IIM Bodh Gaya Launches SPARSH Initiative to Boost Education in Rural Bihar

Bodh Gaya: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bodh Gaya has unveiled a new initiative, SPARSH (Students-led Program for Advancing Rural Students’ Holistic Education), in partnership with the Glad Bharat Foundation. This program is focused on empowering primary school children in Mahudar Village, one of five villages adopted by the institute. The initiative is part of IIM Bodh Gaya’s broader efforts to engage in community development activities across the region, including previous health surveys and blanket distribution campaigns in the adopted villages.

On Saturday, a team comprising 12 students from Pragati, IIM Bodh Gaya’s CSR committee, and three faculty members, Dr. Suresh KG (Chairperson, CSR), Dr. Johnson Abhishek Minz (Co-Chairperson, CSR), and Dr. Gargi Roy, joined forces with Ahmad from the Glad Bharat Foundation and Ruby Kumari, the principal of the primary school in Mahudar, to officially launch SPARSH. The project aims to enhance the learning experiences of young students through interactive educational sessions and holistic development programs.

During the launch event, Dr. Gargi Roy, along with the IIM Bodh Gaya students, conducted an engaging educational session that left a positive impact on the primary school students by making learning both fun and informative. Dr. Suresh KG expressed optimism about the collaboration, noting that the initiative is designed to offer students valuable educational experiences and improve long-term learning outcomes.

The event witnessed the participation of over 100 primary school students, their teachers, and the principal, along with representatives from IIM Bodh Gaya and the Glad Bharat Foundation. The strong turnout underscored the community’s enthusiasm and support for the initiative.

One of the participating students shared their excitement about the program, highlighting their enjoyment of discovering new things through the sessions. SPARSH aims to strengthen the educational foundation of primary-level students by enhancing their knowledge and improving learning outcomes through interactive learning sessions, differentiated instruction, and regular assessments. Additionally, the program will offer special sessions focused on holistic development, including storytelling, interactive English practice, and reading aloud from textbooks to build language skills and confidence.

The SPARSH initiative is expected to contribute to the educational development of rural Bihar, ultimately leading to long-term socio-economic progress in the region.