Shiksha Initiative celebrated its glorious 11 years on 1st May 2023! With over 21 districts, 1,85,000 students, 57000 learners and 4000 teachers, SHIKSHA Initiative continues to touch new heights everyday and work tirelessly to create an inclusive and empowered society through education. The day was filled with fun activities, storytelling and other events to celebrate the spirit of togetherness.

Shiv Nadar Foundation organized ‘Fempreneur 2023’ in collaboration with Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) on 29th March 2023 at Shiv Nadar Institute of Eminence (Delhi-NCR) to celebrate the enterprising spirit of women. The event was attended by founders, investors, change-makers, and representatives from corporate and government bodies. The event highlighted the journey of urban and rural women who run their livelihood enterprises and are associated with Samuday and Uday Initiatives by the HCL Foundation and SHIKSHA Initiative by the Shiv Nadar Foundation.

The products developed by these enterprises were also showcased in an exhibition cum sale at the event. It garnered an overwhelming response from the audience.

During the event, Bhawana Sharma from SHIKSHA Plus briefed about the program explaining the reach and impact created by the interventions across the villages. Two stalls were also set up by the learners showcasing their handmade products. These learners started their enterprises after receiving their completion certificates from SHIKSHA Initiative. AIC and SHIKSHA Initiative felicitated Asha Ji, Sebrunisha and other learners of SHIKSHA Plus and Gram Panchayat Samanvayaks for their contribution.

Among the event partners were HCL SAMUDAY and HCL UDAY, Urban and Rural Women Livelihood Enterprising initiatives, SHIKSHA Initiative, Shiv Nadar Foundation, Womennovator, Sirona Hygiene and Headstart Foundation. Keynote speakers like Ms Niharika Rajiv, Angel Investor, Ms Simmi Puri, Co-founder-Digiproctor, Ms Ipsita Kathuria, Founder and CEO-Talent Nomics India and Ms Anushka Jain, Founder and CEO-Share at Door Step were also present during the event.

Hon’ble Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Durga Shankar Mishra visited Pahadipur Primary School in Mau district on 15th April 2023. Mayank Sinha, Associate General Manager gave a brief about the projects and programs implemented by SHIKSHA Initiative across the state of Uttar Pradesh. He also briefed about the status of teacher’s training, capacity building, UMANG, ICT content, lesson plans, teaching plans and Shiksha Annual Academic Report (SAAR) in Pahadipur Primary School. The principal and teachers were honoured by Dr Sharad Trivedi, Divisional Coordinator, SHIKSHA Initiative for achieving exceptional feat in SAAR while Arun Pal, District Coordinator briefed about the improvement in learning outcomes in students.

The event was graced by the local MP, Chief Development Officer, Superintendent of Police, and other officers of the district administration.

Mr. Lalitendra Bhartiya, Senior Project Manager, SHIKSHA Initiative and team met with Mr. Manish Kumar Verma, District Magistrate, Gautambudh Nagar regarding the programs implemented by SHIKSHA Initiative in the region and the impact it has created. Mr. Bhartiya shared the vision and objective of the initiative with the DM and gathered appreciation and assurance for continued support. SHIKSHA Team also briefed about Dadri Development Project and requested for a meeting that will entail all the details about the project to proceed further. Impressed with the ecosystem created by SHIKSHA Initiative, the DM aligned the Basic Shiksha Adhikari, Gautambudh Nagar to relay support to SHIKSHA Initiative’s programs.

Chief Secretary, Government of Uttar Pradesh, Shri Durga Shankar Mishra visited VidyaGyan
Leadership Academy Sitapur campus on 07 th of April 2023. On this occasion he visited and observed
various areas in the campus before attending the formal meeting with VidyaGyan and SHIKSHA
Initiative team.
Mayank Sinha, Associate General Manager, SHIKSHA Initiative briefed about programs run by
SHIKSHA Initiative in Uttar Pradesh and in the native district (Mau) of the Chief Secretary. Mr. Sinha
gifted a collage of accomplishments in Mau district and shared an annual progress report with the
Chief Secretary.  On this occasion Additional Chief Secretary (Sugar Industries), Uttar Pradesh, Mr
Sanjay Bhoos Reddy was also part of this visit along with District Magistrate, Chief Development
Officer, Superintendent of police and other administrative officials of Sitapur.
The Chief Secretary was delighted to see how the students are shaping up and the foundation is
providing free quality education and amenities to meritorious rural children.

The impact of SHIKSHA Initiative’s work in education is profound. As of today, SHIKSHA Initiative
stands tall as one of the key changemakers in the domain of education in the state of Uttar Pradesh.
Owing to this reputation, SHIKSHA Initiative was invited to a Teacher’s Conference and District
Agriculture and Industry exhibition held in Bulandshahr on 27th March 2023. The event was graced
by the presence of Shri Kuldeep Meena, Chief Development Officer, Bulandshahr and Mr Lalitendra
Bhartiya, Senior Project Manager, SHIKSHA Initiative was invited to be a distinguished guest in the
event.
Mr Bhartiya highlighted the impact of SHIKSHA Initiative in the field and how all the programs are
working towards the common goal of literacy for an empowered and inclusive society. The work
done by SHIKSHA Initiative was wholeheartedly appreciated and applauded at the event. Shailendra
Yadav, Kalim Ullah Shah, Sunil and Mahesh from SHIKSHA Initiative were also present.

Team from SHIKSHA Initiative visited the Office of the Head forest field director in Lakhimpur district
and interacted with the Chief Conservator of Forest, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Mr B. Prabhakar (IFS)
and his team.
Mr Mayank Sinha, AGM, SHIKSHA Initiative led this meeting and explained about SHIKSHA – SNF and
SHIKSHA Kiran program in detail. Mr B.Prabhakar appreciated SHIKSHA’s efforts through awareness
activities among rural communities. He also shared his experience about existing forest range-
related issues and conflicts between wildlife & humans. He requested to extend support for
information dissemination through the implementation of awareness activities and Shiksha Kiran
Van will play a vital role in this regard. Mr Kaushik from The Habitat Trusts team accompanied team
SHIKSHA initiative and moderated the conversation with the forest officials.

SHIKSHA Plus Jail program focusses on literacy for the inmates which helps them live a dignified life
and gives hope for the future. In this context, another batch of learners completed the SHIKSHA Plus
Jail program successfully in both Bulandshahr and Gautambudh Nagar Jail in January 2023. 10
learners from GB Nagar Jail and 20 learners from Bulandshahr jail received their completion
certificates from Shri Lalitendra Bhartiya, Senior Project Manager, SHIKSHA Initiative.

SHIKSHA Plus program of SHIKSHA Initiative is working to address the issue of adult illiteracy through its profound intervention across multiple districts. Aiming towards the same, SHIKSHA Initiative has come up with an innovative approach that not only will ensure that our learners remain in touch with the knowledge they have gained so far but shall also tap students of different age groups reading in schools, preparing for competitive exams and so on by setting up libraries. A library is a storehouse of knowledge one can immerse into. By setting up libraries SHIKSHA Initiative aims to bring knowledge to adults and students, who will now have free access to not only story books, schoolbooks but also books related to coding, awareness, general knowledge, and competitive exams. With the inauguration of community library in Sitapur, certificate distribution ceremony was also held on November 4, 2022. Around fifty learners were awarded the certificates and in addition five instructors were also recognized for their efforts. Mr. Akshat Verma, CDO Sitapur was the chief guest of the program. He further acknowledged SHIKSHA Initiative team to undertake this mammoth task. Along with the inauguration of the main library in Maholi, four sub- libraries were also inaugurated in different communities of Sitapur.

This Children’s Day, SHIKSHA Initiative left no stone unturned to deliver a fun-filled, treat-loaded day. SHIKSHA team designed a specific manual outlining the activities and laying out the ground rules with ounces of fun and surprises for both children and teachers. The day commenced with the school principal addressing the students about the day followed by a string of activities like classroom decoration, dance, musical chairs, colouring competition, hurdle race and hula hoop games. These activities were designed keeping in mind the objective which is to enhance their learning abilities through playful activities and having fun doing so.