Empowering Students To Make Villages Swaccha

Bharti Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises has been working across India and runs programs that aim to improve the quality of lives of several underprivileged children in rural India through education and sanitation facilities. Just like its education programs, Bharti Foundation’s ‘Satya Bharti Abhiyan’ program, has also proven itself as one of the most successful models to improve sanitation facilities in the large geographic areas. Initiated in 2014, through Satya Bharti Abhiyan, the Foundation has worked closely with the Government departments in District Ludhiana and rural parts of Amritsar constructing more than 18,000 household toilets benefitting more than 93,000 individuals, particularly women and children. In July 2017, the collaborative effort of the Government and the Foundation, led Ludhiana to self-declare itself “Open Defecation Free”.

Empowering rural Children as the Agent of Change

Ever since Satya Bharti Abhiyan was started, it impact was constantly supported, strengthened and scaled up by Bharti Foundation with its network of 254 Satya Bharti Schools and over 700 Government schools under Satya Bharti Quality Support Program. More than 2.5 lakhs students are being regularly encouraged to adopt cleanliness in their lives and are reminded to maintain the clean and hygienic surroundings. These students use diverse channels of communication, ranging from interactive banners to energetic rallies and Gram Sabhas to spread awareness among beneficiaries on the proper usage and maintenance of toilets.

In year 2015, empowered by the guidance and support from their schools, Satya Bharti School students, across 6 states mobilized the community to build 3100 toilets in a period of 6 months. Similarly, the student leaders in Government schools, under Quality Support Program are being constantly encouraged to undertake community as well as school-based cleanliness campaigns.

Col. Vijay Chadda, CEO, Bharti Foundation, said, “We believe that education and awareness will act as the agents of change and will encourage the community members to change the mind-set and follow cleanliness and hygiene practices. Our students, teachers and other staff members under Satya Bharti School Program and Satya Bharti Quality Support Program are committed to help the Foundation spread awareness on the proper usage and maintenance of toilets among beneficiaries.” Said Col Vijay Chadda, CEO, Bharti Foundation.

While the collaborations between Bharti Foundation and the State Government, local administration, the Panchayats and village communities are showing great impact on the sanitation drive under Satya Bharti Abhiyan in District Ludhiana and rural parts of Amritsar, the accomplishments has taken us a step ahead by including students of Satya Bharti Schools and Satya Bharti Quality Support Program in the journey to towards improving quality of life in rural India.