BONGAIGAON. NTPC Bongaigaon formally launched the fifth edition of its flagship corporate social responsibility initiative, the Girl Empowerment Mission (GEM) 2026, on July 4, 2026. The inaugural ceremony of the month-long residential programme was graced by Chief Guest Shri Jaikumar Srinivasan, Director (Finance), NTPC Limited, in the presence of Shri Arnab Maitra, Head of Project, NTPC Bongaigaon, alongside senior officials, dignitaries, parents, and teachers. Reflecting a deepened commitment to rural community development, this year’s batch has expanded to welcome 50 girls aged 10–12 years selected from 12 neighboring schools. The grand opening commenced with the traditional lighting of the ceremonial lamp and the NTPC theme song, setting a purposeful tone for the four-week journey ahead.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Guest Shri Jaikumar Srinivasan underscored that empowering young girls is fundamental to building resilient families and stronger communities. He highly lauded NTPC Bongaigaon for fostering an inspiring, protective environment and later inspected the residential amenities to interact directly with the participants. To encourage their independence and future educational journeys, Shri Srinivasan personally distributed bicycles to all 50 girls. Echoing this vision, Shri Arnab Maitra reaffirmed NTPC’s commitment to inclusive growth, defining GEM as a cornerstone initiative designed to groom confident, capable, and socially responsible future women leaders. The launch event also featured a vibrant cultural showcase, a documentary on the GEM journey, and moving success stories shared by the program’s 2023 alumni batches.
Running from July 4 to July 31, 2026, the comprehensive curriculum offers a life-enriching blend of academic learning, digital literacy, personality development, sports, creative arts, and emotional well-being. Since debuting locally in 2022, the Bongaigaon chapter has successfully empowered 210 girls, standout among which is a merit policy where the top 10% of performers—selected via independent external evaluation—receive fully sponsored free education at the township school. On a national scale, NTPC’s standard-setting GEM initiative has already transformed the lives of over 13,000 girls across India, firmly driving corporate social responsibility, gender equality, and sustainable grassroots development forward.
