Welfare centre for ‘parents’ in primary schools

UTTAR PRADESH: NP NEWS 24 ONLINE – Soon, primary schools in Uttar Pradesh will have a counter distribute information on welfare schemes and create awareness on social causes.

Previously, a successful experiment was undertaken at a government’s primary school in Gonda district.

An official said, “The idea is to inform parents and community members about various government welfare schemes so that they could benefit from them and improve their living standards.”

Parents would also be able to inquire about their child’s progress at these centres. The main motive is to connect better with community members, the primary school in Dhaurahra area of Gonda set up a parents’ corner/ counter on its premises.

The principal of the school, Ravi Pratap Singh expressed that the response was overwhelming where parents and community people immediately connected with the school as well as willingly inquired about the various welfare schemes provided.

The state government has directed officials to implement the initiative in all government primary schools in UP.

Sarvendra Vikram Bahadur Singh, director of basic education added, “It was an innovative idea of a visionary teacher in a Gonda school — a wonderful move to connect with the community! It also helped increase the participation of community members in the school’s activities. We now want to replicate the initiative in other schools, so that more people can benefit from it.”

He also explained that the counter will also share information on emergency services such as Dial 100, 1090 (for women in distress), fire and ambulance services, as well as road safety and traffic rules.

The initiative will also look at improving women’s literacy in every district, as envisaged in the Centre’s ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’ (BBBP) campaign. It is meant to educate masses about free and compulsory education for all children under the Right to Education (RTE) Act. For people who are uncomfortable in filling up bank cash deposit forms, the schools will keep deposit forms of different banks and help community people in filling them up.