Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Allied Trusts have been focussed on the education and development of people from marginalized communities. The Trust have taken forward these priorities with renewed rigour based on basic principles and program strategies. The era of globalization and increasing awareness of rights has added new demands on the education system. Amidst global concerns and the drive for economic growth, the focus on children – their protection, well being and learning needs – have been neglected. The complexity of our social and educational environment, with plural identities, languages and struggle for survival has led to a significant section of people being deprived of basic rights and amenities.   

The approach of the Education portfolio of the Trusts in this context is based on an analysis of the needs of the most deprived groups, collective wisdom of thinkers and practitioners associated with the Trusts, and an evolving vision focussed on children’s needs and rights. The democratic values and ethical sensibilities guiding the Trusts form the core of the approach. The educational programs have a wide scope, and are based on five basic principles -

In addition, it may be noted that the Trusts are flexible about supporting projects related to children. Collaborative programs with state agencies are encouraged to increase the impact and quality of programs. The importance of quality along with access, child-centered learning, mother tongue as the medium of instruction and an overall enabling environment are key for motivating children and communities.

Many organizations working with communities have achieved limited success in improving access to resources or livelihoods. However, their empowerment and sustainable livelihoods get limited in the absence of education. Education and literacy is becoming increasingly identified as the critical factor which hinders the development of communities – rural, urban poor, displaced, migrants, minorities, Dalits – and disempowers them. Education thus becomes a critical task for empowerment, as it can equip people to deal with the complexities of their environment on their own terms, and not be dependent on the educated few for negotiations and dealing with systems. Women who are struggling to survive need it as a tool to critically analyse problems and to seek solutions. The Trusts realizes the importance of literacy particularly for women who are organized in Self Help Groups or sangathans, and has developed programs to extend learning opportunities to them.