Set up through the generous donations from Late Dr. Ranjit Singh and his wife, Ms. Martha Carreno, Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra (RSK) building was inaugurated on 18 November 2021. The inauguration of the building was done by Ms. Martha Carreno, who shared her vision of the RSK Centre. Prof. S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur and committee members overseeing the Center were also present during the inaugural ceremony. Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra (RSK) is an Institute project set up to reach out to the nearby villages and contribute towards the employability of rural youth. He was passionate about the development of rural India and desired to catalyze a socio-economic transformation where the less privileged at the bottom of the economic pyramid would get equal opportunity in education, technology and development. His vision was to help the poor thrive, resulting in greater equality and prosperity for all in the society.
The Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra, IIT Kanpur, showcased a model of rural development in a unique ceremony in the presence of the Chief Guest Shri Durga Shankar Mishra, Hon. Chief Secretary of the Government of Uttar Pradesh, and special guest Mr. Raju Jalan, Vice Chairman of Council of Leather.
The doctoral students from IIT Kanpur demonstrated teaching the students at remote rural schools through the Online Rural Education Initiative (OREI) platform. When the Chief Guest inquired about how the IIT Kanpur classes were benefiting them, the children responded enthusiastically, stating, "OREI classes make difficult concepts simple. The maths classes are especially interesting, and we love them." He noted that OREI is a unique model supported by the Government of Uttar Pradesh and encouraged the RSK to expand its reach by connecting with more universities and aiming to reach 500 students by the following year.
The Chief Guest also presided over the certificate distribution and award ceremony for Rozi Shiksha Kendra's skilling program. He emphasized that training in leather and garment industries is a wise choice, as they are also part of Kanpur district's ODOP (One District One Product) initiative. Professor S. Ganesh, Director, IIT Kanpur, shared information on the inception of RSK and its remarkable progress in just two years, presenting a model of rural development, suggesting the state government to adopt this model and facilitate its expansion on a larger scale. Prof. Sudhanshu Shekhar Singh, Prof. Ark Verma, Prof. Shikhar Misra PhD, Prof. Santosh Misra, Dr. Dr. Sandip Patil and Mr. Sandeep Saxena are also associated with OREI platform.
Mr. Durga Shankar Mishra Chief Secretary, UP govt. visited RSK
Unnat Bharat Abhiyan, IIT Kanpur organized a pottery workshop at the Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra. The workshop, named "Mati Kala," aimed to upskill potters of Bithoor with new methods of pottery making.
Hari Ram, a Master Artisan from Gonda and a State Awardee, gave hands-on training to 10 potters, who also visited the casting laboratory of IIT Kanpur, pottery laboratory of Kanpur University and Lata Creation (a pottery equipment making factory).
With inputs from multiple experts from various IITK departments, the Ranjit Singh Rozi Shiksha Kendra aims to bridge the gap between ancient artistry and modern demands, paving the way for a prosperous future where the rich cultural heritage of pottery continues to flourish.
