Neelbagh rural-cum-residential school

In 1996, Ashraya started a residential school for children of migrant labour, 100 km. from Bangalore, near Madanapally. This is the only school of its kind in the country addressing the long-term educational needs of children of migrant workers. The school has classes from LKG to 10th standard, follows a Kannada medium SSLC syllabus and has a large component of vocational training, as a part of the curriculum.

We also teach English as a second language.

We have impressive facilities for the children, which include an excellent library, comfortable classrooms, a computer center and good infrastructure for sports and extra-curricular activities, like dance, music and theatre. We have a programme for vocational training, in carpentry, electrical wiring, plumbing, pottery, tailoring and bee-keeping.

There are 300 students in this co-educational school, 90 of whom are children of construction workers, who are in our hostels. The other children are from the villages in the vicinity from BPL families.

This school fulfills a longstanding need we have felt, to assist children, in our crèches, in a more intrinsic fashion.

Republic Day (Jan-99)

The 26th of January, India's Republic Day, is celebrated with parades and bands, picnics and parties for School children all over the country. This year Nomita, Sharmila and I drove down to share the days with the children at Neelbagh, Ashraya's Rural Primary School. We arrived just in time to take our places in the audience before the curtain went up on a most delightful concert by the children.

The stage was set up out doors under the trees; the microphone was strategically placed in the branches and worked most of the time. But those children needed no microphones. The screens on either side of the stage were fairly bursting with excited, wriggling shapes that could hardly wait for their turn in the spot light. And out they came - dancers, singers, princes, squabbling housewives, warriors brandishing swords and twirling moustaches, clear piping voices spoke their lines without stumbling. The actors performed with great enthusiasm and had the most wonderful time themselves. Parents of the day students, the visiting octor, Bank Manager, and Rotary Club President, local farmers and town dignitaries sat enthralled . A high tea was served after the performance, on banana leaves.

But the show didn't end there. After all the guests   and   day students had left. We were

treated to an impromptu evening of games, group dances, and their most favourite of all singing competition, Antakshari . Sitting in the courtyard under the stars listening to the children singing their hearts out was a wonderful experience for us and one we will treasure.

After dinner, which is eaten sitting on grass mats on the floor, it was " Good night " to the children whose boundless energy seemed finally to be winding down. Luckily we were spending the night and could collapse into bed ourselves. The next morning bright and early we awoke to the patter of footsteps - the children passing our hut on their morning jog. A cold bath and breakfast would follow and then they all rushed off to assembly and classes.

The kitchen staff and a volunteer parent had a busy morning preparing the special chicken lunch which was nice and spice-y just the way the children love it. We nearly went through the roof !

Finally the moment everyone was waiting for, time to pass out the presents. The children were admirably restrained at first but soon the excitement and curiosity took over and with a little encouragement, gifts were quickly opened and then it was really party time. Paper flew in

all directions; we had to admire, exclaim at each gift over and over. Some of the board games needed a bit of explaining and the kids caught on fast. One 9 year old youngster was so overjoyed with his chess set that we had to set up a game immediately.

Toys and time to play - something privileged children take for granted should be a part of every-ones childhood. At Neelbagh we let the children enjoy their childhood while they learn and develop. The system of education is non-formal. Along with regular school work, there is art, craft, singing, dancing and dramatics. The routine is simple and the atmosphere friendly and similar to the children's home environment. We want them to have the benefits of training and education as they grow and to stay in touch with their roots and background.

Children can be sponsored at the school. Donations in cash and kind are most welcome especially as we will shortly begin work on a new school building. We plan to add one class every year and set up vocational training facilities for the older children.

SURYA VAZ