Union Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Zubin Irani on Wednesday launched the Boeing literacy programmes in her parliamentary constituency Amethi to help advance female literacy and empower girl children in Amethi.

She inaugurated 30 libraries under Boeing’s Room to Read literacy programme and three Boeing Innovation Studios by Learning Links Foundation.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently dedicated to the nation the Boeing Sukanya Programme, which aims to provide opportunities for girls and women from across India to learn critical skills in STEM fields and train for jobs in the aviation sector.

“Foremost, I am grateful to our PM Narendra Modi Ji for his vision in helping advance the participation of our country’s daughters in India’s aviation sector through the Boeing Sukanya Programme. I am equally delighted that under this programme, we expand the literacy outreach by setting up 60 Boeing – Room to Read libraries and Boeing STEM labs in Amethi, of which 30 libraries and three STEM labs are fully operational for children in Amethi today,” said Irani.

“Programmes such as these not only make education accessible and employment inclusive for our girls and women but empower every woman to be the centre of decision-making in the family, community, and country – and that is a vision we drive for the district and nation,” she added.

Irani was accompanied by senior government and district officials, Boeing India Chief of Staff and Boeing Global Engagement Lead, India and South Asia, Praveena Yagnambhat; Sudeep Dube, senior vice-president, Learning Links Foundation and Rishi Rajvanshi, Director, Innovation and Donor Engagement, Room to Read India at the opening ceremony.

“We are proud of the commitment we made as part of the Boeing Sukanya Programme to set up the infrastructure and enable access to education, guided by PM Modi’s vision for greater participation of more girl children into the country’s growing aviation sector, and pleased to have Minister Irani to expand the outreach in Amethi district today,” said Salil Gupte, president, Boeing India and South Asia.

Launched in 2023 in the Amethi district, the Boeing Room to Read literacy program will touch 60 primary schools for the next few years in Amethi to help nurture independent readers and lifelong learners. The libraries are equipped with modern amenities and resources including books, reading tables, open bookshelves, display units, and other educational materials.