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INITIATIVE

The Parivartan ki Bus is a comprehensive CSR model as it addresses the most important issues in community development technology penetration, quality of intervention, portability and innovation.

n 2011, concluding his speech at the launch of the iPad 2 Steve Jobs said, Its in Apples DNA that technology alone is not enough. That its technology married with liberal arts, married with the humanities, that yields us the result that makes our hearts sing, his magic moved the audience and thereafter millions who have been inspired by his work and vision. If technology alone could change the world and lead to growth, disparities of all kinds would have been eliminated for at least the 7.2 billion connected users globally. However thus is not the case, technology as an enabler has connected us to ideas, geographies and people. It has empowered us to bring in awareness and change, which can only be achieved by a proper blend of people and purpose. As per UNESCOs

Education for All report, 135 countries have constitutional provisions for free and non-discriminatory education to expand opportunities, foster peace, democracy and economic growth for their future generations. India, despite several policy provisions and implementation blueprints, faces several challenges in realizing this dream. Steep dropout rate after the elementary level particularly for the disadvantaged population, poor level of student learning, unavailability of elementary level teachers, lack of basic school infrastructure, non child-centred approach to curriculum etc. have been some of the concerns that need to be addressed. In 2010, IL&FS Transport (ITNL), Indias largest BOT operator in India came together with IL&FS

R A V I R A P TAKING

S D A E L D ROA
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Y R E V E E R E H W O t N A t

INITIATIVE

Education, Indias leading social infrastructure company to create a model which addresses some, if not all, issues in integrating education with technology.Today ITNL is developing road infrastructure with its footprint in 17 states of India and 12 countries and connecting rural urban India. With the vision to improve the lives of communities wherever we go and our road spreads, we launched project Parivaratan in 2010.

Here comes Parivartan ki Bus


Young boys and girls from Munda Pandey, Bithrichaipur, Agapur villages around the Moradabad-BareillyRampur highway greet us with hurrahs every time Parivartan ki Bus reaches the village. Cluster of more than 60 such villages on this route has experienced the programme already. The two Parivartan ki Buses in this circuit have impacted more than 3,000 students of Classes 5, 6 and 7th studying in government schools. Picture this: A 70-seater bus converted into a computer lab of 17 laptops, staffed with 2 qualified and trained instructors, equipped with a library and our K-YAN (our patent community computer built in collaboration with IIT Bombay). Throw in a dash of colour, vibrant interiors, children-friendly settings and what you get is a delightful teaching-learning experience. Parivartan, meaning transformation, is a unique CSR initiative guided by the conviction that education, employability and employment are the transformational tools in the process of community development.They bring in change in the community and build a long-term linkage mechanism to ensure sustainability. Currently there are more than four computer buses under project

Parivartan across the country. In a school, the mobile computer bus implements a one year computer education program for approx 1 hour per week per students. The uniqueness of this initiative is its outcome oriented approach.This is not just education on wheels, it is transformation on wheels. We have in the part three years spend time engaging and interacting with communities to improve the offerings to the community. A recent audit report showed that the Parivartan ki Bus has led to a marked improvement in overall student, school and community development. Encouraged by the results, ITNL and IL&FS Education are now exploring possibilities to take it to every road we build in India. We are also looking at expanding the scope of the bus and embed holistic development services as part of the initiative by adding components of skill development, teacher training, health and training for local self governance. With technology on wheels and access through our roads sky is the limit in innovating as per the needs of the villages
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and people. Kamlesh Kumari, asstant teacher at Government Middle School, Etua Beniram sums it well, Ever since the Parivartan Computer Bus has been visiting our in the past one year, student strength has increased. Children are much interested in computers and are eager to attend school they are more tuned into their studies. The Parivartan ki Bus is a comprehensive CSR model as it addresses the most important issues in community development technology penetration, quality of intervention, portability and innovation.This in many ways is our rendition of technology with a human touch. This is marriage of technology with humanitarian cause. CSRT [The Author, Pooja Gianchandani is the group head corporate engagement , and leads CSR engagement for corporate partners. The co-author, Shehnaaz Janjali is Head Community and Supplementary Education and the architect of Parivartan programme at IL&FS Education]

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