TechVariable, an Assam-based IT service company collaborated with a Guwahati-based NGO Priyobondhu to celebrate International Literacy Day 2021 with underprivileged children.

The TechVariable team, along with the members of the NGO, distributed basic stationeries like pencils, notebooks and books to around 50 underprivileged children of the Narengi locality of Guwahati.

TechVariable HR manager Antara Saikia Vauquline and Priyobondhu founder Archana Borthakur spoke at length about the lack of public awareness regarding the problems and issues faced by these underprivileged children.

"Digital Literacy is extremely important. Apart from the growth metrics of a startup, our team considers this
as a responsibility to serve and support the local community," said a TechVariable member while speaking on the occasion.

Priyobondhu founder Archana Borthakur thanked the TechVariable members for extending a helping hand and said that the basic motto of the NGO is to educate underprivileged children.

A midday meal for the children and a short dance and singing performance by the children was also organised on the occasion.

It may be mentioned here that International Literacy Day is an international observance, celebrated each year on September 8.

The need to observe this day was declared by UNESCO on October 26, 1966, at the 14th session of UNESCO's General Conference.

It was celebrated for the first time in 1967 and the aim of International Literacy Day is to highlight the importance of literacy to individuals, communities and societies.

As per Wikipedia data, some 775 million lack minimum literacy skills; one in five adults is still not literate and two-thirds of them are women; 60.7 million children are out-of-school and many more attend irregularly or drop out.

ALSO READ | TechVariable: Transforming Northeast Digitally