Bhubaneswar: As the world commemorates International Literacy Day , we reflect on literacy’s vital role in personal empowerment, societal development, and national growth. With its vast and diverse population, India has made remarkable strides in improving literacy rates. From a literacy rate of 18.33% at the time of Independence, our country has reached a rate of around 77.7%, according to the NSO report of 2021. While this progress is commendable, a significant gap remains, particularly among marginalised communities. Literacy is a fundamental human right and a powerful social and economic transformation tool. For India, improving literacy is directly linked to achieving sustainable development goals, reducing poverty, and fostering social equity.
The Tata group has been synonymous with nation-building and social responsibility in India for over a century. The group’s commitment to education and literacy is deeply rooted in its ethos of improving the quality of life for communities. The Tata group’s various companies have initiated and supported numerous educational programmes, focusing on reaching the most underserved populations.
Among these companies, Tata Steel has emerged as a leader in driving educational initiatives that aim to create lasting impact. With a deep understanding of India’s challenges in achieving universal literacy, Tata Steel has designed programmes that address not just access to education but also the quality of education and the creation of an enabling environment for learning.
Tata Steel has long recognised that education is a key enabler of social change. The Company’s efforts are not limited to its operational areas but extend to some of India’s most remote and underdeveloped regions.
The Education Signature Program (ESP) is a single umbrella comprehensive programme of scale, with multiple components that are harmonised to create lasting change. ESP fosters
the ambition of not just achieving transformative change in the region and states where it is deployed but also being seen as a ‘national change model’. Initiated in FY 2015 the programme is impacting over 6,000 government schools in 13,000 villages and ~40 blocks
in tribal areas in the states of Jharkhand and Odisha.
Another significant initiative is Masti Ki Pathshala, an educational programme for children living in urban slums and other disadvantaged areas. Initiated in Jamshedpur with 100 children and a single Residential Bridge Centre (RBC) in FY 2017, the project now reaches over 3,000 children, operates six RBCs and several NRBCs. The children within the Masti ki Pathshala system represent 33% of the street and slum children in Jamshedpur.
Recognising that financial barriers often prevent talented students from pursuing higher education, Tata Steel has instituted several scholarship programs to support students from marginalised communities. One such initiative is the Jyoti Fellowship, which provides financial assistance to meritorious students to help them complete their education. For over 35 years now, the Jyoti Fellowship has supported students in areas of Jharkhand, Odisha and Maharashtra. Now several decades old, the programme has consistently supported tribal children via scholarships from Grade VII until they reach college to help them achieve their academic goals.
Tata Steel also instituted the Green School programme which is aimed at inculcating environmental awareness in children on aspects such as biodiversity, energy, waste and water. With over 30 private schools brought under the fold of the project, the Company is ensuring their students champion the cause of the environment by learning about it through projects in their schools and surrounding areas.
As our nation continues its journey towards full literacy, corporate India’s participation and contributions are critical. Through targeted and sustained efforts, Tata Steel is helping build a literate and educated society where everyone can realise their potential. On this International Literacy Day, it is essential to celebrate the progress made and recognise the challenges that remain. Literacy for all is not just a goal but a necessity for building a more just, equitable, and prosperous tomorrow.
