Bharti Foundation, the philanthropy division of Bharti Enterprises, India’s top business conglomerate, has received the Asian CSR Award 2008 for the Support and Improvement of Education among the rural communities.

Co-presented by the Asian Institute of Management, the Center for Corporate Social Responsibility and Intel Corporation, this high-status award was presented to Bharti Foundation by Dr. Noeleen Heyzer, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Secretary of Economic and Social Commission for Asia, at a ceremony held in Singapore.

The award recognizes the Satya Bharti School Program, the flagship program of Bharti Foundation for its contribution to education among the rural communities.

According to Mr. Rakesh Bharti Mittal, Co-Chairman, Bharti Foundation, "We are delighted at this international recognition for this unique initiative from Bharti Foundation. The Satya Bharti School Program has demonstrated how organizations can work effectively for the upliftment of underprivileged children in the rural areas. We are confident that children benefiting from this program will become equal partners in India's future economic growth."

The Asian CSR Awards Program is Asia's premier awards program on corporate social responsibility. It recognizes and honors Asian companies for outstanding, innovative and world-class products, services, projects and programs in five categories. Bharti Foundation was chosen as the winner in the 'Support and Improvement of Education' category from among 170 entries representing 120 companies from 15 countries.

The Satya Bharti School Program is an innovative model that aims to make available high-quality free education to poor, out-of-school and migrant children especially the girl child in the rural pockets of the country.

At present, 159 Satya Bharti Primary Schools are running across the states of Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh benefiting over 18,000 children and more than 560 teachers.

By 2010 Bharti Foundation aims to extend to over 2,00,000 children on an on-going basis through 500 Satya Bharti Primary Schools and 50 Satya Bharti Senior Secondary cum Technical Training Schools. Apart from the regular curriculum, these 50 Satya Bharti Senior Secondary cum Technical Training Schools will train the students in professional skills to equip them for future employment opportunities.