Solarpack is partnering with Bala Vikasa Social Service Society, a not for profit organization working for the upliftment of rural poor for the past 45 years in southern states of India. In the framework of Solarpack’s Social Action Plan, which seeks to support socio-economic development through education in the areas where the company operates, a new project is initiated under this collaboration to “transform the lives of students and communities through improved school facilities and improved access to safe drinking water”.

Students in rural public schools are deprived of quality education due to lack of infrastructure in the schools, which play significant role on children as they spend most of their day in the school. As per the recent reports school dropout rate in India is recorded as 34.8%. Majority dropouts are recorded in public schools where majority of the rural poor pursue their education.

This project aims to improve education infrastructure in 11 rural public schools by providing desks and equipment to generate a sustainable and healthier environment (ventilation equipment, garbage and recycling collection equipment, or tree seedlings for students to plant and care for) and improve the students’ learning by appointing 14 private tutors to clarify their subject related doubts, and help them in timely completion of daily home works. The project also provides mini libraries in two of these 11 schools to enhance students’ learning. A total of 1648 students are expected to benefit from these 11 schools in 9 villages of Karnataka and Telangana states from Southern India, where some of the plants of Solarpack are located.

This project also aims to provide safe drinking water to communities of 3 villages from Telangana state by construct rooms, providing raw water source, and installing reverse osmosis machines. The project also empowers communities in maintaining and managing these projects benefitting around 1466 families of 3 villages.

This initiative, launched in August, will be implemented during the following ten months. The project will be closely monitored to ensure the achievement of the expected results and impact in the communities: students learning is enhanced; teachers, parents and students of rural public schools conserve healthy environment in their schools; communities are empowered to sustain the water purification installations; communities have improved access to safe and affordable drinking water and therefore, water borne diseases among the communities is decreased.