Toyota Kirloskar Motor Kick Starts ABCD Sanitation & Hygiene Awareness Program In Raichur District

-          Aims to bring about a behavioural change through the child to community approach.

-          First phase to cover 100 Government schools and 10,000 students.

-          Focuses on enhancing the overall  Health  & Hygiene outcomes in the district.

Toyota Kirloskar Motor (TKM) today announced the launch of its flagship initiative - 'A Behavioral Change Demonstration' (ABCD) Sanitation Program, in Raichur District of Karnataka. On the occasion of 76th Independence day celebration, at Raichur, an official Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) towards collaboration to increase sanitation awareness and for adoption of better hygiene practices, was exchanged between Dr. Sharanaprakash Ruddrappa Patil, Hon’ble District In-charge Minister, Raichur, and the Minister for Medical Education & Skill Development, Government of Karnataka and  Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head  & Executive Vice President, TKM in the presence of Mr. Chandrashekhar Nayaka L, IAS - Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate, Raichur, and Mr. Roshan R - Deputy General Manager, EA-State, CSR & BIA TKM.

The ABCD Program, launched in 2015, under the ‘Swachh Bharat Abhiyan’, has successfully empowered students and fostered behavioural changes towards hygiene & sanitation. The objective of this program is to promote better sanitation practices using child-to-community approach, focusing on building awareness amongst students, their families and the community. Having already achieved significant success in Ramanagara District, where the program covered 1004 Government schools, benefitting over 58,000 students and more than 4.3 lakhs community members. Considering the positive impact of this program on society, this initiative was published in the Harvard Business Review and is a part of the collection of case studies at the prestigious Harvard Business School. Now this program is being introduced to bring a positive impact to the people of Raichur District of Karnataka.

Dr. Sharanaprakash Ruddrappa Patil – Hon’ble District In-charge Minister Raichur and Minister for Medical Education & Skill Development, Government of Karnataka, said, “I commend Toyota Kirloskar Motor's unwavering commitment to address the critical issue of sanitation through the ABCD Program. This program's child-to-community approach is unique and praiseworthy, as it encourages school children to become ambassadors for bringing about a positive behavioural change amongst people towards sanitation. Moreover, it is heartening to see that, such initiatives, not only educate but also empower our younger generations to lead the way for healthier, more hygienic practices in schools, homes, and communities. I am confident that this collaboration will bring about significant development in the district of Raichur and set a benchmark in the sanitation habits of people in the state and the nation."

Mr. Vikram Gulati, Country Head & Executive Vice President, Toyota Kirloskar Motor, said “We are honoured for being a part of this transformative endeavour by the Government of Karnataka and overwhelmed with the recognition and appreciation that the ABCD Program has received from key stakeholders, including the community. The positive impact of this program on the community and its effectiveness in empowering students by fostering a mindset change towards sanitation and hygiene, has been truly inspiring. As we extend the ABCD Program to the Raichur District, we are thankful to the support extended by the Government of Karnataka and are highly motivated to create a lasting positive difference in the lives of people where it is needed the most. Our aim is to educate, empower, and enhance the hygiene & sanitation awareness amongst students, teachers, and community members by, promoting a holistic approach to inculcate healthier lifestyle habits. We look forward to working closely with and under the guidance of the Education Department, local authorities, and other stakeholders to ensure that the ABCD Program has a significant & long-term impact on the people of Raichur District.”

The ABCD Program will include various engaging activities to promote sanitation awareness, such as - classroom sessions and demos, organising quiz, school star rating, personal hygiene trainings, consumables supply, strengthening School Development and Monitoring Committees (SDMC) and sustenance. In Raichur, the ABCD Program is planned to cover over 1600 schools in phased manner over the next 7 years benefitting over 1,50,000 students. In the first phase it will cover 100 Government schools and approximately 10,000 students, while the remaining schools will be covered in the subsequent phases.

TKM is committed to making a meaningful difference in the lives of people through its community development initiatives. The ABCD Sanitation Program is a testament to TKM's commitment to creating a healthier and more sustainable future for the community and the country.