Akshar Pravah Foundation starts study centre for slum children in Chandrapur

Akshar Pravah Foundation has launched a new initiative for children living in slum and underprivileged settlements in Chandrapur. The foundation has started a study centre (abhyasshala) for them so that they get a decent place to study and the right guidance.

According to the organisers, the centre runs daily from 7 pm to 8 pm at Danavwadi, near the Mahakali Temple, from October 22. A book recognition initiative (pustak pehchan pahal) is also held every Sunday from 9 am to 11 am.

The reason for the initiative is that many children have neither a suitable place to study at home nor anyone to guide them. Because of economic and social conditions, students in slum areas often do not get a good environment for studying, a place to sit and the guidance they need. Difficult conditions at home, lack of space, shortage of money and the absence of anyone to help with studies stand in their way.

The foundation says education is every child's basic right. Seeing these difficulties, it has tried to give children a fresh chance to study through the centre.

The aims of the centre have also been stated clearly. They include giving children a separate and good environment for studying, building their interest in reading, introducing them to books, helping with school studies, instilling the habit of reading and raising their confidence. According to the foundation, the initiative will prove important in keeping children in the mainstream of education and giving their hidden talents a chance.

The foundation also believes that children in slums have remarkable ability, understanding and dreams. The initiative has been taken up so that their dreams do not remain unfulfilled for want of the right opportunity and guidance. Its larger aim is to strengthen children from the underprivileged sections of society through education, build their confidence and help them grow into citizens who stand on their own feet.

The children will not be given only bookish knowledge at the centre. The effort will be to also give them the joy of learning, discipline, values and the inspiration to dream.

Swapnil Meshram, Chandrashekhar Oshakha, Shrikant Yerkar, Pratiksha Mavlikar, Sejal Chandekar, Dhiraj Shende, Laxmi Gokhare and Saicharan are supporting the initiative. The centre, which began with the idea that every child in society should get an equal chance to study, is seen as an important step towards a better future for slum children.