Their window to the world

It's not everyday that a teacher strides into a classroom to genuinely delighted cries of Masterni aali. With little feet scurrying to re...

It8217;s not everyday that a teacher strides into a classroom to genuinely delighted cries of Masterni aali. With little feet scurrying to reach their places quickly to ensure that not a single moment of study time is wasted, each child then proceeds to hang on to Masterni8217;s every word. But then it8217;s not every classroom that is held in the precincts of construction sites, in makeshift classrooms sans desks and chairs and with lessons not just in mathematics and Marathi but also in the all-important subject of life and how to live it well. Which is what the Doorstep School is all about.

Despite having functioned in Pune for the last five years, the Doorstep School, a branch of the Mumbai venture, has kept a remarkably low profile in the city as it carries on a range of commendable work connected with the field of education. 8220;The Pune chapter, that came into force in 1994, is basically focussed on imparting education till the literacy level to children,8221; explains Bina Joshi, programme co-ordinator in Pune.

8220;To this end, we began work in Pune by going to municipal schools where we identified weak students from the economically backward strata of society and started to teach them. The aim was to augment their learning skills. We have this study class scheme through which we take regular one-hour extra classes for students weak in mathematics and Marathi to facilitate their grasping power.8221; This is seen as a kind of protective measure against children dropping out of school, to opt for work, in the face of falling grades. Doorstep also identified children who had dropped out of schools and started classes for them to encourage them to pursue their education.

Other than this, Doorstep8217;s activities include having a mobile library in slums for children, teenagers and women, two balewadis in shanty towns to provide the smaller children some pre-school training and a two-month summer camp for children about to enter Std. I. With 28 teachers on their rolls and the project being funded by Save The Children Foundation, Canada, Doorstep has now extended its activities to include yet another creditable venture.

Its latest endeavour is to bring the process of education to children of workers on construction sites. 8220;An extensive survey carried on by us shattered a few myths about the education of poor children. The first was that child labour is not a result of economic compulsions but an outcome of the child8217;s disinterest in school or the learning process. That compels parents to put the child to work instead. Secondly, we did not come across a single parent who did not want his child to get an education. Even on the construction sites, where there are daily wage earners, the parents8217; response to our endeavour was amazingly positive, with all of them willing to share the expenses of school bags and books for their child to facilitate our scheme,8221; elaborates Joshi.

Encouraged by these findings, the Doorstep School first came to two construction sites in Aundh 8211; Mantri Lawns and Shirin Gardens 8211; in April 1998, to hold joint classes. From there the school extended its activities to another construction site 8211; New Ajanta Avenue, Paud Road, where it even got a helping hand with the developers, Rahul Constructions, offering to bear all the expenses, including the fees of the teachers coming to the site.

Today, with approximately 100 children covered by the project, the school has made meritorious progress. 8220;Most heartening has been the response of the workers themselves, who have been motivated enough to attend all meetings between the parents and teachers and have shown their willingness to send the children to schools too,8221; says Joshi. 8220;The only change we have instituted here is that we hold language sessions for almost three to four hours as most of the children8217;s8217; parents are migrant workers, with Marathi not being their mother tongue. So we take extensive sessions to ensure that before they move out, they manage to have a foundation in reading and writing that would hold them in good stead for the rest of their lives8221;.

Story continues below this ad

Alongwith imparting them knowledge on language and mathematics as well as lessons on hygiene and etiquette, the Doorstep School also enrolls them in municipal schools for the next academic year, with the parents8217; consent. 8220;What makes our efforts worthwhile is the eagerness of the children to learn and the motivation of their parents to facilitate their learning process,8221; adds Bina. Thus building a strong foundation for a better tomorrow.

Sunanda Mehta

Sunanda Mehta is the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Pune. She is a distinguished journalist, columnist, and author with over three decades of experience in the media industry. Educational background: A merit-lister in her 12 th in CBSE (5th rank in Humanities) Sunanda stood first in History in the Board for which she was awarded the Dr Tarachand Gold Medal. She is a triple-graduate with a Bachelor of Arts (History Honours) from Lady Shri Ram College, New Delhi, Bachelor of Education, Delhi University (on scholarship) and Bachelor of Communication and Journalism, University of Pune. Professional Background Role: As Resident Editor, she oversees the Pune edition of The Indian Express, managing local news coverage, investigative features, and editorial direction for the city. Author: She is an accomplished author, known for her biographies. Her notable books include: The Extraordinary Life and Death of Sunanda Pushkar published by Pan Macmillan (2019). The book was long-listed for the Atta Galatta award for nonfiction and Auther award for best debut author. Majestic Musings - Translation of poems from 100 year old Badshaian from Punjabi to English (2023) Behind the Big Screen- the untold stories of child actors published by Bloomsbury India (2024) Focus Areas: While Sunanda has reported on various subjects from civic to political to investigative and crime, her forte remains long-form human-interest stories, heritage and gender issues. Core Column: "Against All Odds" Sunanda curates and writes a signature series titled "Against All Odds," which profiles individuals who have overcome significant personal, medical, or professional challenges. Recent notable articles (2025) The Story of Dr. Harinder Dhaliwal (July 2025): A Pune AFMC topper who became a neurologist in Canada despite becoming paraplegic. Jayoo Patwardhan’s Cancer Journey (Jan 2025): How the National Film Award-winning designer defeated cancer. Partha Iyengar’s Emergency mid-air (Aug 2025): The story of how Gartner’s India head survived a massive heart attack during a long-haul flight. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage continues to explore deep personal narratives and Pune’s socio-environmental landscape: 1. Personal Narratives & Closure "'I grieved for him 10 years after his murder, found closure to unsolved case'" (Dec 14, 2025): A poignant feature on Vineet Alurkar, son of the late Pune music legend Suresh Alurkar, and how digitizing his father’s collection helped him heal. "A 40-day journey home: how Christopher Benninger's partner gave him the gift of memories" (Nov 23, 2025): A moving tribute to the late acclaimed architect Christopher Benninger and his final trip to the US. "'After 38 years I finally met my biological mother'" (Sept 28, 2025): Chronicling the journey of an adopted daughter from Zurich searching for her roots in Pune. 2. Civic & Heritage "'Vetal Tekdi belongs to common citizens'" (Oct 20, 2025): An interview with environmental activist Dr. Sushma Date on the community-led protection of Pune’s vital green lungs. "'Military village' Apshinge recalls living through war days" (Aug 12, 2025): A report from a village in Maharashtra where nearly every household has a member in the armed forces, focusing on their legacy and current anxieties. 3. High-Profile Commentary & Investigations "Malegaon blast acquittals: 'I was expecting this verdict'" (July 31, 2025): An interview with former special public prosecutor Rohini Salian following the controversial acquittals. "Grounded, license cancelled... she decided to soar higher" (March 30, 2025): The story of Dr. Harpreet A De Singh, Air India’s first woman pilot from 1988, and her transition to leadership and meditation. Signature Style Sunanda Mehta is known for her empathetic storytelling. Unlike standard news reporting, her features often read like narrative non-fiction, focusing on the psychological and emotional resilience of her subjects. One of her articles in The Indian Express titled 'The Quality of Mercy' was converted into a film Rubaru Roshini produced by actor Aamir Khan. She is a strong advocate for Pune's heritage and environment, frequently using her platform to amplify citizen-led movements. X (Twitter): @sunandamehta and @ExpressPune ... Read More