New Delhi: Unacademy launched its national mega-flagship initiative entitled Shikshodaya in New Delhi on December 3, 2021. The initiative aims at educating and empowering five lakh girls across the country.
The initiative seeks to enable school and college dropout girls and create opportunities to re-integrate them into the mainstream education system. “The 5 lakh girls will acquire knowledge and skills that will help advocate themselves and their communities in accomplishing their goals and become a part of India’s growth story,” the press release read.
Senior government officials like Amitabh Kant, Som Prakash, and educators like Dr. Sandhya Chintala (Executive Director of IIT and ITeS SSC), Prof. Anil Sahasrabudhe (Chairman of AICTE), Mohandas Pai (Chairman of Manipal Global Education), and Kanta Singh (India Head for UN-women) attended the launch.
Speaking at the event, Amitabh Kant, the CEO of NITI Ayog, said, “This mega initiative is expected to transform not only five lakh girl students but also positively impact their families, society, and the nation at large.”
“Unacademy aims to use the power of technology to provide quality education to the remotest part of India. Shikshodaya is a noble initiative that will not only help the girls to get jobs but at the same time ensure that it empowers girls who have dropped out of education to earn their livelihood,” he added.
Gaurav Munjal, Co-Founder and CEO of Unacademy, said, “At Unacademy, our vision is to democratize high-quality education for everyone, irrespective of their demographics and economic status. As we enter the 75th year of Independence, women empowerment is critical for societal upliftment and the economy. We believe technology-driven social equity and education are the twin engines that will power us towards becoming a $5 Trillion economy. With Shikshodaya, we want to enable that transformation and look forward to creating social impact on a large scale by empowering 5 lakh girl students.”
Chairman of Manipal Global Education, Mohandas Pai, said, “Educating women will empower them to respond to challenges of life. We are at the crux of a massive digital transformation, with the internet, digital learning platforms, and mobile phones offering tremendous opportunities and giving women the possibility to earn additional income and increase their employment prospects.”
“Women’s literacy, their participation in the workforce, and financial inclusion are crucial components in the economic progress of a country. Therefore, education is an integral pillar that contributes towards their empowerment. This initiative by Unacademy will motivate more start-ups to contribute towards nation-building programs,” he said.
The Unacademy group showcased a film entitled Shikshodaya at the event. The film talked about the company’s efforts towards girls achieving their dreams of getting access to quality education.
(Avya Mathur)
