Mumbai’s first first air-conditioned study centre inaugurated for underprivileged students in Colaba on 7 April 2025. The initiative is a collaborative effort of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and funded by Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions, aims to help provide a nurturing atmosphere for students hailing from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
The centre is situated at Captain Prakash Pethe Marg, next to Budhwar Park’s main signal, and is expected to benefit hundreds of students living in nearby slum areas such as Shiv Shakti Nagar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Nagar, Garib Janata Nagar, and Steel Godown.
The study centre can accommodate up to 30 students at a time and remains operational every day from 11 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. Equipped with benches for sitting and drinking water facilities, it provides an ideal peaceful and comfortable atmosphere for studying, especially during the hot summer months of Mumbai.
“The scheme was the brainchild of Speaker of Maharashtra Legislative Assembly Rahul Narwekar. We intend to duplicate such centres across the city to benefit more such communities,” said Makarand Narwekar, the former Colaba corporator.
A Lifeline for Aspiring Students
The study centre has received positive reviews from students, who find it an oasis of relief for their providing a living environment. According to Aryan Gupta, who at 18 years of age was preparing for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) exam in commerce, “Studying for 4-5 hours at a stretch in this heat is not possible. This AC centre is a blessing.” Aryan wishes to prepare for Chartered Accountancy (CA) exams after passing his 12th grade this year, and feels this centre will highly assist him in achieving that.
The initiative sets sights on aspirants preparing for state service commission exams and other competitive examination civil service. The centre hopes to ameliorate their chances of success by providing an environment free from distraction. This is a project that reiterates the importance of working towards the closure of the educational divide and empowering underprivileged cohorts with opportunities to realise their academic potential.
This development is one of the various initiatives that BMC is undertaking through its CSR to mitigate some of the social issues in collaboration with corporates. Under the provisions of the Companies Act, it is a mandate for corporations to spend 2% of their net profits for the purpose of social and environmental causes. The CSR Cell in BMC has promoted these partnerships, leading to the successful realisation of impactful projects like this study centre.
As an air-conditioned learning centre for the unprivileged in Mumbai, the Colaba centre has set a footprint for similar upcoming activities in urban educational reform. It is a progression toward establishing an equitable learning environment where every student, irrespective of socio-economic status, can aspire to defend their dreams.
