Part of series of articles published in IMAX (monthly journal of IMA Rajkot) based on real life heart touching experiences-2014

June is the month of celebration for children.  After all the enjoyment that the long sought summer vacation has gifted, they are ready for the new admissions with new friends and new accessories. For our children its just a matter of fact event every year for they are sure to get admissions in the next class and double sure of all the luxurious attachments that comes along with the school reopening. I am talking about the new uniforms, latest designer school bags and other gadgets.

This reminds me to share the story of Hansa. I met Hansa through an association that works for the education of slum children. During vacations these children have no place to play and no activity to do. There is always a chance of them reverting back to nuisances of slums when they are left unattended. It was a trial decision to ask few high school girls to come and help in hospital for few months so as to keep them occupied in a better environment. Hansa was a part of one such attempt.

Hansa was the daughter of a mother who was a rag picker and a father who used to make and sell brooms. She lived in the slum near B T Savani Kidney Hospital as one of the eight family members. While schools are open, Hansa’s day begins at 4:30 am. She helps her mother prepare breakfast cum lunch which consists of large rotis around the year. (As opposed to the hundred items that we relish on Sunday Brunches!) Her mother leaves off for picking up the plastic rags early in the morning. Hansa tends to the needs of younger siblings. At 6:30 in morning she goes for household work in two nearby houses. Her school begins at 8:00 where she reaches by a bicycle donated by the association. After completing school at 1:00pm she directly goes to the same houses for afternoon chores and reaches back to her slum at 4:00 pm. She cannot afford any time to play for she has to help fetching water from a faraway hand pump and preparing dinner for the whole family. Whenever she is not able to complete her homework before dusk, she has to wait for the vendors on the footpath to pack up so that she can sit down closest to the light thrown by the street pole. No wonder her night ends up in a sound sleep amidst the noises of traffic and dogs alongside the natural breezes. For the couple of months she attended the hospital she came punctually, neatly dressed with a smile and ever helping attitude.

Hansa is just iconic of many slum children, who wish to come out of their plight, who dream of a better future with the help of some education. They don’t want the short term benefits of one time meal or clothes; they don’t like being called beggars. They don’t just want sympathy but a bit of respect. They are ready to come out of the well of hell but need the pulley of a kind heart and a helping hand.

If we want a beautiful city or a beautiful nation, we need to eradicate slums. Physical demolition of slums will just shift the location. We can eradicate the slums only when we eradicate the ignorance, illiteracy, poverty and mentality of the slum dwellers.  The easiest way to achieve this is to catch the budding young children, bring them out of their environment, and provide a safe, friendly, respectful atmosphere of education with the mainstream. Many of them will drop out before high school; some may complete higher secondary and only a handful may complete graduation. But at least all will get an opportunity to primary education, a chance to mingle with the mass and hope for a better future.

Hansa left the hospital with a wish to come back as an employee after completing her SSC. She didn’t want to live the life of a slum dweller or a house maid.  She left many questions behind her.

• Will she be able to complete the SSC in the manner she could study?
• If at all she completes it with even passing marks, shouldn’t her achievement be acknowledged as that of the topper who was able to do so after the best facilities?
• We waste lots of money on trivial things every month. Can we not put little effort to adopt the education fees of at least one slum child?
• Cannot we motivate our children to share some amount of their time and money with these children?

Dr. Neema Sitapara

MD (Ped), PGDip. (Adolescent Pediatrics)