Shiksana Mitra

Shikshana Mitra, “A friend for education” was initiated to reach the children who are deprived of education. This program focuses on children from 6 to 14 years old (80% are girls) and takes place in two different centres in Bangalore. Educated young persons are selected in the target community; these youth become the role model for the children by ensuring that every child is enrolled into formal or non-formal schools situated near the centre. They also, conduct tuition classes, motivation classes and other creative classes to help the children to develop themselves.

Shikshana Mitra I is a centre initiated in September 2009 and situated in the Sanjivininagar area of Bangalore. This area has a significant population of construction labour, domestic labour, and apartment house keeping (contract labour) workers. The children of this community do not find support for education at home, and hence there was a large proportion of school dropouts among them. Each year 40 to 45 children are accommodated in this centre.

Throughout the year we conduct various programs for all the children:
We profile all the children based on various parameters such as: family situation, mental, physical and educational status.
We provide nutritious food and comfortable accommodation.
We counsel them about the importance of finishing their education.
We offer classes in English, Yoga & Meditation, Health & hygiene, Career guidance etc.
We provide them with an access to a library and to computers.

We started a residential centre called Shikshana Mitra II in the month of June 2010, in response to a survey realized in April 2010. This survey was conducted all over Bangalore, and showed that a large population is engaged in construction work at Manyatha Tech Park near Hebbal. This population consists of migrants from northern Karnataka who have come in search of work due to natural calamity (2009 was an especially bad year for northern Karnataka because of floods) and poverty. These families are engaged in daily wage work. Due to low wages, they are not able to fulfil their basic needs like nutritious food, clothing, house, etc. More than 4 people live in small plastic covered tents or thatched houses which are smaller than 4’ x 3 ’meter. In our survey, we found lots of children who were engaged in work, taking care of younger siblings, or were at home.

In two months, we conducted 4 community meetings and 2 street plays to give awareness about the dangers of child labour and the importance of education. We took up a house for rent near the area and created an informal centre for the children who were out of school. By the end of May 2010, children started enrolling in our centre. We profiled each child, and came to the conclusion that these children were in need of accommodation, food, care and protection. This led us to install a permanent centre in this area for 40 to 45 children: Shikshana Mitra II.

Centres of Activity :
- Shikshana Mitra I, Govt model primary school (Old build.), Sanjivininagar, Sahakarnagar post, Bangalore-92.

- Shikshana Mitra II, Make shift tents set-up at communities with high migrant labour population in Mastripalya and Rachenahalli, Behind Manyata Tech Park, Near Nagavara Circle, Bangalore