Pedal power to check school dropouts

Coca-Cola India on November 3 organised a cycle rally to promote its campaign of stopping poor children from dropping out of school for lack of basic amenities

Pedal power to check school dropouts

Coca-Cola India on November 3 organised a cycle rally to promote its campaign of stopping poor children from dropping out of school for lack of basic amenities

Taking its message of 'support my school' campaign further and ensuring that children continue to study in school and not drop out, Coca-Cola India organised a cycle rally recently, under the theme 'Bacche school mein hi acche' hosted by Depalpur Government Senior Secondary School, Sonepat.

Keep up the good work: Joseph Tripodi felicitates winners of the inter-
school sports competition. Pic/Mid Day

The event held on November 3, was an inter-school sports meet. The initiative has supported the Government High School in Depalpur by building sustainable infrastructure such as hygienic sanitation facilities, especially for girls, setting up a rain-water harvesting unit, providing improved access to water, badminton courts and other sports facilities, and a library, among other things.

One of the key concerns related to education in rural India is the lack of basic amenities in schools, which not only results in increased absenteeism, but also in high dropout rates, especially among girls. The campaign was not undertaken only to generate awareness about such issues, but will also work towards building 100 model schools in various villages and towns.u00a0

For their own good
"This initiative will go a long way in getting the child's attention back in school, which in turn will help the child realise his or her potential to the fullest," said Rani Jaglan, principal of the school.

Robert Swan, polar explorer and environmentalist, and Joseph Tripodi, executive vice-president, Coca-Cola Company, flagged off the cycle rally. The rally went around the village of Depalpur, raising slogans and carrying messages of bacche ufffdschool main hi acche. The community members of Depalpur village welcomed the cyclists with garlands and gifts and joined in the chorus of slogans to spread the message.

"The 'support my school' initiative is a humble effort to provide holistic infrastructure that would help reduce instances of children giving up their right to education due to lack of basic hygiene facilities, which we take for granted in our everyday lives," said Tripodi.

Meanwhile, Swan added, "I congratulate Coca-Cola India for this campaign that not only contributes to the education of hundreds of children but also takes up sustainable initiatives for creating vital infrastructure facilities at the schools."