwadi Centres have been adopted in Karnataka leading to total adoption to about 5000.

At present 9 mid-day mean kitchens - 6 in Rajasthan, 2 in Chattisgarh and 1 in Orissa are providing hot mid-day meal to about 300,000 rural poor children every day covering about 2700 schools.

Free computer education to over 7.2 lakh children with free remedial classes for Board students are proving quite fruitful campaigns. Remedial classes alone have improved the pass percentage from 48% to 87%.

KHUSHI also tied up for the free lip cleft and palate operations for 2500 children in an year with Smile Train organization of US and American GBH Hospital in Udaipur.

The memories of spending 2-days with more than 125 Street Children of Malla Talai are so fresh.

VEDANTA KHUSHI started with a mission to spread the message to as many and encourage people to look for the contribution in their own ways, as we are doing as a corporate in our own way.

To take a note, India houses the maximum number of children, much larger than China. But unfortunately, 1/3rd of the malnourished population of children lives in India.

Together we can and together we will be able to build these children into productive resource for India. Contribution also comes with act and also by participating in awareness campaigns. We are proud to have over 20,000 members in KHUSHI Group.

KHUSHI will spread KHUSHI -

The journey has just begun......

2 comments:

  1. Glad to note numerous projects undertaken by Vedanta are making a huge difference in the lives of people across our country. Spread your wings and empower the underprivileged. Do continue the good work.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I also want to be a part of this noble cause.

    ReplyDelete