*)
- Giving up is not an option
(#27
– Manabendra Majumder)
The
story which I am going to write is about the children and their status in the
Indian society, how they are treated and what are their views towards the
Indian society.
Today
also the sun showed no mercy, it was burning at its limit and the hot winds
flowing by the field felt as if they were trying to blow away all the natural
calmness of the human nature. The load that Arun had on his head was much
lighter than the burden he had at his age, he was a mild mannered boy who
talked less and worked more than other boys of his age. Arun was a 7 years old
boy who was one of the prominent support for his family. The work he did was
not of a very high value even though it seemed very tough for him to do it, he
worked in a brick kiln and every month he earned a hundred rupees which he
accepted very happily after a month of merciless effort for survival.
He
was the third earner after his father and elder brother in their family which
consisted of nine members. he was a boy of many dreams , but the merciless fate
never made them come true . Arun lived in a small hut that had only one room
and the ceiling used to leak during the rainy seasons , but Arun never
complained about their living or their lodging. He worked very hard under the
impression that someday their lives will change and they will have a better
living.
At
the end of each month Arun would receive his wage from the promoter under whom
he used to work, that day Arun would become very proud and happy for himself as
because he was going to receive his award for an effort that he applied for
earning his living, but sometimes his happiness becomes a dry leaf that might
get crushed under somebody’s feet as his wages were irregular and improper. The
promoter who used to pay him was not at all a decent or a honest guy, he used
to treat the labours very badly as if they were extremely inferior to him ,
even his behaivior towards child labours were as same as towards the elder
ones.
Arun
never dreamed of going to school or education because his tiny brain was filled
with the burden of supporting a family and to earn a living from a very young
age. Every day Arun used to walk about ten kilometers from his hut in order
reach the brick field where he worked for the whole day carrying bricks from
place to place.
Each
day Arun dreamt of becoming a successful man, and each day worked hard as if
mixing his sweat drop from his forehead with the sweat drops from his feet,
just for the sole purpose of survival.
His
parents never cared for him or the other kids in the family, they only counted
them as extra helping hand for raising monthly or yearly income. According to
them education was of no use at all and they never encouraged anybody to pursue
education.
That
day was also like other days when Arun would receive his payment after a long
month of extreme effort, the only difference was that he was going to receive
the payment after one year of service without receiving any monthly wage. Arun
was very happy and was confident that this time his parents will be proud of
him for bringing such a huge sum of money home, and he even had plannings for
spending that money. He worked the whole day hoping that he will receive his
payment , but fate is not as favorable as it looks, in the evening time when
his work was almost done , he asked his promoter for his payment, to which the
promoter rudely told him to come in the early morning next day to receive the
wage. So , arun went home empty handed ,and when his parents came to know about
his nonpayment , they thrashed him told him not to show his face until he
brings his payment, Arun was hurt, not bodily , but emotionally , so he ran
away and didn’t returned to his hut that night. Next morning he went the promoter
in order receive his payment , the promoter was a cheap guy ,he gave Arun three
hundred rupee notes and told him that this was his yearly income. After
receiving his payment arun was happy, but his parents were not, they beated him
mercilessly as if arun was a wooden log and told him to earn more next time.
That night arun slept with pain, and the next morning he again went to work in
the fields hoping for a better payment this time.
By
writing this story I want to draw your attention towards the practice of child
labour in our society and towards the illiteracy among people , how people in
our society still believes in such thoughts that education had no benefits!!,
by this story I want want to convey a message that please encourage education
and discourage child labour and be practical that education has its own
benefits it is our right to enjoy them…………………
Rating
– 52/100
Judge’s
Comment – "Touchy story with a message. Child Labour is
widespread social evil whats sad is that eradication child labor is not even in
the promises our leaders. Lives of millions of kids in India is ruined by this.
Idea holds a lot of potential but the execution and details are clichéd and
needs improvement. Stories with social message must leave a strong impact on
reader’s mind."
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*) - EDUCATION
IN INDIA
(# 38
- Himanshu Khatri)
Education is an important activity in
society, it gives an opportunity to man to understand the world around him and
his place in it In ancient times man was completely at the mercy of nature
which was a complete mystery to him. The dark forces of nature were beyond the
comprehension of man and to console himself he had to depend upon the existence
of supernatural powers and this led to the growth of religion and superstition.
The invention of tools, domestication of animals and growth of agriculture led
to organization of society and along with this, developed social sciences.Thus,
in education we combine the study of natural laws with the laws governing the
development of society- Knowledge and understanding come to us through the
study of natural sciences (chemistry, physics, biology, etc.) and the social
sciences (history, political science, etc.). The acquisition, interlinking and
the transmission of this knowledge and understanding is the primary function of
education. Ideally speaking, it is through education that members of society,
particularly the youth, come to understand the working of society.
Education
should enable the youth to improve the working of the society. Seen in this
light, the purpose of education is not just to help students acquire degree and
obtain jobs. If the society is not organized properly, jobs become difficult to
acquire, degrees lose their meaning and education becomes a national waste as
it is happening in many countries in the world today.
Education, properly speaking, should develop
a spirit of inquiry and rational thinking in the youth so as to enable them to
understand the society and change it wherever it is found lacking. From time to
time, seminars or symposia were held to discuss the question of educational
reforms and suggest an ideal educational system. However, nothing much could be
achieved in this behalf. Syllabi continued to be theoretical in nature, and
irrelevant to the socio-cultural and economic contexts. Teaching methods and
system of examination continued to be obsolete. The result was that our
educational institutions and universities, Instead of being citadels of
learning and enlightenment, became dens of unrest and frustration. Our students
became irresponsible and directionless mob, out to destroy the very fabric of
society. Instead of contributing to the progress of the nation, they became, to
a large extent, a burden on the nation’s economy and society.
The first policy document on education was
adopted in 1968, by the Government after Independence. The National Education
Policy, 1968 aimed to promote national progress, a sense of common citizenship
and culture, and to strengthen national integration. However, even the
Government admits that the general formulations incorporated in the 1968 policy
did not get translated into a detailed strategy of implementation.
Some
achievements since 1968 listed by the Government are: (a) acceptance of a
common structure of education throughout the country and the introduction of
the 10 plus 2 plus 3 system by most States; (b) laying down of common system of
studies for boys and girls; (c) incorporation of science and mathematics as
compulsory subjects; (d) restructuring of the courses at under-graduate level;
(e) setting up of centres of advanced studies for post-graduate education and
research. A new draft National Policy on Education was approved by Parliament
(n May 1986. The ‘Programme of Action’ to implement the new policy was adopted
by the Government in August 1986. The new education policy is broadly based on
a document called “A challenge of education a perspective” laid by the then
Education Minister in Parliament on 20 August 1985.
Education in India, says the new education
policy document, stands at cross-roads today. Neither normal expansion nor the
existing pace and nature of improvement can meet the needs of the situation.
The catalytic action of education in the complex and dynamic process of our
country needs to be planned meticulously and executed with great sensitivity
life in the coming decades, it points out, is likely to bring new tensions
together with unprecedented opportunities.
The system will be based on a
national curricular framework which contains a common core along with other
components that are flexible. In higher education, technical education in
particular, steps will be taken to facilitate inter regional mobility by
providing equal access to every Indian of requisite merit, regardless of his
origins. The policy gives importance to removal of women’s illiteracy and
obstacles inhibiting their access to, and retention in, elementary education.
The central focus of the policy in the educational development of Scheduled
Castes and Tribes in their equalization with the non-SC and ST population at
all stages and levels of education, in all areas and in all the four dimensions
rural male, rural female, urban male and urban female.
The policy pledges to provide essential
facilities in primary schools, including at least two reasonable large rooms
usable in all weathers, and necessary toys, blackboards, maps, charts and other
learning material. At least two teachers, one of them a woman, should be there
in every school, the number increasing to one teacher per class as early as possible.
To this end, the ‘Operation Blackboard’ has been launched all over the country
to improve primary schools. The policy also introduces a non-formal form of
education for school dropouts, for children from habitations without schools,
working children and girls who cannot attend whole day school.
In the field of higher education, provision
will be made for minimum facilities and admission into colleges and
universities and will be regulated according to capacity. Courses and
programmes will be redesigned and the present affiliation system will be
replaced by a freer and more creative association of universities and colleges.
Research will get more support.
In the area of Technical and Management
Education the policy maintains that reorganization should take into account the
anticipated scenario by the turn of the century, with specific reference to the
like changes in the economy, social environment, production and management
processes, the rapid expansion of knowledge and the great advances in science
and technology.
Selected Secondary Teacher Training Colleges
will be upgraded to complement the work of the State Council of Education
Research and Training. To give the policy a practical shape, lot of funds would
be required. The policy says that resources will be raised by mobilizing
donations, asking the beneficiary communities to maintain school buildings and
supplies of some consumables, raising fees at higher levels, and by effecting
saving by efficient use of facilities.
Rating – 62/100
Judge’s Comment
– “I liked how you analyzed the problem and quoted policies, legislations shaping
India’s education system where the onus is always on cramming all the things in
your head. Parents look down to polytechnic and vocational
system which can reduce the problem of unemployment in our country to huge
extent. Informative article!”
Judge - Mr. Kshitij Dhyani (Author, Artist and Musician)
Result - Himanshu Khatri wins the match by 10 Points and is number fifth to enter into round of 32. Manabendra Majumder goes to Parallel League.
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