Page 50 - Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21

44 Reliance Foundation Annual Report 2020-21 45

Reliance Foundation Teacher Awards: recognising educators

The Reliance Foundation Teacher Awards (RFTA) was instituted
to recognise India’s teachers and motivate them to strive for ~33,000 teachers Education
excellence. In FY 2020-21, Reliance Foundation Teacher Awards Impacted by Reliance Foundation’s support
ceremony was held virtually to recognise 1,000 teachers. of CENTA TPO over the past three editions
The award is conferred on the top 1,000 teachers who excel in
the Teaching Professionals’ Olympiad (TPO) organised by the
Centre for Teacher Accreditation (CENTA). 1,000 teachers Jamnagar Municipal Corporation and the Akshaya Patra Foundation
set up a state-of-the-art kitchen which was inaugurated by the
RF Nandghar in Dandulfalia, Gujarat during its inauguration Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijaybhai Rupani
The event was held virtually on October 5, 2020, during which Awarded through RF Teacher Awards through
the keynote address was delivered by Dr. Leena Wadia, Senior CENTA TPO in 2020
Fellow at the Observer Research Foundation and Member, Sprucing up Anganwadis Promoting wholesome education
Drafting Committee National Education Policy 2019. This was
followed by felicitation of the RFTA 2019 winners and launch of Reliance Foundation supports Anganwadis across rural India, Nutrition and healthcare are a part of Reliance Foundation’s
RFTA and CENTA Teaching Professionals’ Olympiad 2020. The boosting their infrastructure and providing educational toys education initiatives. It partnered with the Jamnagar Municipal
TPO 2020 edition was conducted online over two rounds, with and supplies. Last year, Reliance Foundation undertook Corporation and the Akshaya Patra Foundation to set up a
~7,500 teachers. renovation of 26 centres in Silvassa, Gujarat. Currently, state-of-the-art kitchen in an area of 2,965 sq m, which was
eight Anganwadis are under renovation while 18 have been inaugurated by the Chief Minister of Gujarat, Shri Vijaybhai
completed and renamed Nandghar. Rupani. The facility has the capacity to provide 50,000 fresh,
Support towards mainstreaming students and children Over the next year, there are plans to refurbish a further 100 hygienic, nutritious and appetising midday meals daily for
Jamnagar and 52 neighbouring villages.
centres in Maharashtra, benefiting 3,000 children, teachers and
Reliance undertakes various efforts around its plant locations to encourage education. This year, parents, besides helping in the training, capacity development 50,000 2,965 sq m state-
due to safety norms, plant locations continued education initiatives through digital platforms. and mentorship of Anganwadi workers. This will help provide
children with a solid foundation for lifelong learning and midday meals of-the-art kitchen
Reliance Foundation has been working towards reducing supported coaching for 150 students in Shahdol, 98 students in well-being, while delivering nutrition and healthcare services. Daily capacity of the Created in Jamnagar
dropouts and absenteeism, and increasing learning Jhajjar and 100 dropout students in Jamnagar. facility
outcomes. 18 Anganwadis 8 Anganwadis
In Nagothane (Maharashtra), Reliance connected online
In Shahdol (Madhya Pradesh) and Jhajjar (Haryana), students with youth for capacity building and skill enhancement. Renovated in Undergoing
were provided coaching to prepare for competitive WhatsApp sessions provided guidance on career, educational Silvassa in 2020 renovation
examinations in order to join reputed schools such as Jawahar scholarships and government schemes in villages.
Navodaya and Gyanodaya. Online education platforms

Equitable access to quality education

I have noticed a perceptible change in Riyanbanu
~2,500 students ever since she received the phone. She attends
school regularly and her performance has
Benefited by education improved too. I feel so proud to be working for
materials distributed by
Reliance an organisation that ensures that education is
not compromised and that no child is deprived
of the opportunity to learn.

Bhavini Suthar
Riyanbanu Garasiya Bhavini Suthar
Riyanbanu's Teacher
Inayatbhai Jasubhai Garasiya lost his job in March 2020 Equitable access to quality education is an important tenet
during the lockdown. The five-member family, already for Reliance Foundation and sharing of devices and data
facing financial difficulties, could not buy a smartphone is a step towards it. Students and teachers have gained a
to continue the education of the two girls, students of sense of belonging and pride following the initiative.
Reliance School Gujarati Medium, Vadodara. The only
phone, an analogous phone, belonged to Inayatbhai on
which he informed the school about his children’s inability With the phones and data provided by the
to attend the online classes.
school, my sister and I have been able to
Once the school had shared the data on students who continue our education. We are grateful to
were unable to attend online school due to lack of devices, be a part of the Reliance Foundation family.
Reliance Foundation offered to provide the phones.
Parents were invited to collect the devices from school, Riyanbanu Garasiya
and that is how Inayatbhai’s daughters, Riyanbanu and Student, Reliance School (Gujarati medium)
Aksha, started attending online school. Provided the
A meritorious student felicitated by providing educational materials support they needed, the girls stepped up their efforts too.