SDMC’s school adoption scheme finds many takers

The school adoption scheme of the South Delhi Municipal Corporation is all set to be a hit as several reputed groups working in the field of education and social responsibility arms of corporate houses have expressed interest in scheme.

‘We have received applications from reputed education societies running chains of public schools such as Delhi Public School and DAV group of schools apart from several NGOs,’ said chairman of SDMC education committee Satish Upadhayay.

According to Upadhayay, SDMC has so far been approached by corporate social responsibility (CSR) arms of Bharti Airtel, SRF Foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, Tech Mahindra Foundation, Akanksha Foundation, ARK Foundation and Modern School group. ‘We do a weekly review of the scheme and will soon put the matter for approval before the standing committee,’ he added. 

Central Square Foundation, an NGO, has volunteered to coordinate between NGOs and corporate houses apart from organising training programmes for launching the scheme. Millennium Post was the first to report about the scheme on 23 May.

According to the proposal, these self help groups would be provided school buildings and adjoining land with a right to renovate it according to their requirement. They will also be given the freedom to recruit their own teachers and staff. 

‘The schools adopted under the scheme are required to retain the students enrolled in the school and admit all the students of poor category from the locality to provide free of cost education, free books, free uniform and bags,’ the standing committee chairman said. They will be given a few seats which they can fill with general students from whom the full fee can be charged, he added. 

Another scheme of SDMC which aims to engage sports bodies to train students has also received an overwhelming response as sports bodies such as EduSports have shown interest. So far, sports bodies such as Bhaichung Bhutia Football Schools, Delhi Lawn Tennis Association, Delhi Amateur Wushu Association, Delhi Karate-Do Association and Delhi Taekwondo Association have supported the project. Millennium Post first reported about the scheme on 10 July.