https://csim.in/conversations/Conversations_August%202011.pdf

Ten-year-old Raji clutches Sheetal’s hand and asks, “Will you stay longer?” 

“Yes, for some more time. You still remember me?” replies Sheetal. 

“Yes, of course I remember you. You took me to watch the IPL match, and how can I ever forget my meeting with Sachin Tendulkar,” says Raji with a twinkle in her eye.

Their conversation sought the attention of many children around, and each of them eagerly await for their turn to speak with Sheetal. 

Sheetal is the Executive Director and Trustee of the K C Mahindra Education Trust which is based in Mumbai. She started her career at Mahindra and Mahindra Ltd. as a Management Trainee in 1982. After a stint in marketing, she served as a Product Manager of flagship products such as the Armada and Bolero in the marketing department of the Auto Sector. She was also deputed to Mahindra Ford Ltd. and helped launch Ford Escort in India.

“With Sundays being my only free days I didn’t find time to volunteer and give back to the community. I always longed to work with children, and when I heard of an opening at the K C Mahindra Education Trust, I instantly applied for the position. It was a fantastic opportunity as I could continue to work for the Mahindra group, and at the same time help underprivileged girls and other undeserved communities!” she quips. 

Nanhi Kali is a sponsorship program that supports the education of underprivileged girl children in India. Anand Mahindra, Vice Chairman & Managing Director of Mahindra & Mahindra, who is the Founder of Nanhi Kali, believed that educated women form the foundation of a modern secular society. He felt that there was a strong correlation between the existing societal ills in India—growing population, dowry deaths, caste system—and lack of education of the girl child. He believed that by empowering the girl child with education there would be huge benefits for the nation in the long term. Therefore, with the dual objectives of impacting the nation’s development by educating the girl child and encouraging Indians to contribute to the society in a focused manner, he launched Nanhi Kali in 1996. Currently, the Nanhi Kali project is jointly managed by K C Mahindra Education Trust and Naandi Foundation. 

Nanhi Kali identifies girl children based on their enrollment in government schools, family income, parents’ educational background, social background, and the child’s aptitude. Sponsorships from individuals and corporate houses are sourced to take care of the educational requirements of these children. 

Working together with Naandi Foundation, Sheetal managed to garner sufficient support to reach out to over 70,000 girls. These Nanhi Kalis live in urban, rural, tribal and conflict affected communities across nine states of the country. 

The sponsorship cost of a Nanhi kali is Rs. 2,400 a year (for a girl child studying in Std. 1 to 5) and Rs. 3,600 a year (for a girl child studying in Std 6 to10). Each donor receives a detailed profile of the girl they sponsor along with her photograph and two progress reports on how she is fairing both in academic as well as in extra-curricular activities. Apart from academic support, girls are provided with a material kit which consists of a school bag, uniforms, shoes, socks, stationery, notebooks and  hygiene material for the older girls.

“Which child would not be happy to receive these items? Especially the girls who come from disadvantaged backgrounds, and those who are from rural and tribal areas where parents find it difficult to provide their children with two square meals a day? The Nanhi Kali material support takes care of the incidental costs involved in sending girls to government schools and serves as an incentive for parents to support their girls education,” states Sheetal. 

Speaking about the method of teaching, she says: “Children receive academic support through the Academic Support Centre that functions 1 to 2 hours before or after school hours. Concepts of Mathematics and Language are taught  with an objective that the girls attain grade specific competency levels. We use innovative teaching tools and activities such as storytelling, group games, etc., which make learning not only meaningful but also fun. Our team also works with the parents and community to sensitize them on gender equity.” 

Sheetal took a break to speak with the children who were waiting for her. She asks Dharshinee if the Academic Support Classes were of help to her and she gets a spontaneously reply: “The classes at Nanhi Kali gives me time to do my homework and revise for my lessons which makes me understand better.” 

“Some of our students participated in the National Level Talent Search Competitions and won scholarships. Although the cash award is only Rs. 750, this motivation is tremendous,” says Sheetal. 

Sheetal is optimistic of supporting 500,000 girls over the next three years. Speaking of CSR projects in general, she says: “For the Mahindra group CSR is not just making cheque donations to NGOs. Need assessments are carried out and focus areas and goals are set. Projects are then selected keeping in mind where we can achieve maximum impact as well as where employees can participate. Partnerships with NGOs are entered into strategically keeping in mind the common values and goals.” 

 Like Sheetal, there are many socially committed individuals in the corporate world who have dedicated their skills and time to serve the society. Conversations wishes each one of them success in their endeavors! 

(Names of children have been changed to protect their identity.)