Akshara Foundation’s new project in 1,400 government schools
Deccan Herald
Bangalore, June 20, 2006

In an effort towards making primary education meaningful, Akshara Foundation has taken up a project in 1,400 government schools in Karnataka. The project is being taken up to ensure that all students from standards two to seven read and learn.

“The project will begin in July this year, and by November, we hope to see a remarkable difference in a children,” Said Mr. Ashok Kamath of the Akshara Foundation, at the Rotary service Award function 2006 in Bangalore on Monday.

The Rotary Club of Bangalore conferred the Award on the Chairperson of Akshara Foundation Rohini Nilekani for “excellence among voluntary organizations towards universalisation of primary education.”

Ms Nilekani said that Akshara is a part the larger network, Pratham. She added that the success of the Foundation was largely due to its partnership with the corporate sector, and most importantly, the government.

“Akshara was launched in 2000 with the sole objective of universalizing primary education and making learning fun. Today, we are working with 600 preschools in Karnataka, even in the most backward areas, of north Karnataka, in a very informal way,” she said.

“There are hundreds of volunteers who are selflessly working towards making the project a success. We have published 100 original titles under Pratham Books in various languages,” she said.

The award was presented by President Rotary Club of Bangalore G.V Radhakrishnan.