The cricketer also shared his vision of empowering underprivileged children with access to education, and together with P&G urged consumers to join the program’s drive by purchasing P&G products such as Tide, Pantene, Olay, Ariel, Pampers, Duracell, Head and Shoulders, Vicks, Whisper, Gillette Mach 3 and Oral B. These purchases enable the company to channelize part of the sales proceeds towards education for underprivileged children.
P&G Shiksha aims to build more schools in 2013 to increasingly focus on providing the right education infrastructure in India. While India’s literacy rate stands at 74.04% in 2012, the country is staggering behind the global average of 84% literacy. Alarming studies like the 2012 Annual Status of Education Report (ASER) compiled by Pratham, Non Governmental Organization working towards education to the underprivileged children in India , also revealed that more than half of all children in Std. V are at least three grade levels behind the ideal goal.
Even more alarming is the fact that though enrollment in the 6-14 age group continues to be high, the proportion of out of school children has increased - especially among girls in the age group of 11 to 14 . These shocking facts propel P&G Shiksha in its 9th year to come back with an even stronger commitment - to empower and provide underprivileged children with access to education
At the P&G Shiksha Diwas, a firm P&G Shiksha supporter Anil Kumble said, This is my first year associating with P&G’s Shiksha, and I am glad to be a part of it because I strongly feel that education is a basic right to be provided to all children. It is heartening to see a movement like P&G Shiksha that facilitates education for underprivileged children, by empowering its consumers to contribute towards the cause by purchasing P&G products. I am also delighted to hear that P&G Shiksha not only empowers underprivileged children with access to education, but also provides mid-day meals and better sanitation facilities that have helped to bring down the dropout rate at these schools. I am proud to be associated with such a noble cause. Today, at the P&G Shiksha School, not only did I discover a teacher in me, but also had a lot of fun teaching the kids who are the future of India.”
P&G Shiksha has been successful in impacting 385,000 children thus far, in association with leading NGOs - Round Table India (RTI), Save the Children (STC), Army Wives Welfare Association (AWWA) amongst others. NGO Round Table India spearheads the identification, establishment, completion and maintenance of RTI Shiksha School projects in the country as a joint partner bringing onboard expertise in building schools as well as contribution towards funds.
P&G Shiksha has over the years received generous support from many thought leaders and celebrities such as Anupam Kher, Dr. Kiran Bedi, Rani Mukherjee, John Abraham, Abhay Deol, Sushmita Sen, Kareena Kapoor, Saif Ali Khan, Sharmila Tagore, Konkona Sen, Neha Dhupia, Soha Ali Khan, Lara Dutta, Preity Zinta, Jacqueline Fernandez, Jatin Das, Shaan and many more.
P&G Shiksha also allows consumers to share in their support. This can be easily done by buying any P&G Product such as Tide, Ariel, Pantene, Olay, H&S, Vicks, Whisper, Gillette, Oral B, Duracell or Pampers in the months of January, February and March and part of the proceeds will go towards children’s education.
With a motto of ‘Padegha India Badhega India’-P&G Shiksha believes that the secret to a brighter India lies in the quality education of our children.
About P&G Shiksha:
P&G Shiksha is an integral part of P&G's global philanthropy program. Launched in 2004, P&G Shiksha has grown immensely, with the help of strong support from consumers. This year, through P&G Shiksha, the company aims to build more than 200 schools across the nation to give more children the invaluable gift of education with a focus to build more schools in the years to come.
To know more, visit:http://www.pgimprovinglife.com/shiksha/
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