Chandigarh: Honda India Foundation, the corporate social responsibility arm of Honda, held a felicitation ceremony to recognise the top performers of 'Honda Ki Pathshala.' This initiative aims to support education for underprivileged children across India through its network of schools.
"Honda Ki Pathshala" is a key CSR initiative by Honda India Foundation, featuring 50 centres throughout India. It has positively impacted over 2,500 students by enhancing their academic performance and lowering dropout rates. The programme is a collaboration with the NGO Khushii (Kinship for Humanitarian Social and Holistic Intervention in India), which is committed to offering holistic after-school education and support to students from disadvantaged communities.
The event was held at the Honda Samajik Vikas Kendra—the foundation's multi-skill development facility, located in Naurangpur, near Manesar in Haryana. Ten students were shortlisted from over 1,300 candidates through a series of elimination rounds across 26 such centres in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana.
Under the leadership of former cricketer Kapil Dev, the NGO emphasises education, health, and community development, aiming to improve the quality of life for marginalised groups. In addition to academic support, Honda Ki Pathshala prioritises outdoor activities, gender sensitisation, child rights education, and child leadership programmes to promote the overall development of students.
According to Vinay Dhingra, Senior Director, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India and Trustee, Honda India Foundation, "Honda Ki Pathshala is not just an educational initiative for the underprivileged; it is a platform to nurture young minds, empowering them to dream big and equipping them with essential skills to succeed in today's world. Our objective is to reduce dropout rates, enhance academic performance, and foster leadership qualities among these students. We were also honoured to have Kapil Dev join us today, whose inspiring presence motivated not only the students but everyone involved in the initiative.”
Speaking at the felicitation ceremony, former Indian cricketer and Chairman Emeritus of Khushii NGO, Kapil Dev, said, “I am proud to say that KHUSHII’s collaboration with Honda India Foundation through 'Honda Ki Pathshala' is transforming lives in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, and Haryana. We have set up community-based centres, where more than 1,500 empowered children are given the support they need to thrive. Together, we are making a meaningful difference in their education and future—we are grateful to Honda for coming forward to do this with us."
BI Bureau
