Over 24,000 students benefiting from Ncell's CSR initiative

Ncell, a leading GSM operator, spent a total of Rs 66.17 million in education sector over the past three years under its corporate social responsibility (CSR), benefiting 24,462 students across the country. Its CSR activities in the education sector included support for schools in infrastructure development under ´Adopt a School´ program, assistance for digital libraries and scholarship for girl students. Ncell spent Rs 52.43 million under ´Adopt a School´ program, Rs 9.23 million for digital libraries and Rs 4.5 million for scholarship for girl students. Its CSR activities were launched in 55 schools. Similarly, it has been providing scholarship to 15 girls. Thanks to ´Adopt a School´ program, students in 55 community schools do not have to face problems like studying in broken-down building, compulsion to see multiple classes in single room and cancellation of classes during rainfalls and storms. Students of BP Primary School in Sonbarsha village of Banke were among those facing the plight before the Ncell´s assistance reached there. “Cozy concrete building has replaced the old devastated building. Students of different grades now sit in separate rooms. Rain and storm do not force us to stop classes. It became possible because of Ncell´s support,” Basanta Chaudhary, principal of the school said. BP Primary School is one of the many beneficiaries of Ncell´s CSR activities. According to Ncell, it provided support to the schools for new buildings, toilets, drinking water facilities, furniture like desk and bench, educational materials and sports accessories along with blackboard, carpet and cushion for proper classroom management, among others. “Thanks to Ncell´s support, more than 335 students of the school are benefiting from the better learning environment,” said Ravi Tuladhar, coordinator of Banke Unesco Club that coordinated for the support from the local level. Ncell´s support to the school has led to increment in the number of students and drop in the number of absentees and drop outs. Similarly, Panchakanya Higher Secondary School in Ratnanagar, Chitwan and Rastriya Madhyamik Vidhyalaya of Waling, Syangja boasts of well-equipped libraries with Ncell´s support. Ncell has also implemented digital library project in 13 other schools, providing computer and accessories, educational materials, training to the teachers and supporting transfer of computer skills to students. It has also provided scholarships to 15 girls of remote and rural districts for five years. “We are glad we could bring smiles on the faces of about 25,000 students of 55 schools that have benefited from our sustainable CSR initiative in education,” Sanju Koirala, corporate communication director of Ncell, said.