In 1996, Anand Mahindra, Chairman of Mahindra Group began Project Nanhi Kali (which means ‘a little bud’) at the K.C. Mahindra Education Trust, with the objective of educating underprivileged girls in India. The project was incepted against the backdrop of spiralling population growth rate, low female literacy level and low female workforce participation. In addition, social issues such as child marriage and child labour were common place in many parts of India, especially rural areas.
Anand Mahindra felt that there was a strong correlation between the prevalent societal evils in India such as superstitions, dowry deaths, caste system, and the fact that girls were not educated. He believed that if girls were educated, they would contribute not only to the economic development of the country but also lay the foundation for a more just and equal society. This has been corroborated by the World Bank several times, stating that limited educational opportunities for girls and barriers to complete 12 years of education, cost countries between $15 trillion and $30 trillion in lost lifetime productivity and earnings. Investment in girls’ education has a transformational impact on their earnings and standard of living. This, in turn, leads to lower fertility rates and child marriage as well as better health and nutrition for the entire family, thereby building social capital.
With the twin objective of positively impacting India’s development by educating girls and encouraging Indians to contribute to a worthy cause, Project Nanhi Kali was designed as a sponsorship program, wherein individuals and corporates could participate by sponsoring girls’ education for a minimum period of a year.
Over the years, Project Nanhi Kali has reached out to nearly 874,266 underprivileged girls across 15 states in India. From the remote hamlets of Raichur to the rural heartlands of Varanasi; from the tribal hills of Araku Valley, to the bustling slums of Mumbai; from the vibrant communities of Bharuch to the serene heights of Darjeeling—Project Nanhi Kali is transforming lives by ensuring girls complete their formal schooling up to Grade 10.