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When Literacy Becomes Freedom: Republic Day Through the Eyes of Newly Literate Women

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Newly literate women, joined by children and community members, raise their voices with pride during Republic Day celebrations under the Shiksha Plus initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, implemented by Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) and PVCHR — a powerful reflection of how education nurtures confidence, inclusion, and active citizenship in rural Bharat. Bharat celebrates Republic Day each year with grandeur — parades, patriotic songs, and reaffirmations of constitutional values. Yet the true strength of a democracy is often revealed not in grand ceremonies, but in quiet transformations unfolding far from the spotlight. This year, such a transformation emerged from rural gram panchayats where women — many of whom had never attended school — celebrated the 77th Republic Day for the first time in their lives. Nearly 800 adult learners, along with 250 community members, celebrate Republic Day with pride under the Shiksha Plus initiative — a powerful moment where literacy transforms lives and...
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Restoring Vision Every Month: Jan Mitra Nyas–PVCHR Permanent Eye Care Initiative in Varanasi

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Access to basic eye care remains a major challenge for poor and elderly communities in rural areas. To address this gap, Jan Mitra Nyas and PVCHR have been jointly running a permanent monthly Eye Check-up Camp in Varanasi, with support from the Shiksha Plus Initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation . This sustained initiative ensures that eye care is not a one-time intervention but a continuous community health service for the most vulnerable. As part of this ongoing programme, an Eye Camp was organized on 15 January 2026 at the Panchayat Bhawan, Kathiraon, in collaboration with R. J. Sankara Eye Hospital . The camp focused on early detection and treatment of eye diseases among poor, elderly, and marginalized people. A total of 40 beneficiaries (25 women and 15 men) received eye examinations. Medical screening identified several cataract cases along with co-morbid conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure. After clinical assessment, 13 patients were referred for cataract...
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HTDS Millennial Awards 2025 | Featuring Lenin Raghuvanshi

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Building Systems, Not Just Schools: Why Community Literacy in Rural India Matters to the World

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  Building Systems, Not Just Schools: Why Community Literacy in Rural India Matters to the World by Lenin Raghuvanshi highlights how the Shiksha Plus initiative of the Shiv Nadar Foundation, implemented with Jan Mitra Nyas, demonstrates that sustainable education reform is built through community systems, not standalone programs. By investing in local volunteers, accountability, data-driven learning, and lifelong literacy—especially for women—the initiative advances SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 3 (Well-being), and SDG 17 (Partnerships), while aligning closely with UNESCO’s Education 2030 vision. Through human stories like that of an elderly woman learner who now reads and understands documents independently, the article underscores a critical global lesson: literacy is not symbolic but protective, restoring dignity, agency, and informed choice. Full article: https://medium.com/@lenin_75290/building-systems-not-just-schools-d8067749bb0f
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Laptops Distributed to Community Educators for Adult Literacy Under Shiv Nadar Foundation’s Shiksha Plus Program

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Laptops Distributed to Community Educators for Adult Literacy Under Shiv Nadar Foundation’s Shiksha Plus Program Under the Shiksha Plus Program run by the Shiv Nadar Foundation , a major step has been taken to strengthen adult education in rural India. In a special event held at the Panchayat Bhawan in Barhikala village, 25 community educators were provided laptops and projectors , marking the formal launch of the literacy initiative. The program aims to make 1,125 adult learners literate within the next four months . Prior to this, a literacy campaign involving 1,900 women was successfully conducted in Kathiraon Gram Sabha, showcasing the effectiveness of the initiative. Quoting Nelson Mandela: “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” This philosophy lies at the heart of the Shiksha Plus Project. Key Objectives of the Project Empower rural communities through education Use digital devices and modern teaching methodologies Bring marginal...
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