The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Chandigarh Stories

EDUCATION

Slum kids impress artists
Our Correspondent

Chandigarh, April 30
Students of Aashiana School, a majority of whom spend their day shining shoes for others in market areas of the city, proved once again that there is no dearth of talent in the streets, waiting to be tapped and guided by the privileged class. Twelve of these slum children came up with a beautiful collage of paintings which they presented to the Director Public Instructions (School), Mr D.S. Mangat, in Sector 24 here today.

The children, who are as adept at handling a paint brush as they are with a shoe polish brush, depicted classroom scenes and playground filled with happy faces through water colours and crayons. “The works done by these children measure upto the level of any professional artist”, said Mr J.P. Singh, an artist from Government College of Arts, Sector 10.

Impressed with the work of these children the three well known artists Mr. Ishwar Dayal from Government College of Arts, Mr Manmadha Rao, and Mr J.P. Singh, have chalked out a plan to teach the children the basics of photography, painting and sculpture.

“We are planning to teach the students some market-oriented art works which will help them to earn their livelihood,” said Mr Dayal, senior most of the group. Mr Manmadha Rao, who specialises in sculptures from Shantiniketan, is planning to teach the children bamboo and clay modeling.

The patron of Aashiana School and the Director of Theatre Age, the theatre group of the slum children, Mr Zulfiqar Khan told Mr Mangat about the school and said the main problem being faced by the students and the teachers was that only one room in the Government High School, Sector 24 had been allotted to the children and it was not enough to practice acting and other activities.

“The CITCO had promised to open up a kitchen to teach the children about preparation of different dishes but the project has not materialised as we could not provide the required space, he said. Another major problem which has been plaguing the school is lack of a permanent teacher, he added.

The members associated with Aashiana are planning to upgrade it into proper centre with boarding and rehabilitation facility for such children. “We are going to raise funds through staging plays and other means for setting up infrastructure like hostel, vocational training and de- addiction facilities,” said Mr Tarun Attrey, who has been associated with Aashiana for about one-and-a-half years now. “However, the main problem remains the lack of a suitable place where we can set up a proper building,” he added.

Mr Mangat while interacting with the children said one more room would be made available for the night school. He also promised that authorities would also employ a permanent teacher in the near future.

Last date for awards extended
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, April 30
The last date for sending nominations for the Tara Chand Saboo Excellence Awards for School Teachers has been extended till August 10. The Trustee Chairman of the Jan Seva Trust, which instituted these awards, Mr R. K. Saboo, said the date had been extended on the request of school principals, who needed more time to nominate teachers, especially since schools would be closing down for the summer vacation.

The Award Executive Committee, at its meeting held here today, also decided to relax the restriction of one nomination per award category on the demand made by the principals.

The trust instituted awards for school teachers of the city this year to recognise their contribution to society. There are four awards for which nominations are invited from schools, parents and even students. The Lifetime Achievement Award carries a cash prize of Rs 50,000 and there are three other awards of Rs 20,000 each for excellence in teaching, for young teachers and teachers working in slums and rural areas.

The forms for nominating teachers are available at Kamla Centre, SCO 88-89, Sector 8-C, Chandigarh. All enquiries in this regard may be made from Ms Anuradha Saboo at phone number 548223-24-27.