Toyota Kirloskar Motor has announced the expansion of its ‘A Behavioural Change Demonstration’ (ABCD) programme to an additional 400 government schools in Raichur district, Karnataka, for the fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Following the programme’s success in 100 schools over the last two years, which positively affected over 26,000 students, the new phase aims to benefit more than 68,000 students.
The expansion kicked off with an orientation session for school headmasters at the Krishi Vigyana Kendra (KVK) in Raichur, attended by Deputy Commissioner Mr. Nitish K., IAS, who highlighted the programme’s goal of equipping headmasters with effective methods to teach hygiene and sanitation.
In this extended initiative, Toyota Kirloskar will offer training sessions covering topics such as hand washing, sanitation, water conservation, waste management, and personal hygiene. The programme also plans to distribute sanitary pads to 24,000 adolescent girls through March 2026 to enhance menstrual hygiene management. Moreover, TKM will provide essential sanitation supplies, including buckets, mugs, cleaning products, hand soap, and mopping tools, to maintain hygiene standards in the participating schools.
The programme aims to empower students to advocate for sanitation improvements in their communities and engage families in constructing household toilets where necessary. Community involvement will be bolstered through awareness campaigns, video demonstrations, and annual quizzes and drawing contests to reinforce the lessons learned in schools.
Deputy Commissioner Nitish K., IAS, stated, “Education today encompasses not just academic achievement but also the development of responsible citizens who recognize the importance of health and hygiene. The ABCD programme by Toyota Kirloskar Motor exemplifies how private enterprises can contribute meaningfully to community well-being. By instilling essential sanitation and hygiene practices in young minds, the programme lays the groundwork for healthier, more resilient communities.”
Vikram Gulati, Country Head and Executive Vice President of Corporate Affairs & Governance at TKM, expressed that the success of the initial phase has motivated them to expand their efforts to reach an additional 400 schools in Raichur. “Through this initiative, we aim to enhance sanitation in schools and cultivate a culture of awareness and positive change within the community,” he noted.
Launched in 2015, the ABCD programme has significantly raised sanitation awareness, particularly in Ramanagara district, Karnataka. By 2019, it had reached over 1,000 schools, benefiting 58,000 students and impacting 430,000 community members. Revitalized in August 2023, the programme aligns with the national Swachh Bharat Abhiyan mission, contributing to India’s ongoing sanitation and hygiene improvement efforts.
Through partnerships with the education department, local authorities, and other key stakeholders, TKM seeks to drive sustainable change and promote long-term enhancements in hygiene and sanitation throughout Raichur district.
