Girl children in our country are vulnerable from every aspect, be it female feticide (even before they are born), female infanticide, physical torture, emotional abuse, sexual or any other kind of violence, lack of access to basic and higher education, lack of access to proper sanitation and hygiene, facing neglect from their own family for being born as a girl, victim of trafficking, sold off to red light areas, being married off secretly in minor age and so on.
However, the picture has started changing, albeit slowly. The Government of India as well as the governments of the respective states are trying their best to empower and educate the girl child. In such a scenario, certain companies, foundations and NGOs across India are also trying to contribute for the wellbeing of girl children in whichever way they can. The CSR Journal takes a look into the latest CSR initiatives for girl children.
Top CSR initiatives for girl children in India
CSR empowering girl children through football
The K.C. Mahindra Education Trust has re-defined Project Nanhi Kali with a campaign that integrates football into the curriculum for underprivileged schoolgirls across India. This campaign blends academic learning with essential life skills acquired through sports.
KC Mahindra Education Trust started Project Nanhi Kali to encourage and support underprivileged girls to complete 10 years of schooling. In alignment with the National Education Policy which advocates integration of sports as part of the curriculum Project Nanhi Kali is introducing the girls to the game of football.
School building and girls’ hostel in Madhya Pradesh through CSR of SECL
A school building with seating capacity for 1200 students and a 100 seater girls’ hostel is being constructed in Madhya Pradesh’s Dindori district. This is a CSR initiative of South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL). The school and hostel is being constructed at Narmadanchal Vidyapeeth, Tribal Welfare Center Mahakoshal, Bargaon, Dindori.
South Eastern Coalfields Limited (SECL) is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Coal India Limited. It is one of the largest government-owned coal producers in the world and one of the highest coal producing companies of India. The coal mines of SECL are spread across the central Indian states of Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh, hence the company’s CSR activities focus on the underprivileged people residing in these states. The above initiative is an attempt by the PSU to promote sustainable development and the educational needs of less privileged communities.
NTPC Limited, India’s largest integrated power company, launched the latest edition of its flagship CSR initiative, the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM), starting from April 2024.
The new edition will add nearly 3000 meritorious children from underprivileged sections of the society at 42 identified locations of the power major, thereby taking the total number of beneficiaries above 10,000 mark.
This program aligns with the Government of India’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” initiative and is designed to tackle gender inequality by nurturing girls’ imaginations and fostering their ability to explore boundless opportunities. The goal is to empower them to become catalysts of change, influencing not only themselves but also their families, communities, and the nation as a whole.
CSR partnership for underprivileged girls
Demonstrating this commitment through its CSR arm, the Walplast Welfare Foundation, Walplast has reaffirmed its dedication by partnering with Project Nanhi Kali for the second year in a row, to promote quality education for 1,000 underprivileged girls.
This year’s focus cities include New Mumbai, Varanasi, Prayagraj, Nasik, and Pune. This collaboration aims to support the education of girls in India, enabling them to overcome regressive social norms and fulfill their educational aspirations for a brighter future. As part of this comprehensive program, each girl from Grades 6 to 10 will receive training in 21st-century skills and sports leadership.
Project Nanhi Kali, an initiative started in 1996 by Anand Mahindra, has been dedicatedly working towards providing holistic support to economically and socially disadvantaged girls enrolled in government schools across India. Over the past two decades, the project has positively impacted the lives of nearly 700,000 girls, across 15 states of India.
The initiative integrates key elements of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, focusing on multidisciplinary learning and the development of 21st-century skills. The program includes an updated curriculum that emphasizes practical knowledge, teacher empowerment through training workshops and comprehensive academic and after-school support. Each participating girl will also receive a kit, ensuring they have the necessary resources for a successful academic year.
Announcement of Scholarships for Over 21,000 Girl Students
Malabar Group announced its National Scholarship Programme for 2024 at an event at Bharat Diamond Bourse, BKC, Mumbai in the last week of September. This announcement marks a significant milestone in the Group’s flagship CSR initiative, the Malabar National Scholarship Programme, which underscores its commitment to supporting girls’ education. This year, the scholarship programme has allocated Rs 16 crore to support the education of over 21,000 girl students across India.
The Malabar National Scholarship Programme, launched in 2007, stands as a flagship initiative under its CSR framework. To date, over ₹60 crore has been invested in the programme, providing financial aid to more than 95,000 girl students across India. By focusing on girls’ education, Malabar Group aims to uplift not just individuals but entire communities, ensuring future generations are equipped with the tools for social and economic progress.
