Facing tough time,this school strives for slum kids’ welfare

However,continuing with its motto of ‘’ek bachcha apnao,desh ko khushhaal banao’’ and its mission of educating children who earlier used to beg on roads,the trust wants the rich of Ludhiana to adopt at least one child for Rs 2,000 a year.

Talking to Newsline,Rajinder Sharma,chairman of Noble Foundation Trust,said,“We have started charging a fee of Rs 20 per month at some of our schools because it is getting tough to survive. All books,bags,uniforms and stationery are given free of cost like earlier but expenses like teacher’s salary and transportation have to be met. Even a teacher’s salary has been increased from Rs 2,000 to 4,000 due to inflation.”

However,the strength of students at all the 11 schools run by the trust has increased from 1,800 till last year to more than 2,300.

Talking about the school running in the cycle stand opposite the temple,Sharma said,“Earlier,they used to beg on roads and roam here and there. It was a herculean task to convince their parents to send them to school. Now while till 1 pm they study,in evenings we teach them to make flower garlands and sell them in front of the temple which is way better than begging.”

“Hardly anyone of them takes leave. They even ask me to extend timings till 3 pm. They are in love with their school,” said Sharma.

The other schools run in the city by the trust are in Bihari Colony,BRS Nagar,Cheema Chowk,Jodhewal Basti,Mundiyan,Tajpur road,Moti Nagar,Jamalpur,Basant Avenue and Dhandari Khurd. A school each in other areas of Punjab are also running at Abohar,Ghagga (Patiala),Jalalabad and Guru Harsahib.