In partnership with IITM Pravartak, Asha Chennai hosted its 8th biannual RTC Impressions event at IIT Madras to showcase projects created by government school students. From over 500 entries, 56 finalist teams presented projects in Robotics, Web development, Digital Literacy, Programming and Media Editing.

RTC Impressions – February 2026

A report on the RTC Impressions held at IITM Terrace Hall in February ’26.

You may view the album here.

Since 2022, Asha Chennai has been operating Rural Technology Centres (RTCs) in Tamil Nadu in partnership with IITM Pravartak. What began as two centres in Thiruvallur has expanded to 13 centres across Thiruvallur, Thoothukudi, Thiruvannamalai, and Thiruvarur. In 2025, additional centers were inaugurated in Uttukoati, Thirupatchur, Tiruttani, and Kottur.

The RTCs were established to provide government school students with free access to computer education, ranging from foundational skills to advanced courses. Each center is staffed by one or two teachers, who also conduct introductory classes at nearby government schools. Students with a deeper interest in computers are encouraged to join the RTCs, where they can pursue structured courses.

RTCs follow a biannual academic calendar, with terms running from February to July and August to January. Each course spans six months, comprising approximately 3.5 months of instruction followed by 1.5 months of project work. At the conclusion of each term, students submit projects that are evaluated by RTC teachers, leads, and Asha volunteers.

Outstanding projects are showcased at RTC Impressions, a biannual event held in August and February. This platform highlights student innovation and excellence, with selected projects presented before an external panel.

Project Submission

The 8^th batch of RTC students submitted their projects in January 2026, which were then evaluated by Asha volunteers, RTC Teachers, and Asha staff. The largest submissions are made for the Digital Literacy and Scratch Programming category which are our basic courses on offer.

The Event

IITM Pravartak to support us in hosting the event. They organized to host the event at the Terrace Hall in IIT Madras campus. The air-conditioned venue, with a seating capacity of 300, is equipped with facilities such as an LCD projector, amplifier, and both hand-held and collar microphones. Once the venue was confirmed, we proceeded to design and print invitations for the event. These were sent to government officials, judges, IIT representatives, and Asha staff, inviting them to attend and witness our students in action.

Since we had eight competitions, we decided to group the smaller ones under a common set of judges. However, Digital Literacy and Scratch Programming each had over 15 projects, requiring at least 15 minutes per project, so they were judged as independent competitions. Media Editing, Physical Computing and Robotics were clubbed together in one competition and, Web Development 1 & 2, and Animation were clubbed

together in another competition. These 4 competitions were happening in parallel. We planned to allocate 3–4 judges per competition, which brought our overall requirement to approximately 12–15 judges. Once the judges were intimated, we received positive confirmation from most.

The competitions were scheduled to run from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., with breaks for tea and lunch in between. The prize distribution ceremony was planned from 3:30 to 4:30 p.m. As a thoughtful gesture, Asha teachers prepared handmade gifts for all the judges who volunteered for the event.

The Competition

Since all our RTCs are located outside Chennai, students either traveled overnight or started early in the morning to reach the venue. Teams from Thiruvallur, Thoothukudi,

Thiruvarur, and Thiruvanamalai arrived at IIT between 8:00 and  8:30 a.m
Upon arrival, the students, teachers, and coordinators proceeded to have breakfast at the venue.

As the event was scheduled to begin at 9:30 a.m., the judges had to be briefed on the grading parameters and provided with their respective competition scorecards. Once all the judges had assembled, Mr. Rajaraman, Volunteer and Coordinator for Asha Chennai, welcomed them and expressed gratitude for taking time out of their schedules to evaluate the children’s projects.

The grading framework typically follows a 30-30-40 pattern: 30% weightage for the project itself, 30% for its presentation, and 40% for the Q&A session. Judges were then handed their scorecards and assigned specific spots to evaluate the competitions.

The largest space was provided for the Digital Literacy competition. For this competition, students create presentations using Open Office of topics of their choosing.

This year, we witnessed a wide variety of projects. With AI being the buzzword, we had made that the theme for this RTC Impressions and they got extra 5 marks if their project was in the theme or if they used AI in some manner in their project. Several students chose topics related to it, including AI in Agriculture, AI Project, Applications of AI, and The IoT. Other innovative themes such as Malaineer Segarippu, Biometric Attendance System, Navarasangal, and Space Tourism showcased the creativity and range of the students.

Presentations were brought to life through song, dance, and skits, adding a vibrant dimension to the event. In a humorous twist of “UNO reverse,” instead of dreading questions from the judges, the students actively encouraged them to ask about their projects and technical knowledge. This playful confidence sparked laughter from the audience and left the judges both impressed and amused.

Scratch Programming was conducted at one end of the hall, where students presented their projects to the judges. Using Scratch, they created engaging games such as Shooting Game, Ninja Fruit Game, Match Me Game, Multi Games, Cricket, and Sound Party. When judges requested small modifications, the students took some time to implement the changes, demonstrating their adaptability and technical skills. Throughout the process, the judges offered constructive feedback and encouragement, making the session both interactive and supportive.

Students showcased a diverse range of projects under Web Development, creating websites on topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Evolution of Technology, History of Satellites, and Medical Shop Management Systems. In Physical Computing, students created projects on topics like FM Station, Four seasons App and Smart Boy.

Media Editing and Animation also featured creative presentations. One team highlighted how RTCs had helped the student gain computer literacy, boosting their confidence and success at school. Another group presented a magic show, recording themselves performing tricks and editing the footage for added effect. Students even captured photos and videos using drones, weaving them into their storytelling, which made for an engaging and memorable experience.

Robotics was the new course introduced this year and was one of the highlights of this RTC Impressions. Asha’s team has been working on developing the Robotics course in discussions with the RTC teachers. Since it has been recently introduced, we received submission from three RTCs – Seethanjeri, Kannigaiper and Periyapalayam. Out of 6 projects submitted, 3 were selected for the final presentation. The three projects were- Miniature wonderland, Safe and safety school and Smart Home. The students worked hard on their projects, creating physical models to showcase their understanding. They had used a variety of sensors (IR sensor, proximity sensor, light sensor etc.) and a variety of motors and other actuators (stepper motor, DC motors, LED lights etc.). Finally, they had also built models to show their project including sometimes 3D printed components!

Prize Distribution

The prize distribution ceremony began at 4:00 p.m., following the tea break. During the ceremony, the judges shared their experiences from the event and commended the children for their hard work, creativity, and innovative ideas. The winners were then announced, and the students received their prizes with immense joy and pride, marking a memorable conclusion to the day’s competitions. The winners of RTC Impressions Batch 8 are as follows-

Testimonials

Ms. Mala Ragnathan, RTC Impressions Judge – On Saturday, February 21st, I spent five fulfilling hours serving as a judge for the top four winners in the “Digital Literacy” category at the RTC (Rural Technology Centers) Impressions event, hosted at IIT Madras by “Asha for Education.” The competition featured outstanding projects developed by RTC students after completing their six-month courses. I had the privilege of listening to and evaluating presentations from 16 teams, each lasting 15 minutes. Students arrived by bus from distant locations, highlighting their dedication and enthusiasm. Overall, it was a truly rewarding experience indeed!

Ms. Dharini Srini, RTC Impressions Judge– Judging at RTC Impressions was a truly inspiring experience. Seeing government school students step out of their comfort zones and put in dedicated effort to learn and build web development projects was remarkable. Their commitment, curiosity, and drive to grow speak volumes about their potential.

Mr. Vinoth V, RTC Impression Judge– This was my second event with Asha as a judge for Digital Literacy, and once again, the kids truly amazed me with the level of hard work and dedication they poured into their presentations. Every participant brought forward innovative topics and demonstrated remarkable confidence in the features they used. What impressed me even more was how well-prepared they were to handle out-of-content questions, keeping the sessi

on interactive, engaging, and insightful throughout.

Testimonials

Ms. Mala Ragnathan, RTC Impressions Judge – On Saturday, February 21st, I spent five fulfilling hours serving as a judge for the top four winners in the “Digital Literacy” category at the RTC (Rural Technology Centers) Impressions event, hosted at IIT Madras by “Asha for Education.” The competition featured outstanding projects developed by RTC students after completing their six-month courses. I had the privilege of listening to and evaluating presentations from 16 teams, each lasting 15 minutes. Students arrived by bus from distant locations, highlighting their dedication and enthusiasm. Overall, it was a truly rewarding experience indeed!

Ms. Dharini Srini, RTC Impressions Judge– Judging at RTC Impressions was a truly inspiring experience. Seeing government school students step out of their comfort zones and put in dedicated effort to learn and build web development projects was remarkable. Their commitment, curiosity, and drive to grow speak volumes about their potential.

Mr. Vinoth V, RTC Impression Judge– This was my second event with Asha as a judge for Digital Literacy, and once again, the kids truly amazed me with the level of hard work and dedication they poured into their presentations. Every participant brought forward innovative topics and demonstrated remarkable confidence in the features they used. What impressed me even more was how well-prepared they were to handle out-of-content ques

tions, keeping the session interactive, engaging, and insightful throughout.

One key takeaway for me from the day is that learning is truly a never-ending process. The teachers who mentor and guide these students are living examples of that philosophy. Asha is doing a tremendous job by introducing forward-thinking courses such as web development, robotics, HTML, and more, equipping young minds with skills that truly matter.

It was a lovely experience to co-judge the event alongside experienced professionals and spend such an inspiring day with these bright young talents. Thank you, Asha, for this wonderful opportunity. Asha is truly making an impact in every child’s life!