During survey of construction sites in Pune, ECC volunteers and field-staff came across some positive responses that were encouraging
1. Builder awareness and involvement
At a construction site in Lohegaon - Dhanori area, the builder T.T. Gholap has set up a site school for children of construction workers. A teacher has been appointed to look after children when their parents are engaged in daily labour. The teacher has taken efforts in equipping the site class with educational charts, art and craft materials, to make the children feel welcomed.
2. Connecting with children
One of the ECC field staff was denied entry on Anshul Eva construction site in Bavdhan. The watchman refused to let her in without the builder’s permission. An 11-12 year old girl saw her at the gate and offered help. She told the watchman that she was her teacher and requested him to let her in. This girl had shifted to this site from Pebbles-2 construction site in Bavdhan, from where she was enrolled in school last year by ECC field staff. She likes going to school and has requested ECC to help her in getting admission to 5th standard this year.
3. Parent awareness and readiness
ECC field staff found 5-6 labour families and their children on Chintamani Pushkardeep construction site in Warje. One of the parents mentioned that their children attended Door Step School’s site class on their earlier site in Bopodi. They even had the ‘My Book’ issued to all DSS students, which contains information of children such as date of birth, school name, teacher name, etc. The parents were happy to meet another DSS representative and expressed their willingness to send both of their children to nearby school in Warje.
During survey of Warje highway area, ECC field staff visited Woods Royale construction site near Chandani Chowk. While talking to the labourers about RTE and school admissions of their children, one of the parents named Sitaram Rajak left the work he was doing and went to his house in the labour camp. When he was back, he had his daughter’s age certificate with him. He presented the certificate to ECC staff, pointing at his daughter’s date of birth. He told that the girl is turning six and he wants her to be enrolled in a nearby school. He had arranged the age certificate for admission purpose only.
(Submitted by Sangita Kakade and Gauri Katkar of Door Step School)
1. Builder awareness and involvement
At a construction site in Lohegaon - Dhanori area, the builder T.T. Gholap has set up a site school for children of construction workers. A teacher has been appointed to look after children when their parents are engaged in daily labour. The teacher has taken efforts in equipping the site class with educational charts, art and craft materials, to make the children feel welcomed.
2. Connecting with children
One of the ECC field staff was denied entry on Anshul Eva construction site in Bavdhan. The watchman refused to let her in without the builder’s permission. An 11-12 year old girl saw her at the gate and offered help. She told the watchman that she was her teacher and requested him to let her in. This girl had shifted to this site from Pebbles-2 construction site in Bavdhan, from where she was enrolled in school last year by ECC field staff. She likes going to school and has requested ECC to help her in getting admission to 5th standard this year.
3. Parent awareness and readiness
ECC field staff found 5-6 labour families and their children on Chintamani Pushkardeep construction site in Warje. One of the parents mentioned that their children attended Door Step School’s site class on their earlier site in Bopodi. They even had the ‘My Book’ issued to all DSS students, which contains information of children such as date of birth, school name, teacher name, etc. The parents were happy to meet another DSS representative and expressed their willingness to send both of their children to nearby school in Warje.
During survey of Warje highway area, ECC field staff visited Woods Royale construction site near Chandani Chowk. While talking to the labourers about RTE and school admissions of their children, one of the parents named Sitaram Rajak left the work he was doing and went to his house in the labour camp. When he was back, he had his daughter’s age certificate with him. He presented the certificate to ECC staff, pointing at his daughter’s date of birth. He told that the girl is turning six and he wants her to be enrolled in a nearby school. He had arranged the age certificate for admission purpose only.
(Submitted by Sangita Kakade and Gauri Katkar of Door Step School)
