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Kosi, February 16, 2010: The Coca-Cola Foundation and Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages pvt Ltd, today announced the completion of reconstruction work at five schools in Araria and dedicated it to the local community. These schools were damaged in the aftermath of the floods of 2008 in Bihar. The reconstruction of the schools is in keeping with the Company’s initiative to support primary especially for those from the weaker sections of the society. The initiative is a part of the Project LIFE PLUS program- a project conceived by Save the Children towards providing improved education facilities and learning material to children affected by the Kosi flood in Bihar in 2008.
Shri Ramji Das Rishidev, Minister for Forest and Environment, Government of Bihar dedicated the schools to the local community at a function in Adarsh Madya Vidyalaya Kala Baluwah, Araria. Also, present at the occasion were Shri Zaffar Raffique, Director, DRDA, Araria, Dilip Kumar, District Education Officer, Araria, Mr. Pradip Pandey, General Manager, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Private Limited, representatives from Save the Children, officials from the district administration and district education department and teachers and students of Adarsh Madya Vidyalaya Kala Baluwh.
Dedicating the project to beneficiaries in Araria, Shri Ramji Das Rishidev, Minister for Forest and Environment, Government of Bihar said “I am pleased to dedicate these schools to the local community and it is with great satisfaction that I note that these projects are a result of public-private partnership. I congratulate Coca-Cola India and Save the Children for coming forward to support education in this small town of Bihar. This project is a good model for others to follow.”
The Life Plus project which was undertaken in Middle School Kosi Saran Garbandha, Adarsh Madhya Vidyalaya, Kalabaluwa, Upper Middle School Kavilasha, Primary School Koskapur, Primary School Baijnathpur, will be benefiting more than 2800 students.
Speaking on the occasion, Prabhat Kumar, State Programme Manager for Save the Children in Bihar said, “This initiative by Coca-Cola and Save the Children to provide educational aids to five schools is a true partnership between corporate sector and a non-governmental organization for implementing community projects for the needy.”
According to Shri Upendra Prasad Yadav, Principal, Adarsh Madya Vidyalaya Kala Baluwh, “When I first joined the school, there was barely anything there. I was shocked that there were so many children crammed into one classroom. Things have changed since the construction work. We are grateful to Coca-Cola India and Save the Children for all the aid they have provided for our school. The state needs more such public private partnerships to promote the cause of education.”
A delighted Hari Ram Kumar, pupil at Rajgir Primary School says, “Before the school received the learning materials, the teacher used to teach us only from books. But now we have extra blackboards and wall charts, it is much easier to learn and I understand what is being taught much better.”
Coca-Cola India has repaired and refurnished five schools in Araria district of Bihar, provided tube well along, education kits, education materials, school uniforms to children along with toilet facilities for girls and boys separately. 200 families have been supported with shelter materials to repair their shelter under this programme.
Speaking on the function, Mr. Pradip Pandey, General Manager, Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages Pvt Ltd, said, “We always strive to help our communities towards sustainability and better standards of living. A disaster like the floods of 2007 required that we bring together all stakeholders to start the rehabilitation process. We were privileged to be able to partner with some leading NGOs like Save the Children and contribute in our own small way towards the cause of primary education.”
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