Chennai: P&G India's flagship CSR initiative, P&G Shiksha, marked its 20th anniversary by unveiling a coffee table book titled “Twenty Tales of Triumph” and launching a nationwide campaign, #EraseTheLearningGap, aimed at highlighting the unseen challenges faced by children due to learning gaps and harmful labelling.

The campaign was launched at a special event featuring actors Soha Ali Khan and Kalki Koechlin, along with clinical psychologist Dr. Varkha Chulani.

The panel discussion, moderated by author Priyanka Khanna, delved into the social stigma attached to labels like "weak" or "slow" and emphasized the need for early interventions to ensure that every child can learn with understanding.

P&G Shiksha has touched over 50 lakh children across India since its inception in 2005. Over the years, the program has evolved from infrastructure development to a focus on foundational literacy and numeracy. It now addresses learning gaps through preventive and remedial strategies, including partnerships with Pratham Education Foundation and AI-enabled tools like Mindspark.

Abhishek Desai, Vice President at P&G India, said, “With ASER 2024 revealing that over 50% of Grade 5 students can't read at Grade 2 level, our focus is on ensuring children not only attend school but understand what they learn.”

Actor Kalki Koechlin lauded the initiative's evolving focus, stating, “Replacing judgment with empathy can transform how children learn.” Soha Ali Khan, a long-time supporter, added, “This campaign is a reminder that supportive environments at home and school are key to bridging learning gaps.”

In Tamil Nadu, P&G Shiksha's interventions have empowered students like Jayamani, who rose from a government school in Minjur to become a chartered accountant, underscoring the initiative's transformative impact.