Odisha: Vedanta strengthens Computer Education Programme in Kalahandi

Orissadairy.com, May 4, 2011
Report by Orissa Diary correspondent; Bhawanipatna (Orissa): Hon’ble Minister for SC/ST Shri Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha inaugurated the Vedanta E-Shiksha @ Schools in four Tribal schools across Kalahandi district on May 3, 2011. The program has been implemented in six other schools which will benefit more than 4000 tribal students of Kalahandi district.

The initiative is a joint venture of Vedanta Foundation, Vedanta Aluminium Ltd (VAL), Lanjigarh and SC/ST Development Department, Government of Orissa which aims to strengthen Computer Education and Computer Aided Learning (CAL) in the rural areas across the State under ‘Vedanta E-Shiksha @ Schools program. The Foundation under this program has delivered e-content, pre and post Baseline Survey/Analysis, Computer Labs – with PCs. Monitors, Computing Devices, UPS, Furniture, Projector, White Board, Multimedia content for core subjects like Mathematics, Science, Social Science, English and Basic Computer Education thus supporting the State Government’s computer aided learning and computer education program. Under the program, Vedanta E-Shiksha team has conducted training to the teachers from these schools.

Senior officials from the State Government, VAL, and Vedanta Foundation present were Mr Sanjeev Chadha – Director of SC/ST Department; Mr Shaikh Majeed of Vedanta Foundation; Mr. Balabhadra Majhi – Chairman TDCC; Dr. Ram Rout – Head, CSR of VAL; Mr. Sanjay Pattnaik – Vice President HR, VAL; Mr. Shivaji Majhi – MLA, Lanjigarh and Srimati Majhi, Chairman, Lanjigarh Block.

Hon’ble Minister Shri Bijay Ranjan Singh Bariha highly appreciated the efforts of the Vedanta group and said that the E-Shiksha @ Schools will provide every tribal child their dreams to become a scientist, an astronomer, an engineer or a doctor a reality.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Sanjeev Chadha, Director SC/ST Department, Government of Orissa, said, “The Vedanta E-Shiksha program aims to rejuvenate the Orissa Government’s initiated Computer aided education drive in 20 Tribal Schools across the district benefitting more than 8,000 students every year.”

 “Our program will provide the right opportunity to the less privileged tribal children in the district and nurture them to be better acquainted with computers, improve their competency in core subjects and overall pass percentage besides decreasing the school dropout rate,” explained Dr. Mukesh Kumar, President & COO, Vedanta Aluminum Ltd.

The SC/ST Development Department, Government of Orissa had earlier signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on 24th of  August 2010 for the Vedanta E-Shiksha Program with Vedanta Foundation, a prominent not-for-profit organization, and Vedanta Aluminum Ltd which cater to a wide spectrum of industries.

Mr. Taher Vohra, National Head, Vedanta Foundation said, “The Foundation will ensure that this 3-year long Vedanta E-Shiksha Project will be made more effective, interesting and long lasting by constantly motivating and awarding teachers and students suitably.”

The first phase of the Vedanta E-Shiksha @ Schools Project has been successfully implemented in the States of Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Goa in rural schools.