Alaknanda
A School in the Toilet Complex
This center was the first education help given to slum children in Delhi.
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Established in 1990, first in the garage and then in the
toilet complex, it catered to children from the Alaknanda slum. |
Starting with just one child, it grew in 12 years to serving 650 children
in 2 shifts.Classes were conducted upto class IV and the graduates were helped to gain admission in other regular
schools
18 teachers served the children with total commitment. In October
2002, Alaknanda slum dwellers were shifted to Madanpur Khadar where an
alternate space of 12 or 18 sq. mts. was provided by Delhi Development
Authority. In December, bull dozers were brought in and the slum was
completely demolished. |
| People and children were suddenly thrown out of their dwellings,
which caused tremendous distress. |
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The Good Samaritans with the help of local Municipal Councilor, requested the
DDA to allow the school to function in the toilet complex until the end of the
academic session. In special meetings and Prayer groups problems
faced by people due to shifting of slum were discussed and parents and
children were helped. Financial help was given to 50-60 families to start
construction of their houses in Madanpur Khaddar. For about 35- 40 families
cement and bricks were given and for 20 families hand pumps for water or
T-angle and sheets for roof were given. |
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First batch of children from Madanpur Khaddar walked for three hours to reach
the toilet complex school in Alaknanda. |
In September 2003, the Toilet complex
and the school were totally demolished. This program has been sponsored from
1991 by Intermission Germany, Intermission Switzerland and Bertil Bergagard,
and Tear Fund Schweiz. Later as the number of children grew, God sent support
from churches, schools and individuals in the USA and UK. |
