Straight Answers

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal"><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">Dr Usha Nayar</span>, Deputy director, Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS), Mumbai, On linking school children with NGOs. <br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">The National Conference on Education for Social Transformation held recently spoke about merging education with social processes. Why?</span><br /><br />As educationist D S Kothari says, education facilitates the transformation of a society from the state of relative stagnation to one of dynamism and progress. School kids are easily mouldable as far as judgement and attitude is concerned. <br /><br />This is the crucial stage when they need to know the social reality, the injustice and imbalance around them and the need to change the systems. I believe that society is the biggest laboratory for the students to experiment and learn from. <br /><br />NGOs are already active in the social sphere and their experience helps the kids to get direction to solve practical problems.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">How will this concept work practically?</span><br /><br />The basic idea is not to encroach upon the kids'' study time, but start a new activity on the lines of National Social Service (NSS) programme of the Central government. At first, the NGOs related to children like Spastics Society Of India, Childline and YUVA should involve school kids, let them see the condition of kids their age suffering from ailments, poverty, malnourishment and illiteracy. <br /><br />Once they are aware of the situation, teachers should talk to them regarding the solution and the little contribution kids can give - in terms of books, food, time, physical and monetary help - will always be welcome.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">What will be TISS'' contribution to the plan?</span><br /><br />We are already teaching our Master''s students how to incorporate children in various social activities. As TISS networks with hundreds of NGOs, we can co-ordinate the programme as per the need and demand of the schools. As far as government backing is concerned, we are trying hard, but let''s not expect too much and start on our own.<br /><br /><span style="" font-weight:="" bold="">With many international NGOs setting up offices in rural India, is the help still inadequate?</span><br /><br />No change in a society is permanent if it doesn''t happen with the initiative and contribution of all the ingredients of the society. International NGOs, as far as I''ve seen, are not aware of the exact needs of the rural people. Financial affluence doesn''t bring development, nor can it be thrust on people.</div> </div>