Silvester D'Souza
Daijiworld Media Network - Udupi (SP)

Udupi, Jul 14: Labourers who hail from different states are hired to do hard work at road construction sites and other places. Their only concern is to earn their livelihood for the day. As they are compelled to work hard without any rest, and also because of lack of any education, these labourers do not have the time and desire to think about the future of their children. Realizing the insecure future of these children, helplessness of their families, and the risk of the young children remaining illiterate for life, a voluntary service organization has been serving to kindle the light of knowleldge in the lives of these children.

Most of the workers engaged in building four-lane national highway here, live at Yadthady near Barkur. Hundreds of road workers leave every morning to different corners of the district to work, while small children move around their temporary shelters. These children have never been exposed to education, and their parents, who are worried about earning just enough to fill their stomachs, have no room in their minds to think about educating their children.

A voluntary organization, Field Services and Inter-cultural Learning - India (FSL), realizing the hard life these children are leading and considering a bleak future waiting for them, has taken up the task of enriching their childhood by bringing them together and giving them education during the period they stay here.

A small tent that was set up adjacent to the labour camp with tarpaulin roof has turned into a tent school. The task of bringing together 25 to 30 children and imparting education to them began four years back. Ever since, 25 batches have been completed. On an average, the children are available for a period of eight to ten months. Once they go back to their villages, they never return. As the mother tongue of most of these families happens to be Telugu, education is imparted to them in Telugu and English.

Giving some knowledge to these children itself poses a big challenge because they do not know Kannada and English. They cannot communicate in any other language except Telugu. Still, teachers from foreign countries, who have come to serve these children, take this as a challenge. The foreigners, who have come here to study culture and way of life of people here, mix freely with these children, provide them some knowledge in English, and become children when playing with them. They are not bothered about the condition these children are in, and their ever-smiling faces and patience brings cheers on the faces of the children of labourers.

The children too think that their teachers are the best human beings they have ever come across. The volunteers teach nursery rhymes in English to these children, try to impress the children with their acting skills, and make them dance to different tunes. They win over the minds of these small children, and also leave them richer in knowledge and communication skills.

It is impossible to make these children to sit together quietly and listen to lectures. They need to be brought together through songs, dances, gleeful shouts, and carefree behaviour. Bringing together children of different age groups itself poses a big challenge. The service being rendered by these volunteer teachers is really great.

Shalini from Kharvikeri Kundapur has been serving here since the last four years. She says that none of the children here know Kannada, and they understand Hindi and Telugu. "Although it poses some problems, we have been trying to change ourselves to the comfort level of the children, and try most of the time to instill some knowledge in English. In addition to teaching them the skills of drawing and writing, we also make them aware about the importance of maintaining cleanliness and hygiene. We also take them to different places like Murdeshwar and Mangaluru. Their medical tests are arranged, and their parents are also guided properly," she says.

"We are dreaming about turning into Digital India. However, in the course of nurturing that dream in mind, we need to think about such unfortunate children. Although we see such children being deprived of education, we feel helpless to do anything. Government departments and companies which hire the parents of such children need to join hands with such voluntary organizations to brighten the future of these young children.

"Classes are being held here from 10.30 am to 12.45 pm. Then we go to another tent school located near Doopadakatte in Brahmavar. Such children are spread over different areas of the district. Children of migrant labourers from North Karnataka are being admitted into nearby schools after providing them suitable training. Every month, expenses relating to this service work out to about Rs 2,000, which the voluntary service organization meets. Those who come from foreign countries for study do work voluntarily," explains Shalini.

Angela from Spain reveals that she is an employee of an American company at Spain, and that she has come to India on a six months study tour. "I work here through the non-government organization. Initially, we did not get the support we expected from the parents. After we explained about all the aspects, the parents have been cooperative. We get lot of fun and happiness by mixing with these children," she confesses.