Amit Kumar Singh
 |
| Amit Kumar Singh |
A psychology postgraduate of Lucknow University, Amit Kumar Singh (27) has found his calling in a sprawling Lucknow slum where he is teaching the three R’s and more to a group of 17 rag pickers aged between seven and 14. Classes are held in a tiny hut which Singh built in the middle of the slum. Helping Singh is Richa Chandra (24) a social work post-graduate also from Lucknow University.
Singh’s approach to the children is practical. "They need to work, so classes begin at 8:30 a.m. That way they are free after lunch to make their rounds of the city’s multiplying garbage heaps," he says matter-of-factly. "Most of our children are the only working members of their families and we can’t take away their livelihood. Hence their studies have to be woven around their work," says Singh pragmatically.
Classes start with a prayer and the national anthem. After this the children devote time to writing and then learn through educational games that Singh picked up while training with Butterfly, a Swiss non-government organisation. "Children have natural curiosity and are quick to learn given the opportunity," he says with a hint of pride. At the centre he also serves them a simple lunch, before they leave for rag picking around 1.30 p.m.
Although resources are a constraint, Singh uses his earnings as a call centre executive to run the learning centre. A former copy writer and occasional translator, he prefers to work on his own. Sometimes conscientious citizens pitch in with stationery and books, but he is wary of taking help. "Association with bigger NGOs means you have to toe their line," he says from experience born of working with several large NGOs.
Singh’s objective is to pioneer a model project which enables deprived children to combine study with vocational skills that can help them work their way out of extreme poverty. His feelers to several big names in industry and government have drawn a blank because of his "lack of experience". So earlier this year (March) he registered his own NGO christened Sehar (dawn) under whose aegis he intends to develop his model project.
Though Singh’s family has given up on him, he is confident that Sehar will be able to develop a learn-while-you-earn model which will prove useful across the country. "The wretched lives of millions of slum children in the country is a reality which can’t be wished away. These children are clever and street smart and capable of becoming productive and contributing citizens. A learn while-you-earn model has to be developed for them. True, the problem seems huge and forbidding. But the longest journey begins with small, hesitant steps," says Singh.
May the force be with you!
Vidya Pandit (Lucknow)
Jyoti Maggu
 |
| Jyoti Maggu |
An international sprinter, a national swimming gold medallist, sports president and captain of the athletics team of Delhi’s high profile Lady Shri Ram College. That’s Jyoti Maggu (24), a visually challenged student enrolled in the bachelor of arts (journalism) programme of the college. Last winter Maggu represented India at the International Blind Sports Association (IBSA) Games in Quebec, Canada.
"My lack of vision is my strength," says Maggu who lost her eyesight to retina pigmentation at the age of ten. "I believe in constantly raising the bar for myself."
Maggu’s achievements are particularly noteworthy because — as is well known — academic institutions in India are less than sold on the idea of inclusive education. In fact when Maggu lost her sight in class IV, her school (which she declines to name) expelled her while suggesting she attend a "blind school". Though shocked, Maggu rejected the advice. "Attending a special school would have tarred me with a handicap forever, which was not how I saw my future. Therefore I did the rounds of other public schools with my father, a small-time merchant, explaining that my case was different since I had vision till the age of ten," she recalls.
Impressed by her persistence and ambition, Delhi’s Bluebells School not only admitted her but pulled out all the stops to support her in academics and in sports. Not surprisingly she won laurels in inter-school sporting events and also notched up a respectable 73 percent average in the class XII exam with the help of Braille, interactive textbooks and extra coaching.
This respectable average in her CBSE exam paved the way for admission into LSR where again she proved her mettle by winning medals in a slew of inter-college events (100, 200 and 400 metre sprints), high jump, long jump, javelin and discus throw resulting in her being declared ‘Athlete of the Year’ 2003 at a sportsmeet for 100 physically-challenged athletes. And the cherry on the cake was the selection to the IBSA Games last year. "It was a tough regimen," recalls Maggu. "I had to attend sports camps, manage my studies and officiate as sports president. But I managed."
Moreover encouraged by Meenakshi Pahuja, erstwhile national swimmer and LSR coach, she took to swimming and in the Fourth National Swimming Championships held last autumn bagged a gold medal in the 50 metres freestyle. "I managed to shock everybody with my win, including myself," she says.
Maggu’s future plans include transforming into a "responsible journalist" for the electronic media. "Doing something professional will be more rewarding than a career in parallel sports," she states pragmatically. "And I want to be the best sports journalist ever."
A clearly attainable goal, given her grit and determination.
Neeta Lal (Delhi)