Ranchi University (RU) is mulling to tie up with NGOs for grooming rural children. In order to showcase the changing behavioural pattern of such children after personality development classes organised by an NGO since May 2014, the university organised a programme at Aryabhatta Auditorium on Sunday.
RU Vice Chancellor Ramesh Kumar Pandey watching the performance of these children hailing from 10 villages of Kanke block felt of supporting more children like them. “Our National Service Scheme (NSS) wings are already working for the upliftment of villagers. We now want to tie up with NGOs working at village level,” he said.
Notably, the personality development classes held by the NGO is not through discussions but by encouraging them to read story books, dance, act or sing. According to ASER survey, children from class 3 to 5 fail to retain the studies of junior classes. 13.8 percent children of class 3 can read the notes of class 2 while 34 percent of class 5 can retain the same in Jharkhand. We started communicating with around 500 children of 10 villages under Kanke and found the fact true,” said Nikita Sinha, wife of NN Sinha, Principal Secretary of Rural Development cum Secretary of the local NGO named Nimit.
The NGO approached a private firm for funding as well as received Ranchi Deputy Commissioner’s administrative support and began the concept of Mobile library wherein two boys namely Jitendra and Aditya have been reaching out to children of these villages and training them.
“All the children are school goers but were introvert. We asked them what could be done to improve the behaivour. They told us to provide some activity based trainings,” said Aditya.
Aditya visits Hochar, Husir, Rol, Sangrampur, Khantanga and Murum villages where he encourages the students to read story books depicting the scenes in pictures. Also, he trains them how express themselves through dancing, singing, sports, anchoring and drama.
Similarly, Jitendra visits another slum area of Hochar along with villages Batta, Banhara, Ekamba, Husir, Rol, Sangrampur and Mur for the same purpose five days a week.
“Earlier, I used to fumble in class. Now, I speak without hesitation. Jitendra sir and Aditya sir have taught us public speaking and acting. I want to become a lawyer,” said Aryan Kumar Mishra, son of a priest of Hochar village.
The boy was the actor of a drama presented on ‘Child labour’ in the auditorium. For Sandeep Kumar, son of a farmer the grooming classes have made him skilled. “I can prepare skipping ropes,” he said. Class third student Khusboo Kumari, daughter of a spice seller said she has become an expert dancer besides her studies.