CSR

The "Ekal Abhiyan" (The One Teacher School Movement) aims to provide primary education to underprivileged children in rural and tribal villages by bringing education directly to their communities. It offers basic education in reading, writing, arithmetic, hygiene, cleanliness, local sports, rights, and moral values.

The program addresses the challenges posed by the lack of infrastructure and trained teachers in these areas where financial constraints, scarcity of local teachers, and language barriers have hindered the establishment of formal education. The aim is to equip children with foundational education for better lives, even if they cannot pursue higher education due to various reasons.

With 30 years of experience in tribal and rural communities, Ekal focuses on integrated village development beyond education, including health and rural development. Its well-established organizational structure enables deep access to remote areas Health (Arogya Foundation): Under the Arogya Foundation, Ekal organizes health camps twice a year in each block where Ekal schools operate. These camps provide expert medical services, including free medicines, to rural communities. A special project targeting anemia eradication focuses on women aged 12 to 45 years and children aged 2 to 10 years across 990 villages.

Trained health workers operate in each village. Ekal has also recently initiated a telemedicine project in Odisha and Jharkhand, with the support of nearly 3,000 volunteer medical professionals Development (Ekal Gramothan Foundation): The main objective is to improve the financial status of families by implementing different initiatives like organic farming, tree planting, skill development, and addressing addiction issues.

Ekal Abhiyan selects a young individual from the same village, who has completed their matriculation, to serve as a teacher with the approval of the Village Panchayat. These teachers receive regular training and conduct three-hour non-formal school sessions. Ekal provides stationery kits and encourages children aged 6 to 14 to join Ekal Vidyalayas. The operations are overseen by supervisors, and positive changes in children's behavior are tracked.

After four to five years, the children transition to formal schools. Attendance, exams, and the quality of supervision are closely monitored. Ekal's supervisory body supports parents and assists students in joining nearby formal schools located 5 to 10 kilometers from the village.

The education system integrates play, physical training, storytelling, songs, dance, music, yoga, and games. The syllabus includes:

• Basic primary education
• Health, general cleanliness, sanitary conditions, and hygiene
• Information about health hazards and preventive methods.

The non-formal teaching method helps children learn quickly, and they receive proper guidance from local teachers in their village while studying in Ekal Vidyalayas.

Children aged 6 to 14 years, irrespective of their religion, caste, or creed, are selected for enrollment in Ekal Vidyalayas. Teachers and Gram Samiti members actively persuade and enroll children residing in villages. Each school usually consists of approximately 20-25 students

Activities carried out by students in a day:

A well-defined curriculum is in place, covering basic education, storytelling, poems, songs, ethics, and health education.

Monitoring the progress of Ekal Vidyalayas on both physical and social levels

To monitor and administer the operations of Ekal Vidyalayas, a well-defined system is established. The Gram Samiti, the initial supervisory body, is established through consultation with the nearby Ekal office and the Gram Panchayat.

The Ekal movement relies on dedicated full-time volunteers who serve as its strength and foundation. Their feedback plays a crucial role in proper planning, implementation, monitoring, and evaluation, forming the basis for the success of our large-scale, low-cost education program. Dedicated Karyakartas are designated at various levels within the organization to oversee day-to-day operations.

Ekal Vidyalaya supported by Aska Equipments Private Limited

Total: 10 Ekal Vidyalayas ( 10 schools in Sirmour district , Himachal Pradesh. The students' age group spans from 6 to 14 years, with a total of 112 girls and 98 boys)

Teacher’s activities

The curriculum for April 2022 to March 2023 encompasses Language, Health Education, Physical Education, Institutional Education, Sports, Story Books, Children's songs, Values & Ethics, and Craft Education.

Local educated youth, preferably females, are selected as teachers by the Gram Samiti, a group of villagers responsible for overseeing Ekal Vidyalaya.

The teachers undergo training to provide basic education and teach subjects according to the curriculum.