Dreams end when fate, poverty and corruption collide

Today as I walked back from the HDFC Bank in Bathinda, I saw two urchins sitting outside and scribbling on a piece of paper. I asked what they were writing and were shy at first but then showed me a discarded receipt from which they were trying to copy numbers. I asked them if they went to school though I knew the answer already. No they did not go to school. One of them said "hamari kismat nahin hai" - a line obviously learnt from their parents. Further conversation revealed that their father had tried to get them enrolled several times but the school wanted Rs 5000 for enrollment. The boys had been sent out to beg but were too busy trying to write on the back of a discarded receipt. They said they were beggers, their names Aman and Happy (they were maybe 10 or 11 years old). They showed me the pictures of gods in thalis which they had in their laps as their begging tool. They said they were hungry - I asked what were they hungry for, The answer was for 'roti'- I told them I would buy them a half dozen bananas (since I didn't want to give them money)- they walked with me to the old bus stand where I bought them bananas. On the way Aman, by way of conversation, mentioned that he had no slippers. Sure enough he was barefoot. I asked them to stay exactly where they were and went to a Liberty showroom close by and bought him a pair of slippers. When I walked back to give them to him, they were where I had left them, having finished their bananas and still totally engrossed in writing on their scrap of paper. That's how I left them, feeling helpless that I could do nothing for them since it was my last day in the city. If I had more time I would have liked to go to the school where they were supposedly refused admission and tried to do something to see if they could attend school. I felt helpless and angry that I could do nothing. But the story of Aman and Happy on the streets of Bathinda is less than a drop in the ocean of dreams that are lost to povery and corruption in India....

Is there anything we can do at an individual level to help even one child have a better life?

Enjoy the Punjabi zest! - Bhangra Empire @ Bruin Bhangra 2009

Watch this stunning performance of the Bhangra by the group Empire!

(For some reason I couldn't post it as a clickable link so please cut and paste in your browser)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3BxMMQs-6nQ

In a Lighter Vein ....for the computer savvy Punjabi !

If your computer starts working in Punjabi these would be the commands!


Send = Sutto
Insert = Wich Paao
Attachement = Naal Laao
Edit = Sidda Karo
View = Waikhee Jaao
Forward = Aggay Sutto
Inbox = Undar Da Daak Khaana
Outbox = Bahar Da Daak Khana
Trash = Mitti Paao
Sent Items = Bheji Gayee Dak
Address Book = Patay Wali Kaapy
Delete = Daffa Karo
Download = Thallay Laao
Properties = Jaidaad
Connect = Naal Milaao
Paste = Thook Naal Chipkaao
From = Bhejan Walaa Banda
To = Door Betha Hoya Banda
Subject = Khaas Gall
Carbon Copy = Koelay Walee Naqal
High priority = Waddee Takleef

and finally
Ctrl+Alt+Delete = Sara Syapa Mukao.

Model schools in Punjab under public-private partnerships!

Here is a news item submitted by wym -one of our active blog followers - as part of a discussion under The State of our Schools. I am placing it here because its an important bit of information that will be of interest to all of us ..

Chandigarh, Sep 24 (IANS) The Punjab government has exempted Adarsh (model) schools, coming up under the public-private partnership (PPP) model in the state, from various taxes.

‘This decision was taken at a meeting headed by Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal,’ a government spokesperson said here Thursday.

The draft agreement and the lease deed between the government and the private partners were also finalised in the meeting of the Punjab Education Development Board (PEDB), the official said.

PEDB has finalised five private partners and approved 15 sites for setting up these modern and well-equipped schools in the state.

Adarsh schools would impart free education from pre-nursery to 12th class. Presently, there are nine Adarsh schools in the state.

As per the agreement, if the private partner fails to run the school according to the set terms and conditions, the board would take over its control.

Similarly, if the government fails to discharge its obligations, the private management could take over the school, with a condition to charge fees on 75 percent students and impart free education to the rest.

For each school, PEDB is providing 10-15 acres for 99 years lease, which could be renewed with mutual consent of both parties. The operational cost of the school would be shared on 70:30 basis between the board and the private partner.

The capital cost for the construction of school building would be around Rs.4-5 crore, and it would be shared on 50:50 basis.

‘We have suggested that students’ strength should be increased from 1,000 to 1,200 in Adarsh schools,’ Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal said here Thursday.

I hope this partly answers your question. I think the Punjab Education Development Board can provide more information.