‘Ek Se Shreshtha’ reaches 650 centres, transforming lives through education
Governor Kavinder Gupta today congratulated Act to Transform Foundation on the completion of nearly five years of its ‘Ek Se Shreshtha’ initiative and reaching the milestone of 650 education centres, benefiting around 12,000 children.
Addressing the gathering at The Art and Culture Auditorium in Bilaspur, today, the Governor said that 650 centres were not merely a number but represented 650 points where the light of knowledge was reaching children and enabling them to dream of a better future.
Referring to the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Governor said that education is centre to build an inclusive, skilled and future-ready India. He said that initiatives such as National Education Policy-2020, PM SHRI, NIPUN Bharat, Digital India and Skill Development are aimed at creating better opportunities for children and youth. He said grassroots initiatives such as ‘Ek Se Shreshtha’ complement this larger national effort by bringing education and social participation closer to communities.
‘Education is one of the most powerful instruments of transformation. Every child, whether living in a city or a remote village, must have equal opportunities to learn, grow and realize his or her dreams,’ Shri Gupta said.
The Governor said education should not be limited to access to schools but must ensure that children receive learning opportunities, resources, guidance and confidence to move ahead. He appreciated the Foundation for providing free education along with essential learning materials and other support to children.
The Governor distributed laptops to teachers and urged them to use technology not merely as a teaching aid but as a means of understanding and addressing the individual learning needs of children. Study tables, school bags, notebooks, stationery, shoes and tracksuits were also provided to the children. Shri Gupta said such support sends an important message to children that ‘your education matters, your dreams matter and society believe in your potential.’
‘The real strength of any social initiative is not its buildings or resources, but the people who translate its objectives into action with dedication. You are not merely teaching subjects, you are nurturing discipline, confidence, leadership and the courage to dream,’ he said.
The Governor appreciated that the initiative has generated around 692 direct employment opportunities, with nearly 90 percent of them going to women, while around 60 percent received their first employment opportunity through the programme. He said the provision of free education, books, stationery, bags, laptops and other essential resources had helped reduce the educational expenses of thousands of families. According to the available figures, more than 12,000 families have collectively saved over Rs. 5.40 crore.
‘Its real achievement is the confidence of a child, the reduced anxiety of a parent, the dignity of a teacher and the hope of a better future in a family,’ he said.
Shri Gupta said reaching 650 centres should not be viewed as the culmination of the journey but as the beginning of a larger mission. He congratulated Act to Transform Foundation, teachers, volunteers, coordinators, parents and all partners for demonstrating that clear commitment, good intentions and community participation can together bring meaningful social transformation.
Earlier, Member of Parliament Anurag Thakur welcomed the Governor and detailed about the ‘Ek Se Shreshtha’ initiative of Act to Transform Foundation.
MLAs J.R. Katwal and Trilok Jamwal and other prominent people were also present on the occasion.
