Vikas Khanna's film calls for #BagsToSchool: Fights girls' education crisis post-pandemic

Michelin Star Chef Vikas Khanna has collaborated with EkDesh, the social impact arm of House of Omkar, to release a short film titled "Pinky Ka Basta." The 3-minute film sheds light on the alarming issue of adolescent girls dropping out of school after the COVID-19 pandemic.

Recent surveys and studies reveal that over 50% of girls are uncertain about returning to school after the pandemic, with a staggering 64% drawn into domestic work. Furthermore, 57% of girls drop out upon reaching the 11th grade.

"Pinky Ka Basta" tells the story of countless girls who have stopped going to school due to the pandemic's impact. It aims to raise awareness about the challenges these girls face in accessing education.

With "Pinky Ka Basta," EkDesh launches the #BagsToSchool movement, partnering with Chef Vikas Khanna to bring together NGOs, organizations, and individuals to create an ecosystem that empowers young girls. The campaign, which includes crowdfunding, is in collaboration with Annamrita Foundation to provide nutrition for girls and Pedal On to create skill and job opportunities. The short film, conceptualized by Maximus Collabs and directed by Ashish Panda, aims to inspire action.

Reflecting on the project, Chef Vikas Khanna said: "In a rapidly advancing world, it is distressing that many adolescent girls still lack access to basic privileges like education and sanitation. The World Bank states that one year of secondary education can increase women's wages by 25%. 'Pinky Ka Basta' is a call to action, urging everyone to recognize the seriousness of this situation and work towards a brighter future for these young girls."

Poonam Kaul, Founder of EkDesh and House of Omkar, added: "Education is not just a window of opportunity for girls; it's a leap towards a better future. 'Pinky Ka Basta' is a small step towards bringing girls back into the academic or skill ecosystem, enabling them to become self-reliant and independent. We hope this film inspires more people to support girls in returning to school and pursuing their dreams."

Anurag Bhatnagar, Chief Marketing Officer, Annamrita Foundation said: "We are very delighted to partner with EkDesh and Chef Vikas Khanna. Our ethos, ideas, efforts, purpose and intent align and ‘Pinky Ka Basta’ is a result of this collaboration."

Saumya Sharma ,Key Solutions Resource - Maximus Collabs also shared: "Pinky Ka Basta, a 3 mins short film is a testament to the power of storytelling and its ability to drive social change. We are honored to support this significant film and the alarming issue of girls’ education, and we hope it inspires audiences to take action."

Statistics highlight that 46% of schools lack basic facilities like toilets and drinking water, 35% lack boundary walls, and 16.6% of secondary schools in India do not have female teachers.

"Pinky Ka Basta" is a first step in building an ecosystem to empower young girls and spark change across the nation. Empowering girls means empowering the next generation.