A Silent Revolution - Helping the helpless

The final examination at Shoshit Samadhan Kendra, a fully free English medium residential school run by Shoshit Seva Sangh was held from 17^th to 25^th March, 2013. The question paper set were based on the norms laid down by the CBSE. The overall performance of the children could be considered as very good. The school closed for annual vacation for 10 days on the completion of the annual examinations on March 26^th. On their return from vacation the children of middle and senior school were asked to write their experiences. After reading over a hundred such reports, I would like to make the following important observations –

(a) The level of education and the manner in which the students carried themselves in the village aroused curiosity and interest in them among the villagers particularly the musahar community. Within the community, notwithstanding their young age, they were treated with some respect and consideration. The intervention by the students with regard to undesirable social activities and practices made an impact. That many of these children could read and write English attracted a great deal of interest in them not only in the community but also among the villagers.    

(b) Many of the students reported that they raised the issue of making illicit liquor and alcoholism prevalent in the community. In some cases their insistence with their parents to shun this bad habit was successful.

(c) Almost all the students of the school including those in the primary school helped their siblings and in some cases children of the community in their studies. Many of them talked about the importance of going to school. They really and effectively spread the message that education is vital for the future of the musahar community. Many students were invited by teachers of government village schools to take classes in the school. The village school teachers appreciated the knowledge of the student.

(d) Many children talked about the illegality of child marriage and why marrying off under age children particularly girls was bad for their health as well as their future.

Overall it can be said that the children of our school have already started making a healthy impact in the musahar community. Of course, there is a long way to go before this becomes very visible and brings about real as well as sustainable change.

(ii)  All the children of the school were happy to go home on vacation. All of them in their statement said that they went out of the way to show respect and consideration for their parents as well as elders. In their own small way they tried to be a role model for the children of the community. Many of them took the children of the community to the nearest cyber café and showed the children the website of Shoshit Seva Sangh and photographs of their school and their activities in the school.

(iii) The construction of the school building is progressing satisfactorily. The total estimated cost for the G+1 building with a foundation for G+3 will be approximately Rs. 12 crores. The challenge is to raise the funds to complete the construction of the residential school building.

(iv) 43 selected children joined the pre-school class in April 2013 at the commencement of the academic year 2013-14. All these children are from remote villages of different districts of Bihar, most of them being the backward districts of the state. The idea is to spread the message of education and create catalyst of change in as wide a area as possible.  With the new admissions the total number of students in the school for the academic year 2013-14 is 320.  

(v) HSBC has been giving annual grants to Shoshit Seva Sangh since 2007-08. The CEO of HSBC India, Mr. Stuart Milnes,  who was on a day’s visit to Patna on May 09, 2013, found time to come to the school. He saw the facilities and met the students. A cultural programme was presented which included the performance of Shakespeare’s play Julius caesar by the students. Some photographs of his visit are attached.

J.K. Sinha

Founder-Chairman