Title - NGO, GRP come up with school for rag pickers in Patna

A city based non-governmental organisation (NGO) in collaboration with the Government Railway Police (GRP) has started a school for young rag pickers here. The initiative aims to educate kids who pick wastes from the platforms, coaches and other parts of the railway station. Interacting with media persons, Manish Kumar, a member of the NGO, said, "We thought we should take steps to improve the lives of those children who pick wastes on the platform and are also addicted to drugs. So, we started this campaign on an experimental basis." Kumar added that in addition to basic literacy, the initiative aims to help drug-addicted children return to normal life, and feed them with right values and principles. "We teach all those children who are addicted to drugs and inculcate the right values and principles in them. We are trying to spread awareness and are taking all possible steps to ensure that these children become part of the mainstream," Kumar explained. He further noted that earlier, only few children had joined the school, but gradually the numbers swelled. Currently, 40 children are reaping the benefits of the school. A rag picker, Geeta Kumari, said that she enjoyed studying at the school. "I used to pick waste papers, bottles from the coaches of the train. Then, Sir, came to us and asked us to join the school and now we are enjoying studying here," Kumari said. Ram Pukar Singh, a GRP inspector, said that the initiative would help to improve the condition of deprived sections of the society. "Gradually these children get involved in crimes. Recently, our senior official had visited this area and saw the condition of the children. With the help of few volunteers of an organisation, we formulated a plan and we decided to open a school," Singh said.