Mobile Schools For Flood-Hit Assam Children

To help the flood-affected students of Assam, a Guwahati-based NGO has come up with a unique idea of setting up 'mobile schools' at the flood-hit areas of the state.

The project is initiated by Utkarsh Foundation in association with WE Foundation India.

Floods in Assam is an annual affair and over the decades, hundreds of people have died and properties worth crores of rupees have been destroyed. The Brahmaputra and its tributaries swallow large areas of lands, displacing lakhs of people.

The worst-hit by the floods every year are the children. They not only are exposed to several diseases, but their studies also suffer as education takes the backseat during floods.

Records show that during floods most of the schools (which survive the deluge) get converted to temporary shelters for the flood-affected. People live here, sometimes even for months. And this hampers the studies and in several cases, it has been seen that after the flood a majority of students refuse to go to school.

"Before getting into the details of the entire project, let me clarify that this is a pilot project and the objective is to form a replicable module of intervention in the education sector during natural calamities. The project areas include Dhemaji, Majuli, and Morigaon," informed Maitreya Goswami, president of Utkarsh Foundation.

"We also aim to provide educational aid to the students. The aid would include tuition, tips for examination and career guidance, necessary stationeries, counseling, and basic health care facilities. The project has been thought of so that the students affected by flood don't have to remain away from their studies while the schools are shut due to flood," he further added.

It may be added here that the project of mobile schools aims to cover the entire state of Assam, however, in the initial phase the initiative will focus on Morigaon district in Assam.

"Instead of focusing on a marks-oriented evaluation system, mobile schools will work for the overall mental conditioning of the students," Utkarsh president further informed.

He further said that the project will work with a total of 100 children during the flood period; 40 each from Dhemaji and Morigaon and 20 from Majuli.

"The selection of these students would be purely made on the basis of their financial capabilities as well as their merit. Local authorities will help us in this process," Maitreya Goswami further informed, adding, "The entire project will focus on both normal academic curriculum as well as few other essential attributes."

He further informed that the modules would primarily focus on Science, Mathematics, and English Grammar.

"Students studying in vernacular medium schools often struggle in these three subjects. We as a team will prepare a module that will focus particularly on concepts which students find hard to understand. Vedic mathematics will also be an integral part of this module so that there is betterment in problem-solving skills of students," the Utkarsh president further said.

He further informed that to take these children closer to the digital world, the foundation has also planned for digital literacy classes.

"Personality development sessions will be conducted by professionals to prepare the students for bigger challenges in life and boost their confidence levels," he added.

It was also informed that the team has plans to distribute education-kit to the students, which will contain relevant equipment and one activity based learning unit- which will include equipment for performing various relevant and useful scientific experiments.

"Moreover, solar lights will also be distributed to the students so that their studies are not hampered even during power cuts. We also plan to donate school bags, books on famous personalities, environment & science and clothes to the students," Goswami further informed.

To provide a deeper insight about the environment to the students, sessions on environment focusing primarily on flood and other natural calamities have also been planned and experts from Assam State Disaster Management Authority (ASDMA), as well as other renowned personalities working in such fields, are expected to take part as mentors in the project.

But a project of such magnitude requires fund in abundance and this is where Maitreya Goswami and the rest of the team has turned to the people of Assam in hope of some help.

"The entire project will cost around Rs 12 lakh. So far some friends and relatives have helped us with the initial costs of the project," said Goswami, adding, "But it's not enough and to meet ends we request the people of Assam to come forward and donate us with whatever little they can. Their one small help will not go wasted as it will help to shape the futures of many bright students."

"We are privileged enough to have got every comfort. The children affected by flood also deserve a better future," he further said.

The young social worker also informed that to raise fund for their cause, they have already begun a fundraising campaign through www.milap.org and anyone can log in and make their donations.

One can also make a payment through UPI and the UPI ID for payment is givetomlputkarshds@yesbankltd and also through PayTm.

"One can also directly transfer any amount to our bank account. Our account number is 8080811085489, the account is registered under Utkarsh Development Society's name and the IFSC code to be used is YESB0CMSNOC," Goswami informed.

"I appeal to one and all to come forward and help us in this initiative of mobile schools," he concluded.