The National schools essay contest is an initiative of the Nanhi Chhaan Foundation to promote thinking and action amongst India's children on issues of social concern. We are keen to encourage national debate and action on our objectives which are to – Save the girl child and empower women, plant trees and protect the Environment and promote Inter Faith harmony. When we started in 2014, we envisaged The Nanhi Chhaan National Essay Contest to be a platform for the youth of the country to engage on and subsequently advocate for some of the most fundamental issues facing our society today. To make such a platform effective and resonant, we continue now in our 5th edition to reach out to a large swathe of the school-going population so that the issues we raise and debate create a strength of voice and thought that becomes difficult to be ignored.

This year, 17 student finalists representing 10 states from amongst 250 schools participated and our Invitation went out to over 2000 schools in the country and more than 8000 students wrote on the topic: Empowering Women – Will Society Benefit? The winner was Aakansha Narain(1st prize) from The Shriram School, Gurgaon and runners up was Shreya Vikram(2nd prize) from NPS International, Chennai. The Chief Guest was Ms. Leela Samson.

The stature of the Contest is enhanced by Inviting prominent Chief Guests, for example in the past Mr. Kiren Rijiju, Union Minister of State for Home, eminent judge panellists, Independent essay assessors from the Delhi University and oversight of the process provided by KPMG who will continue to partner with us next year too. . TROPHIES AND CERTIFICATES are given to all 15 finalists at the finals event. In line with our foundational pillar of protecting the Environment, saplings are distributed and a small plantation was done at the venue