PINAKI MAJUMDAR
Jamshedpur, Oct 2: Tata Steel Foundation hosted a felicitation ceremony to recognise the merit of the first batch of students from Masti Ki Pathshala, who passed matriculation earlier this year.
The event saw the presence of East Singhbhum deputy commissioner, Ananya Mittal, Masti Ki Pathshala school teachers, principals along with Chanakya Chaudhary, director, Tata Steel Foundation, Sourav Roy, chief executive officer, Tata Steel Foundation, among other officials of the Foundation.
The felicitation ceremony began with a homage to Mahatma Gandhi and Lal Bahadur Shastri, and was attended by over 600 people, including government officials, partners, teachers, principals among others.
Celebration of achievements
Students and teachers were felicitated for their consistent contribution in reaching a milestone of starting with no formal education to joining an English medium government school and passing the first hurdle of matriculation.
Some of the students took up internships during their summer break, before re-joining school to complete their higher studies.
The event also saw performances by the students and teachers in between the compelling sessions conducted by principals from various schools, teachers, Sourav Roy and the deputy commissioner of East Singhbhum.
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Commitment to equal education
Speaking on the occasion, Sourav Roy, Chief Executive Officer, Tata Steel Foundation shared, “It is inspiring to see what the children and teachers have achieved together, and it is a teaser to what they can do further. This transformation, however, did not come easy and was daunting at the start. But we are thankful to have teachers who have made it their personal mission to ensure every child gets access to equal education and opportunities. The children have also inspired many of their peers through their journey and the future they have set for themselves.”
Masti Ki Pathshala’s ongoing mission and impact
Masti ki Pathshala is an initiative enabled by Tata Steel Foundation which seeks to help children realise their true potential through education, skilling, and support, and bring them out of the worst forms of labour.
Currently reaching 4000 children across 139 bastis, near Jamshedpur – Masti Ki Pathshala hopes to equip the most vulnerable with skills, education, opportunity, and information to combat societal challenges and lead a dignified life.
In FY24, the Foundation has reached over 7.4 lakh children, brought back 6932 out-of-school children back to formal education, engaged 3.2 lakh children in Foundational Literacy and Numeracy programmes through its bucket of initiatives mapped under education.
Additionally, the timely interventions have further helped 17 blocks declare themselves child labour free in Keonjhar, Odisha.
