Google to Fund Elementary Schools Run by the Bharti Foundation

Google announced on 31 January 2011 that it would provide assistance worth $5 million to upgrade and support 50 Satya Elementary Schools being run by the Bharti Foundation in Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh. Bharti Foundation is the philanthropic arm of Bharti Enterprises. According to the agreement between Google and Bharti Foundation Google will provide financial support to set up middle schools (classes VI –VIII) and also help meet operational expenses to upgrade primary schools to the elementary level. The initiative will help upgrade 50 primary schools to the elementary levels and reach over 15000 children. At full capacity the initiative will also provide employment and skills training to over 500 teachers.

Bharti Foundation’s flagship initiative, the Satya Bharti School Programme reaches out to over 30000 children, with particular focus on the girl child from socially and economically challenged backgrounds. Under the Satya Bharti School Programme, the foundation provides the children with access to free education through 236 village primary schools and one senior secondary school.