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Diaspora pledges $2.7M for education at Vidya Bharati New England gala
The event marked a significant step in Vidya Bharati’s efforts to expand educational access in India through infrastructure and technology.
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Staff Reporter - Fri, 25, Jul 2025
- 13:01 EDT
- 158
Representative image / Vidya Bharati USA
The Indian-American community pledged INR 23 crores (approximately US$2.7M) for various educational initiatives during the Vidya Bharati New England Gala held in Boston on July 23.
The gala titled ‘One Tablet, Infinite Futures’ focused on advancing tech-enabled learning in rural India.
Also read: Vidya Bharati presents Lifetime Achievement Award to David Wilcox
Of the total commitments, INR 18 crores (approximately US$2.2 million) will support the construction of a new school, while INR 5 crores (approximately US$577K) will fund the deployment of a digital learning ecosystem. Preliminary discussions were also held for the development of a second school.
“We are thrilled by the overwhelming support from our community and the commitments made to advance Vidya Bharati’s vision. These initiatives will empower thousands of students with access to quality education and cutting-edge digital tools, fostering a brighter future for the next generation,” said a spokesperson for Vidya Bharati New England.
A highlight of the event was the presentation of ongoing efforts by philanthropist Satish Jha. Through the Sodhani Foundation and Ashraya, Jha has supported schools in Rajasthan and Jammu, deploying Edufront-powered digital learning tools. Ashraya’s model equips students with tablets and classrooms with interactive panels, backed by continuous training and assessments. It currently impacts nearly 9,000 students and includes the innovative Pingal STEM program.
The event was attended by leading innovators and philanthropists, including Desh Deshpande, Venkat Srinivasan, Subu Kota, Samir Desai, and Satish Jha, alongside academics such as Tufts University professor Ujjayant Chakraborty, MIT professor Vijay Kuma, and Salem State dean Raminder Luther.
Vidya Bharati is India’s largest NGO-run school network. Founded in 1952, it operates over 12,000 formal schools and around 8,000 non‑formal learning centres nationwide, educating more than 3 million students—especially in underserved rural, tribal, and urban areas—with value‑based curriculum rooted in Indian culture and character formation.
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