Children’s Day, celebrated on November 14th in India, is a poignant reminder of our collective responsibility to nurture and empower the next generation. It’s a day to reflect on the boundless potential that resides in every child, regardless of their background. Yet, across India, millions of children from marginalised and economically challenged communities face undefeatable barriers to education. These barriers often lead to lost opportunities, hindering their ability to realise their dreams and contribute to society.
Fortunately, organisations like the Adani Foundation are stepping up to change this reality. Through innovative educational programs, the foundation is transforming lives, breaking the cycle of poverty, and empowering children to envision brighter futures.
The Importance of Education for Marginalised Children
Education is not just a right; it is a powerful tool for societal transformation. For children from marginalised and economically disadvantaged families, it represents a lifeline—a chance to break free from poverty and realise their potential. Yet, many of these children are deprived of quality education due to financial constraints, geographic isolation, and lack of resources.
Recognising the immense challenges faced by these children, the Adani Foundation has made education a cornerstone of its social impact initiatives. Through its Adani Vidya Mandirs and initiatives like Project Utthan, the foundation is reshaping the educational landscape for thousands of children who would otherwise be left behind.
Adani Vidya Mandir: A Beacon of Hope
At the forefront of the Adani Foundation’s educational efforts is Adani Vidya Mandir (AVM)—a network of schools located in Ahmedabad, Bhadreshwar (Kutch), and Surguja (Chhattisgarh). These schools are a beacon of hope for economically disadvantaged families, providing free, high-quality education to students from households with annual incomes below a certain threshold. But AVM does much more than provide education. It covers all the associated costs that could prevent a child from attending school, including uniforms, books, meals, and transportation. By removing these financial burdens, AVM ensures that even the most vulnerable children have access to the education they deserve.
AVM schools cater to specific communities—serving economically disadvantaged families in Ahmedabad, the fisherfolk community in Bhadreswar, and the tribal community in Surguja. Adani Vidya Mandir Ahmedabad, inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi in 2009, has already produced more than 500 alumni, many of whom have secured prestigious positions in companies like Google and Amazon. These students represent the first generation from their families to escape the cycle of poverty, becoming agents of change for their communities.
Take the story of Honey Gupta, a shining example of how AVM transforms lives. Born in Ahmedabad to a family of modest means, Honey’s father ran a small paan shop while her mother stayed at home to manage the household. When it became difficult for her family to afford private school education for both Honey and her sister, AVM became a lifeline. Honey joined Adani Vidya Mandir Ahmedabad in 8th grade and, from there, her academic journey soared. After excelling in her SSC and HSC exams, Honey went on to pursue a Bachelor’s and Master’s in engineering, eventually joining the Bhabha Atomic Research Center (BARC) as a DDFS PhD scholar. Reflecting on her time at AVM, Honey says, “The teachers taught me so many things beyond books. I began to believe that if one’s roots are strong, they can tackle any hurdles and grow exceptionally well.”
Honey’s story is just one of many that illustrate how the right support and opportunities can empower children from disadvantaged backgrounds to pursue extraordinary achievements.
Project Utthan: Uplifting Government Schools
While Adani Vidya Mandir focuses on providing direct access to education, Project Utthan works to uplift the standard of education in government schools, particularly in rural and low-resourced areas. The goal is to create joyful learning spaces, improve learning outcomes, and provide equal educational opportunities to students who are often overlooked by the mainstream education system.
Through Adani Competitive Coaching Centers under Project Utthan, the Foundation offers targeted support to meritorious students. These centres prepare students for competitive exams like Jawahar Navodaya Vidyalaya (JNV) and Eklavya Residential Model Schools, offering guidance and resources that would otherwise be out of reach. Currently, the centres serve over 1,000 students annually, with more than 700 securing admissions in various government schemes.
One remarkable success story from Project Utthan is that of Chandan Jain, a young boy from Salpura village in Kawai, Rajasthan. Born with a disability and coming from a financially strained family, Chandan’s future seemed uncertain. His father, suffering from paralysis, was unable to work, leaving the family in dire financial straits. Chandan’s mother, who had been trained in stitching by the Adani Foundation, sought help from the Adani Competitive Coaching Center. With the Centre's support, Chandan not only overcame his challenges but also passed the JNV entrance exam with flying colours. He is now on his way to receiving free education and residential facilities from classes 6 to 12, relieving his family of the financial burden of his education and giving him the opportunity to reach his full potential.
Scholarships and Coaching: Empowering Dreams
The Adani Foundation understands that for many students, financial constraints extend beyond primary education. That’s why it offers several scholarship programs aimed at helping meritorious students from low-income families pursue higher education and professional courses. These scholarships are designed to remove the financial barriers that often prevent talented students from achieving their full potential.
Budhadev Mandal was a young boy from the fishing community of Dosinga, Odisha. Budhadev’s father, a fisherman and farmer, struggled to make ends meet. Despite these hardships, Budhadev excelled academically, but his dreams of higher education seemed out of reach. Through the Adani Foundation’s Vidyaratna program, Budhadev received a scholarship that enabled him to complete his 10+2 education. With determination and the foundation’s support, Budhadev went on to crack the prestigious IIT-JAM entrance exam, securing a seat at IIT Madras. Today, Budhadev is pursuing his dream of becoming a mathematician and aspires to win a gold medal in Mathematics.
Budhadev’s story exemplifies the transformative power of education and the profound impact that scholarships can have on the lives of meritorious students from disadvantaged backgrounds. Through its Vidyaratna program, the Adani Foundation has supported 364 students like Budhadev, helping them turn their dreams into reality.
Growth with Goodness: The Adani Foundation’s Educational Vision
The success stories of Honey, Chandan, and Budhadev demonstrate the far-reaching impact of the Adani Foundation educational initiatives. Whether through the Adani Vidya Mandir schools, Project Utthan, or the foundation’s scholarship programs, the organisation is committed to empowering marginalised and economically disadvantaged children to overcome the barriers that stand in the way of their education.
On Children’s Day, let us celebrate the resilience and potential of every child. And let us recognise that with the right support, even the most remote dreams can take flight. Through its motto of “Growth with Goodness,” the Adani Foundation is showing that transformative change is possible—one child, one family, and one community at a time.
Adani Foundation has made a significant impact in the field of education, operating 51 schools across India, serving over 40,000 students. Alongside this, the Foundation’s flagship initiative, Project Utthan, extends its reach to 316 government primary and high schools, benefiting more than 51,000 students. Through these initiatives, Adani Foundation is creating lasting educational opportunities and transforming the lives of students across urban and rural India.
Since 1996, the Adani Foundation, social welfare and development arm of the Adani Group, has remained agile and deeply committed to making strategic social investments for sustainable outcomes across India. It is empowering and enriching the lives of children, women, youth, and marginalised communities in the core areas of education, health and nutrition, sustainable livelihoods, climate action, and community development. The strategies of the Foundation are integrated in national priorities and global Sustainable Development Goals. The Adani Foundation is currently operating in 6,769 villages across 19 states, positively impacting 9.1 million lives.
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