Letter to the Editor
Sir,
This is in reference to the opinion expressed on page 5 of GP dated 10 October 2020 regarding ‘Shramdaan in Educational Institutes’. The writer has rightly advocated for including such voluntary activities in our educational institutions. These activities should form an integral part of the curriculum in both government and private schools. At this formative stage, it is essential to teach young minds the significance of social work, the dignity of labour, and the importance of fostering an appreciation for cleanliness and a well-kept environment. Unfortunately, many modern parents are unable to impart these values, as domestic help often handles most household cleaning tasks.
There have even been instances where parents have protested to schools, insisting that their children are sent to study, not to perform menial tasks. It is common nowadays to see children littering streets with plastic or paper wrappers from junk food. Therefore, the teacher’s decision to involve students in improving the school’s poorly maintained entrance was entirely justified, as it was done for the safety of the students. The types of such social service training should be clearly specified by our education authorities.
I studied in a non-government high school that operated out of a rented house and lacked adequate classrooms. The school, managed by an educational trust that had relocated from Western Punjab after Partition, purchased a small plot of land nearby and constructed six modest huts with unlined brickwork and thatched roofs. The school utilised students’ shramdaan to plaster the walls and floors with a mixture of cow dung and mud. We undertook this work with great enthusiasm and pride. Afterwards, we painted the walls with white lime and inscribed various moral maxims in black ink using brushes, conducting class-wise competitions for the best displays. We sat on jute mats on the floor and only began learning English from Class 5 onwards, eventually completing our 10th (Matric) in science in English.
Many of those students went on to achieve high positions in business, medicine, engineering, government service, education, and other professions, with some even settling abroad.
Modern parents, therefore, should reconsider their reservations towards including such social training in the curriculum. Activities like digging pits, planting trees, and tending to them as they grow can be valuable components of a well-rounded education.
Yours etc.,
S Paul
