New academic year

When? Really? I am not studying in a school or a college! How does it matter to me? Or, even to you? [Well, I mean to say that I am not odd man out :-)]

A businessman hopes his child to become a businessman. A engineer does. A doctor does. A minister does. And, every successful person does want his/her kids to do better. And, gets admission in the best schools. Perfecly fine.

Can't the maid servant, a construction labourer or even any other daily wage earner hope his/her child to lead a better life of what they themselves have been leading? Should they migrate to a city for better education, which slum they settle in? What if they fall sick for few days?

We expect our maid servant to come exactly at specific time. Every day, without fail. We expect the daily wage labourers to work for full 8 hours. [By the way, this reminds me one more thing: I work in a software company which allows flexi-hours or even work from home once in a while, if I would like to do so.] Commute from wherever they are; in search of work. There is no way their kids can compete with the kids who are polished through various coaching systems.

When I go to a petrol pump to get the fuel filled for my vehicle, every helper there is supposed to have passed 12th standard by rule. No space for "less" educated! Suffocating!!

The other day, 46 boys ran away from a juvenile (remand) home in Madivala. Why? Don't they have all the facilities required to continue stay over there? May be providing educational support would change at least some of their lives?

There are many many kids who just do not know what to do by getting educated. With corporate world setting shops of all kinds, including groceries and huge malls, no doubt there are more job opportunities for lower middle class families. And even the so called "eco-system" (?!) is built around that with call centers and so on.

For many of them, going to a vocational course or a skill training is good enough to be able to start leading a respected life. For this, we need to identify courses, institutes, selection process and so on.

At FoCh, every day is a new academic year. Watch out for deserving students. Anywhere. Anytime. They don't necessariy have to have outscored the rest. Having a willingness to study should be enough. It has been obseved that it is too late trying to identify students "after" the results are announced and trying to take them to the next level. If you find anybody who is inclined to study, the least you can do is to keep in touch with them at least to pass on the information.

It is more than five and half years since many kids have been with us all along. Few might have lost touch in between. But, they do come back. In search of better future. That's all we hope.

India shining, poised and what not. May be, may be not. I don't know.