The Thane district administration has launched a mobile school project that aims to provide education to underprivileged street children. The project, initiated early this year, has identified 145 destitute children and brought them under the fold of mainstream education. The specially designed van converts into a mobile day care and play school and is parked in slums. The children receive a basic education in the play school and then get acclimated to the mainstream syllabus. The programme has helped 73 children from Bhiwandi and the remaining children from Mumbra to learn and improve their lives through education. They have received school kits to aid their learning. Many of the students were excited at this new turn in their lives, which holds the potential to improve their fortunes.
The initiative was the brainchild of I A Kundan, former principal secretary of the state women and child development department. It was approved by the centre for implementation in seven districts of Maharashtra, with Collector Ashok Shingare inaugurating the programme in Thane in February. Mahendra Gaikwad, Thane district women and child development officer, said the students have been assessed individually, and education officials have been tied up to get them admitted to the primary section of the local municipal run facilities. A few students will be admitted to English medium schools, while others will attend vernacular schools.
The mobile school project initially faced parental resistance, but the importance of education was eventually driven home to families by local activists. Social activist Dr Swati Singh assisted in the drive, and other officials have pledged their support to its expansion. According to conservative official estimates, there are over 3,000 underprivileged children in Thane who need to join this initiative. The initiative is seen as a critical step towards breaking the cycle of poverty and denying children a proper education, which can drastically affect their future.
