Partners with Nirmaan Organization to aid digital skills and learning

Cognizant has donated 865 tablets and 40 internet-enabled laptops to government schools in Mumbai and Pune as part of the nationwide “Digital Schools” initiative of Cognizant Outreach, the company’s employee-led volunteering programme and one of India’s largest corporate volunteering efforts. Nirmaan Organization is the implementation partner in this initiative.

Cognizant Outreach’s “Digital Schools” project is being implemented in four phases and will impact over 3700 students and over 180 teachers of government schools across six states in India. Cognizant is contributing over INR 6.7 crores for the initiative.

The devices were presented to the schools at a function held at New English School, Phursungi, Pune. The event was attended virtually by Mr. Sandeep Rane, Vice President and Head of Pune Operations at Cognizant, Mr. Abhishek Jain, Associate Director, Cognizant Outreach and Mr. Mayur Patnala, CEO, Nirmaan Organization. Dignitaries present at the venue included Sri. Shriram Panzade, Deputy Director of Education, Department of School Education, Government of Maharashtra, Pune, Sri. Ankush Shinde, Sub Education Officer, Pune District and Sri. Deskmukh Balasaheb Haribhau, Headmaster, New English School, Phursungi, Pune and Smt. Anuradha Pulla, Program COO, Nirmaan.

This initiative will benefit over 860 students of classes 9 and 10 and over 40 teachers of government schools in the region. Cognizant has contributed over INR 1.53 crores towards procuring these devices.  

Cognizant Outreach and Nirmaan volunteers will conduct programs to train the students on using the equipment effectively and will also monitor usage to ensure positive educational outcomes. Volunteers will also conduct training sessions for faculty members to empower them with digital skills and techniques to enhance student engagement and learning outcomes.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Sandeep Rane of Cognizant said, “As an organization that believes in the power of education to enable social progress and transformation, Cognizant will continue to serve the cause of digital inclusion in education. The “Digital Schools” initiative is our effort to ensure that rural schools that serve underprivileged communities overcome the extraordinary disruptions and digital inequalities brought about by the Covid-19 pandemic and continue imparting education.  On behalf of Cognizant, I thank the state, district and local administration, as well as our implementation partner Nirmaan Organization for their support.”

Commending Cognizant for their support, Mr. Mayur Patnala, CEO, Nirmaan Organization, said, “We have been working to ensure that children’s education does not stop during the pandemic,” said “We developed the ‘Digital Schools Program’ to strengthen digital infrastructure in rural schools and create teacher training programs to equip faculty members with the knowledge to harness digital technologies. Cognizant’s support and partnership has helped mitigate the impact of the pandemic on the education of underprivileged students.”

Outreach has long-standing partnerships with many of the recipient schools, where volunteers have worked to improve learning parameters, increase interest and awareness in STEM disciplines, create avenues for extra-curricular activities and help students make informed career choices. Outreach has also helped in improving the infrastructure and facilities in these partner schools.

Cognizant has been supporting schools, educational institutions, community libraries and other institutions across India with computer infrastructure since the onset of the pandemic.