The Aviva Great Wall of Education, a book donation drive, presented by The Telegraph, for the underprivileged children culminated into a book distribution ceremony today.
- An initiative by Aviva Street to School
- More than 3,20,000 books collected over five days
- Book donation drive for underprivileged children supported by Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Save the Children & CINI Asha
- Bookwall to go to Chennai and Delhi following Kolkata’s success.
The Aviva Great Wall of Education, a book donation drive, presented by The Telegraph, for the underprivileged children culminated into a book distribution ceremony today. The honourable vice chancellor of Kolkata University, Suranjan Das, along with Vishal Gupta, director marketing Aviva India presented more than 3,20,000 books to the representatives of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Save the Children India and CINI Asha.
As part of Aviva’s Street to School program, the books from the wall will be used to move thousands of underprivileged children with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, Save the Children and CINI Asha closer towards education. The event was well attended by close to 350 children from select schools across Kolkata, who had participated in the donation drive as well some key personalities of Kolkata.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Gupta, director marketing, Aviva India, said: “At Aviva, we believe that 'Education is Insurance’ and we are truly grateful to the people of Kolkata for making the Aviva Great Wall of Education a big success.
"We have collected more than 3,20,000 books which will go towards building a brighter future for the underprivileged children by helping them into education. We appreciate the patronage of the people of Kolkata towards this noble cause.”
Thomas Chandy, CEO, Save the Children, said: “It is heartwarming that Aviva has undertaken this book donation drive to benefit hundreds of children across India. And the people of Kolkata have demonstrated with great enthusiasm that they care about the education of children from the most marginalized communities. With a historic Right to Education Act now in place, every child between six and 14 has the right to elementary education. Save the Children will endeavour to ensure that this right becomes reality.”
Speaking on the occasion, Choten Lama, state project director, Paschim Banga Sarva Shiksha Mission, said: "The Paschim Banga Sarva Shiksha Mission is very happy to be a partner in this unique ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education Initiative’.
"Though textbooks are distributed to every child (from the age of six years to 14 years) by the Government under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan, I would like to appeal to the people of Kolkata to donate other children’s books for their joyful reading and enrichment. The books received under this Initiative would be distributed to schools whose students belong to disadvantaged and weaker social groups."
Rajib K Haldar, additional director, Child In Need Institute (CINI), said: “The ‘Aviva Great Wall of Education’ is a laudable effort by Aviva, towards building a radiant future for underprivileged children and helping them off the streets and into education. Education of a child helps to develop child’s personality, talents, mental and physical abilities to their fullest potential. This endeavour of Aviva Book wall is a unique and excellent effort to reach out to the un-reached which they would not have the fortune to access into. We hope that many disadvantaged children will be greatly benefitted from this effort.
"We will first try to assess the child’s requirement for the book and accordingly the books will be given them through the coaching support, remedial support, and various other institutional supports we provide at CINI. From CINI every effort will be made to provide the children with this precious gift of book that will help them to build their potential.”
The five day donation drive starting 1 September was activated across Kolkata through drop boxes placed at schools, Starmark stores, Frank Ross Pharmacies, Aviva branches and corporates. Children from 300 schools actively donated their old text books, note books towards the cause. Many individuals have also come forward and donated books for the underprivileged children. Many who did not have relevant books to donate brought packets from the Starmark Book Store counter.
In Kolkata, the "Aviva Great Wall of Education" is supported by Ambuja Realty as the venue partner, Starmark as the book store partner, Emami as the recycling partner and My Friends FM as the radio partner and the students of School of Planning and Architecture (Delhi) have designed the wall.
The "Aviva Great Wall of Education" marks another step by Aviva, towards helping underprivileged children into education. Aviva Life Insurance has partnered with CRY’ (Child Rights and You) and "Save the Children" to facilitate education (including other related factors that could prevent a child from attending school) for over 50,000 children by 2012 under the Street to School initiative.
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For additional information, please contact:
Aditi Vij
Aviva India
E-mail: aditi.vij@avivaindia.com
Phone: 0124 2709082
Shraddha Yawalkar
Adfactors PR
E-mail: Shraddha.yawalkar@adfactorspr.com
Phone: 09920552245
Notes to editors:
About Aviva India
Aviva Life Insurance is a joint venture between Dabur Group and Aviva Group. Current paid up capital amounts to Rs 1888 crore. Dabur Group is the 74% shareholder while Aviva Group holds 26%. Aviva Group is a UK based insurance company and one of the world’s oldest insurance groups, with a history dating back to 1696.
Founded in 1884, Dabur is one of India’s oldest and largest groups of companies with the group’s consolidated annual sales in excess of Rs 2,396 crores. A professionally managed company, it is the country’s leading producer of traditional healthcare products.
Aviva’s products have been designed to provide customers flexibility, transparency and value for money. We have been among the first companies to introduce Unit Linked products in the market.
Aviva has a unique need based sales approach through the “Financial Health Check” (FHC). The FHC is a free service administered by our FPAs (Financial Planning Advisers) for a need-based analysis of the customer’s long-term savings and insurance needs. Depending on the life stage and earnings of the customer, the Financial Health Check assesses and recommends the right insurance product for them.
Aviva is also keen to reach out to the underprivileged that have not had access to insurance so far. Through its association with BASIX (a micro financial institution) and other NGOs, it has been able to cover lakhs of lives.