Citizens, students join hands to educate poor children

Sunit Dhawan

Some prominent citizens, professionals and students in Rohtak have come together and formed a support group for improving the lot of underprivileged children. It is their mission to work for the uplift of children of migrant labourers and rag-pickers and bring them into the mainstream.

Deepika, a university student; Rahul, an engineering graduate; Seema, a faculty member at BPS Women University, Sonepat; and Prasoon, Shivam and Vikrant, MBBS students, teach such children at a park in Housing Board Colony at Sector 4 in Rohtak. This school being held in the open is popularly called Gandhi School. 

On the other hand, Prof (Dr) Smiti Nanda, Head of Department of Gynaecology and Obstetrics, PGIMS, Rohtak; Dr Ravi Mohan, a leading physician, and Varsha Pathania, owner of a local school, provide textbooks, notebooks, stationery and other study material to these children. The District Press Club, Rohtak, and various voluntary social organisations also support Gandhi School.

Naresh, a local resident, is the one who thought of the idea and established makeshift Gandhi School. He started the school with three children of migrant labourers on Teacher’s Day on September 5, 2005.

Gandhi School has two branches which have 150 students. Naresh does not accept any monetary assistance from anybody, though many residents extend help to his school by providing stationery items to children and taking care of other requirements.

“It gives me great satisfaction to be among children and be able to do something for them. It is good to see them doing well in studies and extra-curricular activities. Some students have bagged National Means-cum-Merit certificates and scholarships,” says Naresh.

The school begins at 7 pm with students raising slogans such as “Padhenge, Padhayenge, Jeevan Safal Banayenge” and reciting “Hum Honge Kamyab Ek Din”. Besides studies, these children also take part in group songs, plays and other activities. They also organise awareness activities against social evils. 

Naresh gets students admitted to government schools, which they attend during daytime. His students Sonu, Raj, Kranti, Sheetal, Shakruddin, Mehak, Tamanna and Fiza say that they will continue with their studies wherever they are.