Ritinjali Centre, Nathupur Pahari, (DLF)

Nathupur Pahari-A slum inhabited by immigrants who came several years ago in search of alternative livelihoods from eastern parts of India. Acute poverty, an uncertain future and the absence of any institutional support had pushed them out of their original habitat. Most of these marginalised people earned their livelihood either by working for the construction industry on the border of Delhi and Gurgaon or as domestic helps. There was no regular school or learning for the children of this marginalised community and even after the Government of India launched the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (Universalization of Elementary Education), it had been an endless wait for them.

That was when Ritinjali stepped in. In the year 2005, Ritinjali set up its learning centre at Nathupur Pahari for the children of this slum. The centre operates out of a thatched roof classroom, built by the community and accommodates up to 70 children. The Children have no access to regular schooling, and are taught English, Hindi, Art, Mathematics and Science. Ritinjali also organises picnics and outings for the children every month. The books prescribed by NCERT are used in conducting the classes. Other than these a common factor among all our learning centres is the presence of Ritinjali curriculum which lays emphasis on basic literacy,numeracy,lifeskills English Language and Communication etc.

The Ritinjali volunteers visit the school regularly and teach them spoken English and Life Skills Education. Ritinjali’s work also goes beyond just imparting regular teaching at its Nathupur Pahari Center. Realising that its role at Nathupur is to reach out to marginalized and out of school children, Ritinjali has helped to mainstream a number of children into nearby government schools. We are now in the process of identifying more such children for the same.

Our teachers, Ms. Reena Singh and Ms. Hema, ensure that regular lessons proceed uninterrupted. The teachers undertake mobilization drives in the Nathupur Pahari and village several times in a month to convince parents to send their children to the learning centre to reap the benefits of education. Their efforts have paid off and the number of children now enrolled at the centre stands at 90.On a regular basis we have around 70 children who come on an every day basis. Even though around 90 children are enrolled with us they do not come regularly and being children of Migrant laborers they tend to leave for other places and do not continue for long so the budget has been made based on that. Lessons in English, Hindi and Math, in addition to poems, songs and art activities keep the children profitably engaged. Several topics that enhance the general awareness of the children and promote an interest for the arts are also regularly covered. Story telling from the Panchatantra has become a daily routine. Every morning the classes start with recitation of prayers & stories are told to the students. Children requiring extra help to get a better grip over academics are taught separately. The children who now attend regular school and have yet been coming to the centre were helped with their holiday homework.

Life skill activities are conducted every 2 months and the day starts with Physical exercises during winters. Yoga & health line education is conducted by the teachers, they are well versed with that and the importance of clean habits & health care session are taken once a week.

The students of the centre are given a wonderful opportunity of appearing for exams equivalent to classes IIIrd, Vth and VIIIth through a new initiative of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) called Open Basic Education (OBE). The students are prepared for the OBE examinations by making them practice with mock question papers.Ritinjali has been granted affiliation for conducting OBE (Open Basic Education) exams by NIOS. Under this programme Ritinjali makes a curriculum which is later approved by NIOS. At the end of the year Ritinjali conducts an exam for children who have been enrolled in different levels and whose data has already been submitted to NIOS.  After the exams are conducted the results are tabulated and sent to NIOS after which the NIOS sends us certificates certifying that the child has completed the exam that he/she had appeared for.

Many students are mainstreamed in Government Schools in and around Nathupur and the government school in Ayanagar. The teachers at the centre approach the school and fill up the relevant forms and prepare the students for the relevant entrance exams. The required documents are prepared and after the child clears the exam all the admission formalities are completed by the Teachers

They continue to be monitored by the teachers so that they settle down well in the new school and there is no setback to their progress. In the past 5 years Ritinjali has been able to mainstream around 47 students in the nearby Government schools. Details of students mainstreamed are as follows -:

2007-08 -15
2008-09-17
2009-10-15

Total Number -47

The nearby schools in which these students have been mainstreamed are

• Nagar Nigam Pratimik Vidyalaya, Aya Nagar,
• S.B Public School, Sikenderpur,
• Rajkiya Kanya Pratimik Patshala, Nathupur Gaon,
• Rajkiya Pratimik Patshala,Sikenderpur,
• Rajkiya High school,Nathupur,
• Rajkiya Pratimik Vidyalaya,Nathupur gaon,
• R.K.Public School,Sikenderpur,
• Rajkiya Inter mediate Vidyalaya,Nathupur Village

All these schools are located in the distance of around 2-3 kilometres from where the children of our centre reside.