Empowering slum kids through education

Tribune News Service

Jammu, September 20

Empowering slum children through education is changing lives of thousands of children belonging to underprivileged families in Jammu.

An initiative by an NGO, started more than two decades ago, the school is providing education to those who could not have even completed primary education because of economic constraints.

Sarvodaya Middle School run by NGO VK Welfare Society at Rajiv Nagar, Narwal, has a roll call of 450 students at present. Affiliated to the State Board of School Education since 1997, it has allowed children, whose parents mainly work as labourers, ragpickers and do other menial jobs, to get education. Teachers and resource persons in these special schools are retired educationalists, social activists or volunteers.

“Our aim is to ensure slum children get quality education and also check dropout rate which is higher among those who belong to poor strata of society. Everyone here is working with missionary zeal to help transform lives of children and shape their future in right way,” said principal of the school Yogita Bakshi.

Slums are hubs of poverty and deprivation as they lack basic amenities. Many face economic pressure, but the Sarvodaya School has ensured that children are not forced to abandon their studies. Locals are also appreciative of the NGO which is running institution in Rajiv Nagar since 1997. A majority of the youths living there have studied in this school.

“If the middle school would not have been here, the entire locality would have been illiterate. It is because of these people and dedicated teachers that our children are able to read and write today. Many are working in the state government, police and other institutions,” said Beli Ram, a resident of Qasim Nagar.