Ekal Vidyalaya

Subhash Chandra is the immediate past Chairman of Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India, a charitable trust that initiates, supports and runs one teacher schools providing support education in 39,769 (as on Dec 2011) villages all over the country. Ekal has ambitious target of reaching a lac of villages by 2013, when the movement will be celebrating its silver jubilee. This is also the year when we all will be celebrating the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand, the inspiration to Ekal movement.

Chandra takes special pride in being associated with the movement. His inspirational talks and guidance have given a big boost to the movement in India and abroad, motivating people to join in the cause. He has been continuously contributing in the strategic growth plan of the movement and in networking the corporate world with the movement.

Currently, there are more than 11, 21, 805 (1 million +) students taking advantage of the support education programmes in 39,769 Ekal Vidyalayas across 21 states working to educate and empower children in rural and tribal India. These schools are spread across remote tribal areas. Ekal Vidyalaya's education programme is customized to meet the needs of rural and tribal children. The classes are scheduled to meet the needs of the village children and are often adapted depending on the season and harvest schedule. The school curriculum is tailored to teach the children basic literacy and life skills to help them develop self-confidence and succeed in rural occupations or pursue higher education, if they choose.

Like the Zee's drive for tree plantation to save the environment, Ekal also undertook a drive of planting a million trees on 5th June 2010 and achieved the target in just four months. Ekal will continue in its efforts to help in reducing global warming.

The schools are run for three hours every day and the timings are as per the local needs. There are no school buildings – the schools are run under a tree or a small hut offered by the local people. Apart from basic education, Ekal also extends support for health care education, development education and empowerment education to the marginalized section of society residing in remote India.

Chandra has visited many of the villages in remote areas where the schools are run. He has got a feel of the life there and seen the impact the Ekal Education has made in the life of the tribal brethren. He has also attended the training programmes where the trainers are trained and interacted with the volunteers and teachers.

Under the Global expansion programme, Chandra has extended considerable support and motivation to form Ekal Support Groups in countries abroad.

AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS
The work of EKAL and its support organizations has been recognized at various forums in the recent past. Some of the important ones are:

• 'Uttakrishta Samman' by Bharat Vikas Parishad in recognition of the work done in the tribal villages by providing education, primary health care and village development
• 'Outstanding Contribution to Social Work' trophy by the PHD Chamber of Commerce & Industry
• 'Excellent in Social Service' award by the Punjab Kesari Group for being the best NGO and  'Meri Dilli Award' by the NNS Media Group
• 'Thakkar Bapa Rashtriya Samman' by the Madhya Pradesh Government for rendering valuable service for promotion of self-respect, education, healthcare and economic development of the backward Janjati Community

SEEING IS BELIEVING
To have a feel of the impact of work done in the villages, Ekal welcomes all to witness the changes through personal visits. These visits are called  'Van Yatras'. This is a unique concept to let the urban donor know what Ekal is doing for its rural counterparts in which villages. The visits help to empower villagers and create opportunity for bonding among the two sets of people. Our assurance is once someone is there, it is a feeling of being in a different world. This comes from the warmth of the people which leaves one spell bound.

Also, to keep oneself updated of Ekal's performance, one can subscribe for 'Ekal Prayas' - a bi-monthly, bi-lingual magazine which can be subscribed at just Rs.150/- annually and also be viewed at www.ekalprayas.org.