VEDANTA KHUSHI - HINDUSTAN ZINC ADOPTS 152 RURAL SCHOOLS IN RAJASTHAN TO IMPROVE INFRASTRUCTURE

112 schools were adopted earlier and the work is in progress, MoU for additional 40 schools signed today

To improve the infrastructure in government run rural schools Hindustan Zinc today signed the MoU with the District Education Department, Government of Rajasthan to adopt another 40 Government schools, including Girls’ Schools in Udaipur District, covering Udaipur City(10), Zawar(12), Maton(8) and Debari(10) areas.  The company had recently adopted 112 government schools in Bhilwara(72), Chittorgarh(20) and Rajsamand(20) to improve infrastructure facilities in these schools. 

The infrastructure work in these schools is already in progress.With signing of MoU to improve infrastructure in 40 schools in Udaipur, Hindustan Zinc shall be improving infrastructure in 152 schools with a cost of over Rs. 5 crore.

Many studies have pointed out that in order to improve the enrollment in government run schools, there is a dire need to improve the infrastructure, which includes not only repairs of the building but also sitting facilities, black-boards, electricity fittings and teaching aids. 

Through this project, Hindustan Zinc is providing basic infrastructure facilities like construction of boundary wall, class rooms, labs, installation of hand pumps, ceiling fans, coolers, construction of toilets, playground and furniture. Besides, scholarships to meritorious students will also be given and to keep up the green belt in schools, special plantation drives would be conducted.

UNICEF report has also stated that in rural Rajasthan, the female literacy is about 42 per cent. The sharp drop in secondary school attendance, particularly among girls is because of no drinking water facilities, lack of separate toilets for girls, no proper teachers, improper infrastructure etc. which is a matter of concern and requires immediate action.The company had two years back launched a social media campaign "Khushi" which brought out the issue of infrastructure improvement in schools in several on line debates and discussions. 

Taking the campaign forward, Hindustan Zinc decided to improve the infrastructure and give better facilities to students and improve their education quality."Hindustan Zinc is quite pleased with the progress of the work already initiated in 112 schools and looking forward to complete the work at the earliest. This project under the PPP model is expected to improve the quality of education in these schools", said Pavan Kaushik, Head of Corporate Communication.

To ensure the smooth running of project, a committee has been formed comprising members from HZL and members to be proposed by the District Collector. Based on the need of the school authority and the budget allotted, the project will be executed by Hindustan Zinc, Pavan Kaushik informed further.

Mrs. Krishna Chauhan - DEO(Secondary) thanked Hindustan Zinc for their support in bringing quality education in the government school by way of taking up the project towards improving the infrastructure. Ms. Sushma Sharma - Head CSR, HZL briefed all about the CSR initiatives being undertaken by Hindustan Zinc.  Mr. CSR Mehta - Head Corporate Relations spoke about the necessity to improve the infrastructure in the schools but also emphasized that the project should also monitored by Principals to ensure timely execution. Mr. Bhupendra Jain - DEO(Elementary) spoke about how Hindustan Zinc initiative is improving health and education in schools and has helped these children.

The MoU was signed today by Ms. Sushma Sharma, CSR Head on behalf of Hindustan Zinc and from Education Department by Mrs. Krishna Chauhan, District Education Officer (Secondary) and Mr.  Bhupendra Jain, District Education Officer (Elementary).  Also present on the occasion were Mr. CSR Mehta - Head Corporate Relations, Mr. Pavan Kaushik - Head Corporate Communication, Dr. S.S. Jamrani - Additional Director (Mines), Mrs. Hemlata Manaria - ADEO (Secondary), Dr. Suyesh Chaturvedi - Principal GSSS Gudli, Mrs. Nirja Rodgers - Principal GGSSS Bhupalpura and Mrs. Gauri Jamrani - Principal Ambamata Girls School.

Hindustan Zinc Adopts 112 Rural Government Schools in Rajasthan

A momentous step in decreasing the rate of drop-outs in Rajasthan

Vedanta Hindustan Zinc has joined hands with Rajasthan Government by adopting about 112 rural Government Schools to provide improved educational and infrastructural facilities in the adopted schools. The company has already started the work in 72 schools at Bhilwara and 20 in Chittorgarh and a MoU to adopt 20 Government schools for 3 years has been signed recently in Rajsamand where the work will start soon.

UNICEF report claims that in Rajasthan, school attendance has been very low among girls and tribal children with female literacy as low as 40 per cent in the state. Also, the sharp drop in secondary school attendance, particularly among girls because of no drinking water facilities, lack of separate toilet for girls, no teacher, and improper infrastructure etc poses a big challenge and requires immediate attention.

"Hindustan Zinc is executing this project in 3 districts of Rajasthan – Bhilwara, Chittorgarh and Rajsamand", informed Pavan Kaushik, Head of Corporate Communication.

The Company is providing basic infrastructure facilities viz. Construction of boundary wall, class rooms & labs, installation of hand pumps, ceiling fans, coolers, construction of toilets & playground, furniture, to name a few in all the schools. The project is also providing scholarships to meritorious students. The company even encourages plantation drive to develop green belt in schools.

Also, for the smooth running of the project, a committee has been formed comprising 2 members from HZL, 2 from school and 1 member from District Magistrate. Based on the need of the school authority and assigned budget, the project will be executed by Hindustan Zinc.

Hindustan Zinc, a Vedanta group company in Zinc-Lead-Silver business has been working towards providing quality education with installation of 1000 computers and training in 682 government schools with remedial classes through its various educational programs in Rajasthan.

Can You Send Me Back To The School ?....

Pranay wrote about his experience of sending  his maid's daughter back to the school. She had to remove her dauther from the school coz her husband met with an accident and there was shortage of funds.  We present his story that spreads the message of Vedanta's Khushi initiative towards `Care for the Under-privileged Children'.

Can You Send Me Back To The School

I am currently working in Delhi and generally travel as I look after Business Development in a reputed company at a senior level.  My timings are such that I get-up early, leave early and come back late.  Thus I am detached to what is happening at the house front and my wife handles it all.

This incident is about 2 months back when I was working in Ahmedabad, and unfortunately I happened to be on sick leave. 

I was a little upset to find that my maid servant was bringing her 10 year old daughter for work every day.  Initially I thought, might be her daughter had taken a holiday from school. But I could feel that this was getting repeated.  On my enquiring my wife informed me that she is a new maid and even she is not happy she bringing her daughter for work and worst is she has been lending a helping hand to her mother in cleaning the utensils and dusting.

On my insisting my maid informed me that her husband drives auto-rickshaw and she works in the houses.  Recently, her husband met with an accident and not only his auto-rickshaw has broken but he too received serious injuries and is hospitalized. The expenses of medicines and repairs of auto-rickshaw are very high. She had no money left to pay the Annual Fees of ‘Geeta’, her daughter, and buy books and uniform, thus she dropped her out from the school.  She had to also leave 2 houses of work as she was unable to handle with regular visits to the hospital.

My anger turned into sympathy. I asked her which school she was studying.  She was going in a small private school and had recently entered into Class-V with good marks.  I could see the pain in the eyes of my maid who was visibly unhappy by not sending her daughter to school. Leaving her alone was not advisable as there is no one in the house, she said.

We immediately decided to find some solution. It was already 2 months she had left the school and the classes had started in new session.

The expenses were not much and we could afford it easily.  We decided to finance Geeta’s school fees, buy her new books and uniform and look after her studies until her father gets back to work.  My wife decided to teach her what she would have probably lost in 2 months.

But before that I decided to ask Geeta, `Do you want to go back to School ?' Her eyes became wet with tears, 'Can you send me back to the school ?, she asked'.

I said Yes. We will.

Geeta’s mother cried like a child.  She wanted to deduct the expenditure involved from her salary every month, but we never agreed – God has given us enough to take care of such things.

Satisfaction was, Geeta went back to school and she is one of the brightest students in the class.

I got transferred to Delhi and now head Delhi Branch, but our commitment towards Geeta is as strong as ever. My wife has already sent the Quarter fees of Geeta and is in touch for her education.

This episode was limited with-in the walls but now due to “Khushi” campaign, I am sharing it.  It is a different feeling to do something different.

Pranay Mudgal, Delhi

Joy of Living is in Giving

I always believe that the “Joy of living is in giving“ and to be honest I have no event / incident which has turned me to start thinking about unprivileged Children. My thought of sharing and caring could be attributed to my conservative / god fearing middle class background. I have been doing some meaningful social contribution in my life and also made certain rules for myself and my family.

In 2004, I have adopted a Child through a noted organization. They have a unique concept in which you can take the ownership of a poor child and Child is not required to leave his home and family. I donate Rs. 800 per month for the education, health and nutrition of Gyanranjan. He is in class 5 now and I use to get regular feedback about him, his study, development, his interest etc.

Gyanranjan – is our adopted son and he will keep getting my assistance till he starts earning after completing his education. I have realized the great joy that comes with giving and how richly god has rewarded this decision of mine.

I also contribute Rs 300 per month towards another organization. This money is used in wellbeing of homeless street children.

I am proud to say that we do celebrate occasion such as birthday, marriage anniversary, festivals, any professional success. In all such occasions, we make sure to distribute food and sweets to street children. We also sponsor Lunch for the children in Orphanages. I really wait for occasions as it gives me an opportunity to feel the divine pleasure in sharing happiness with unprivileged kids. My wife and son also join me in distribution of food and I can feel the happiness they get in doing it.

We have a golden rule at home that food should not be wasted.  Any surplus food is properly packed and I give it to needy on my way to the office.   I have also taken up a project to start a library in my village, in Uttar Pradesh. It will be well equipped with all the latest books, news papers, books for competition etc. Idea is to target poor students who are financially not capable to buy books.  This library will be free of cost for all and I should be able to start it in next 3-4 months time.

My contribution is very small but significant enough to create happiness. I will keep fulfilling my responsibility towards society and look for opportunity to make more meaningful contribution for unprivileged needy people. This is how I get my “Khushi”. 

(He is a proud employee of Hindustan Zinc and has requested not to mention his name - we respect his sentiments)

"Khushi" Spreads in Delhi Public School

Delhi Public School, Udaipur, decided to spread "Khushi" by spending time with the small children of Vedanta Hindustan Zinc Anganwadi Centres at Udaipur. The students started their interaction with Anganwadi children with morning prayer followed by Gayatri Mantra. The bond was further strengthened by having rich nutritious breakfast with these children. To bring "Khushi" on the faces of these children, the DPS students had prepared some small 'skits', primarily based on moral stories. ‘Pappu Pass Ho Gaya' based on importance of education was the one most liked by the children. The skit motivated them to study in the formal schools, just like them. The students later involved the small children to make different articles from the waste paper - like paper flowers and animals.

The ‘Khushi’ of the Anganwadi children could be seen through the sheer excitement and enthusiasm with which they were participating in all the activities. Same was with the DPS students who were delighted after spending time in their first ever visit to any such anganwadi in rural area, which was just to spread the message of "Khushi" on the faces of these children.