NewZNew (Chandigarh) : The Human Social Justice Panel (HSJP), a non government organization (NGO), in collaboration with the State Legal Services Authority (SLSA), UT Chandigarh, opened a non-formal school by the name of ‘Hamari Pathshala’ in the Indira Colony slum at Manimajra on Independence Day. Additional District and Session Judge and Member Secretary of SLSA Chandigarh Mr. Lal Chand formally opened the school to be run from a tin structure constructed by the NGO. He also taught them their first lesson on life.

Speaking on the occasion Human Social Justice Panel president Col (retd) V S Dhillon said under Right to Education Act 2009, every child of 6 to 14 years of age has the right to free and compulsory education, and yet a lot of children are out of school doing sundry jobs like rag-picking, begging, working at eateries, workshops and as domestic helps. One of the reasons for this, he said is the poor infrastructure in our government schools, and added that the NGO has taken upon itself to help such children.

Explaining the concept of ‘Hamari Pathashala’ Col. Dhillon said it will prepare the slum children for admission to formal schools, provide extra support to the students who are not scoring well in class and teach their parents to at least read simple Hindi and learn basic counting. Skill development classes will also be held for the womenfolk to help them earn extra money during their spare time.

Mr. Y N Chugh, a para legal volunteer (PLV), briefed Mr Lal Chand about the other activities being undertaken as part of the project.

Mr. Lal Chand emphasized on the children and parents gathered on the occasion the importance of education in our daily lives. Exhorting the parents to send their children to school, he also cautioned the gathering against the dangerous consequences of drug abuse and alcoholism.

Mr. Ashwani Sondhi thanked Mr Lal Chand and the gathering for their selfless support to the project.

Sweets were distributed on the occasion.