Give a smile to 3000 slumchildren to attend school

Shruti (not her real name) is studying in Class-III and a 9 years old girl. She belongs to a very poor family in Rickshaw Colony slum. Her father is a betel shop keeper and her mother is a house wife. They are unable to maintain their family properly. So it was difficult for her to come to school as her parents needs help in house hold works. With a great effort and difficulty of the BPCL Shikshya remedial teacher, she took admission in Niladrivihari Primary School in Class-II. In the annual assessment she stood first in the class. Now she is reading in class –III and got 1^st position in half yearly assessment and her parents are very happy and promised to continue her education. The smile in her face is only possible due to Ruchika's BPCL Sikshya Remedial Education Programme.

Life of Laxmi (not her real name) went through a series of somber tribulations since her babyhood. When she was in her mother’s lap, her father deserted her mother. He married to another woman and left that place. Her mother had no option but to start domestic work in some families. The whole day Lamipriya was almost left unattended when her mother was working at other’s house just to arrange two square of meals It was really a difficult time for the baby and her mother.

When Laxmipriya grown up she was sent to school. But without care and support in the family she was frequently dropped out of school. Nobody was there to help her to do home tasks given in the school. It was making her humiliated in the school for which she got dropped out. However she was sometimes coming to school just to continue her education.

When Ruchika initiated "Remedial Education Centre" in her slum, Laxmipriya was identified as a needy child. At that time she was promoted to Class – V. The teacher put some extra effort which helped Laxmipriya to be blossomed. She quickly picked up her study with the support of the Remedial Teacher. This year she stood First in her Class in BJB Nagar UP School. Proudly says Laxmipriya, “It is my Remedial Teacher who brought me to so height. Now sky is my limit. I want to study hard and get a good job and look after my mother. I will surely bring smile to my mother’s face”. This was only possible because of the support of Ruchika's Remedial Education program in the slums for dropped out children.

Akash Moharana (not his real name) is the son of a Auto driver. He is around 10 years old and studying in Class-V in the nearby government primary school in Shantipalli, Sahid Nagar, Bhubaneswar. Due to poverty his father could not able to afford tuition for him. But, the teacher of our Remedial Centre in that slum came to know about him. She contacted his family and Akash joined our special remedial classes for English, Mathematics and Science regularly. Within a short span of time his hidden talents came to forefront and he excelled in his studies in school. After some days, a District level "Science Exhibition" was organized by the Education Department in which Akash participated with his project. 

Akash's project received good reviews and appreciated by the students and teachers visited the science exhibition. At the end, his project got the Third Prize among junior group. It is heartening to see the slum child has got the recognition among more than hundred projects placed in the exhibition. We wish all success in life..!!

Mini (not her real name) is a six years old girl from a poor family. Her father is a daily laborer and mother is a domestic help. She is studying in Jokalandi Primary School, Bhubaneswar. She is a bright student but due to poverty her parents did not afford tuition. Ruchika has a Remedial Education Centre (REC) at Baramunda Bhoi Sahi, Bhubaneswar. The teacher, Pravasini Singh, spotted the girl and asked her parents to send her to the REC. She is very punctual and attends the classes regularly. During these times, the teacher came to know her hidden talents of drawing, singing and storytelling. She encouraged her and guided her properly.

Mini, the little girl did exceptionally well in her school annual examination and also in annual sports. She got many prizes in singing, action song, drawing and storytelling events. She is a darling of teachers and inspiration for her other school friends.

Tulasi (not her real name), a little angel of Art and Painting is only 8 years old. She is now studying in Class-III at Joganadi Nodal Upper Primary School, Baramunda. She is also a regular student of Ruchika Remedical Centre (Shikshya) since 2015-16. Our Remedial Teacher find out her hidden talents in art and painting. She encouraged her and this little girl did wonders in art and paintings. She has got many awards, prizes and appreciations from different government and non-governemnt organizations. 

Tulasi is not only good in art and painting but also very good in her studies. She secured First position in her last academic year 2016-17. Her soft spoken nature and talents makes her a darling for all the teachers of her school. She is now an inspiration for other students of her school and village. Her father is a mason and mother a daily wage earner. The parents are not able to send her to any special school like "Arts and Crafts School" for training. However, we hope that she will definitely do wonders both in her studies and arts & painting in future. May God bless her !!