Teradata has announced its partnership with Project Nanhi Kali to support education initiatives for young girls in Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad.
Announcing the initiative with Nanhi Kali, Sunil Jose, Managing Director, Teradata India, said, “Despite being the pivot of Indian society, young girls in India continue to face obstacles in relation to education and social benefits. Education is at the heart of social development and given that focus, a partnership with Project Nanhi Kali with a view to educate young girls is a privilege.”
Education is an area that offers some of the clearest examples of discrimination women suffer. According to UNICEF, among children not attending school, there are twice as many girls as boys, and among illiterate adults there are twice as many women as men. Offering girls basic education is one sure way of giving them greater power -- enabling them to make genuine choices over the kinds of lives they wish to lead.
Sheetal Mehta, Trustee & Executive Director, K. C. Mahindra Education Trust, added “We are very happy to partner with Teradata and excited about their engagement with Project Nanhi Kali. As a result of this partnership, 700 Nanhi Kalis will receive educational support. We believe that in addition to personal development that education enables, education of girls results in huge benefits that accrue to society as a whole. An educated woman has the skills, information and self-confidence that she needs to be a better parent, worker and citizen.”
The programme selects girls based on multiple criteria including enrollment in government schools, family income, parents' educational background, social background and the child's aptitude. The partnership will ensure that a comprehensive sponsorship is created to take care of a range of educational requirements, providing not only academic support that helps them improve their learning levels but also material support. This includes uniforms and other clothing, as well as school supplies. In addition to providing corporate support, Teradata employees will also support the program through volunteering initiatives across all three locations.