Three years on, the initiative continues to support studies, secure school admissions and nurture talent through extracurricular activities
New Delhi: The Dr. M. L. Agarwal Educational and Rural Development Trust launched the Uthaan Education Centre in Inder Camp, Rangpuri slums, roughly three years ago, and has since supported the education and development of young girls in the area. The centre offers tuition and academic support to girls between six and 14 years old.
The centre currently reaches 20 girls from the local community. The Trust employs a teacher from the community and has appointed a coordinator to oversee the centre’s daily functioning, making the programme easier for local families to access. It has also set aside a dedicated room in the neighbourhood where the girls hold their study sessions.
The initiative goes beyond tutoring: it also works to bring girls into formal schooling and keep them there. Although most girls were already enrolled in school, the Trust arranged admissions in nearby schools for those who were not. In doing so, it strengthens the girls’ academic foundation and motivates them to stay engaged with their education.
Alongside academics, the centre nurtures the girls’ confidence and personal growth through extracurricular activities. It runs sessions in dance, sports and craft work, giving the girls room to explore their talents outside the classroom and channel their energy into healthy, meaningful pursuits.
The Trust recently hosted a prize distribution function to celebrate the girls’ academic achievements, honouring those who had performed well in school. The girls also staged dance performances, and one piece carried a message encouraging children to use social media in moderation and cut back on excessive digital exposure.
The event drew Dr Ravi Aggarwal (Trustee), Mrs Anju Aggarwal (Trustee), Dr. Vishal Kaura Aggarwal (Consultant in Rheumatology, BLK-Max Super Speciality Hospital), Dr. Raghav Aggarwal (radiologist specialising in musculoskeletal ultrasound, Dr. M. L. Agarwal Imaging Centre Pvt Ltd, Safdarjung Enclave), and social worker and philanthropist Ms. Anjali Sharma. Their presence boosted the girls’ morale and underscored the value of community participation in efforts to widen children’s access to education and opportunity.
Through Uthaan, the Dr. M. L. Agarwal Educational and Rural Development Trust works to give girls from the local community a supportive space to learn, build confidence and pursue a stronger educational future.
