When his parents left home for work, 10-year-old Ajay Ahirwal would accompany them to tourist spots across Delhi, where his father worked as a labourer. He was also employed in menial jobs and his education was neglected. But, three years ago, things started to change.
In fluent English, he says his name Uttam India. “Madam GI never went to school before, but now I study in class 5. I study Social Science, Hindi, Mathematics and English. Among all subjects, I like social science the most and I aspire to become a police officer like my uncle GAnd I will teach the children like him,” says Ajay, whose father works as a laborer at tourist spots.
Like Ajay, around 80 children from Delhi’s slum areas, who were earlier engaged in odd jobs like rag picking, are able to study. This happened because of the efforts of Constable Than Singh.
how Than Singh’s school was born
Born in Bharatpur, Rajasthan, Than Singh himself grew up in the slums of Delhi with two brothers. His father used to iron clothes for a living, and he used to sell corn on the street as a child. But he never underestimated the importance of study, he says.
“I used to study in school paying Rs. My father wanted to be a police officer, but he couldn’t. I wanted to fulfill her dream. I used to juggle work and studies. In 2009, after two attempts, I cleared the exam for Delhi Police constable and got posted in 2010,” says the 34-year-old. Uttam India.
His childhood memories came back to him in 2013, when he saw some children selling plastic bottles on the streets and picking rocks near the Red Fort. “Many tourists would come and make fun of their condition and click their photos, I loved seeing that. These children were doing odd jobs for Rs 50 as their parents didn’t have enough resources to take care of them.”
“Also, I found these children started to eat group (betel nuts). There are many people who encourage children to follow the wrong path but few come to help them. I wanted to find options so that these kids can do what they want to do at this age – study,” he says.
While searching for a solution, the constable realized that it was difficult to enroll these children in school. “If you go to a school for admission of a 12-year-old, ideally they should get admission in class 6 or 7. And for that, they should at least know how to read a book or at least a letter. But most of these children had never seen a school, and it was not possible to enroll them in one,” he adds.
So after two years, he became known as his one-of-a-kind school Than Singh’s school Free education for underprivileged children.
“I volunteered to teach these kids so they could be a little more equal to their peers. For this I started meeting the parents. The police is the only class that understands the problems of the people regardless of their socio-economic status. After meeting their parents, I reminded them not to worry about the children and send them to us the school” he says.
“My main objective in teaching these children was to prevent them from committing crimes in the future and to inculcate good conduct in them,” he adds.
Class of 80
Than Singh, who started with four children in 2015, today has taught more than 80 children from Rajghat, Vijay Ghat, Shantiwan, Lal Qilla. iron-bridge (Old Yamuna Bridge)
Every day, children between the ages of 3 and 15 gather at the Saibaba Temple located in the Red Fort parking area, where Than Singh and his group of volunteers await them. Many battery rickshaw owners have volunteered to take these children from their homes school, He informs.
Classes begin at 3 and end at 5:30 p.m., and school is open every day of the week, including Sundays. The school functions with the help of donations from various stakeholders and 50 volunteers. “We get everything from donations – food, clothes, books. We don’t take money,” he says.
Last year, with the help of DCP Sagar Khalsi, Than Singh managed to enroll around 70 children in government schools. “These children come to us to learn the basics so that even when they start school, they can perform well in school and not feel inferior to their peers. “My 10 children have topped school,” he says proudly.
“I want to give these children a good environment because their parents go to work and they have a chance to roam the streets. That’s why we continue to teach them after school. Also, more and more children started coming after learning that other children can get admission after studying with us,” He adds.
Talking about managing the work of teaching children, he says, “There are no fixed working hours for a young person. We work 24 hours a day. But if you have to do something, you have to try for it. My post and the school I am in one place, I am able to manage both jobs,’ he says.
“There is no peace for these children except to work. I can be the reason to change their life with a little help. What could be better for me?” he asks.
Edited by Divya Sethu