https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Nai Disha for the Children of Migrant Workers in Nalagarh

Indian Masterminds Stories

The pandemic changed the lives of children as their normal routine was disrupted and they started spending most of their time at home. Even their schooling happened through online classes. But this was not possible for children from marginalised sections of society as their parents could not afford smart phones or laptops that are required for online classes. An IAS officer in Himachal Pradesh’s Solan district noticed this and started an education campaign. He is SDM Mahendra Pal Gurjar of Nalagarh city of the district.

Today, because of his efforts, migrant children living in slums have also started attending schools that are slowing opening as restriction are being lifted. Children who used to pick up junk or do other forms of child labour, and for whom school was just a dream, are now going to school to get education along with the children of other more privilege families.

SCHOOLING FOR MIGRANT KIDS

There is a pharma hub in the BBN industrial area of ​​Solan district. There are factories of many big pharma companies of the country, so workers from all over the country come here to work. The BBN area is divided into Nalagarh, Baddi and 77 panchayat areas. When the Covid pandemic came and there was lockdown across the country, all doors of education were closed for the children of the workers here as they could not attend online classes.But now, after the opening of the schools, 164 migrant children are getting education by taking admission in the schools of BBN area. All due to the efforts of an IAS officer who made it all happen through his foresightedness and compassion.

NAI DISHA CAMPAIGN

The ‘Nai Disha’ campaign was started by IAS Mahendra Pal to create awareness about education among the children of migrant workers in the BBN area. This noble initiative received active cooperation from the public.

IAS Mahendra Pal Gurjar, SDM, Nalagarh

Mr Pal, while talking to Indian Masterminds,said that during the time when schools were closed and online classes were going on, they did a baseline survey among the children of workers and found that 560 children who were not going to school. Most of these children were children of migrant workers from other districts. They could not take online classes due to non-availability of mobile phones and no internet facility.

“We got documents prepared for these children,like Aadhar card or any other identity card. For this, special camps were set up and the administration team made door-to-door visits. Then all these children were admitted to schools near their slums. Now that the schools have opened again, we have again called for reports from the schools. It has been found that 164 children are going to school. We are tracking the rest of the children whether they have gone to their state or are still here.”

EDUCATION FOR ALL

The efforts of the Nalagarh administration have succeeded in changing the lives of the slum children for the better. Now they are not only getting education, but are also taking advantage of many facilities of the school, including mid-day meal. The parents are also becoming aware about the various government schemes for their children, and, as a result, they have stopped sending their children out for work. In this way, child labour is being tackled by the administration. However, Mr. Pal believes that much more needs to be done yet. Their aim is to educate all such children and bring them into the mainstream of the society.

“We have given our control room numbers to all the panchayats of Nalagarh and the entire city. My appeal is that if any child between 6 to 14 years of age is found deprived of education, then tell us immediately. We also take the help of an NGO, ‘Magic Bus Foundation’, for this initiative.”

FAST CHANGING PICTURE OF NALAGARH

Apart from these efforts, Mr. Pal is also benefiting the general public through his many other initiatives. The administration has started free online coaching for IAS and other competitive exams through the Heritage Society. Before Covid, 93 students were being taught in this coaching. At the same time, an indoor stadium has also been built by the administration in Nalagarh, where there are five badminton courts. As a result, young children interested in sports are getting better training opportunities in this stadium now.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
Nitin Gadkari
India to Become Net Energy Exporter in 6-7 Years, Highlights Hydrogen and Biofuels: Union Minister Nitin Gadkari
Bank of India - BOI
Bank of India Plans to Raise Rs 20,000 Crore via Infrastructure Bonds in FY 2025-26
BEML Limited
For Operational Excellence, BEML Lays Foundation of State-of-the-Art Central Warehousing Centre in Bilaspur
rec-logo
Green Energy Boost: REC Forms New Subsidiary for 3GW Ananthapuram-II REZ Transmission Project
Bhupendra Patel CM Gujarat
CM Bhupendra Patel’s Pro-People Move: Uniform House Tax of ₹200 Annually for Rural Government-Assisted Homes in Gujarat
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar: Gaya to Become Bihar’s Largest Industrial Township Under AKIC; ₹16,524 Cr Investment Expected
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Why Has the DGCA Fined Air India Rs 5 Crore Since Privatisation?
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
Iran Is Weakest Now, Needs a Face-Saver
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
Retired Officers Lead 7-Day Mission to Revive Betwa River with 55 Check Dams | Video Interview
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
Sanish Kumar Singh
“If you want it badly enough, you’ll find a way,” Sanish Kumar Singh AIR 8, UPSC IFS 2024 
The real interview, he says, was much more humane. “The board was conversational. The chairman opened...
Raju Wagh
When the Battlefield Became a Study Room and a Dream Took Flight
Amid IED blasts and anti-Maoist operations in Bastar, CRPF Commando Raju Wagh taught village kids, studied...
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-18 at 10.31
"I Just Wanted to Breathe Again": The Man Who Fought Death and Made It to UPSC
Struck by COVID at the peak of his UPSC prep, Devanand Telgote spent months on ECMO, unsure he'd live,...
Social Media
Shailaja Chandra
“Nanis & Dadis Have a Brain”: Former IAS Officer Shailaja Chandra Weighs in on 1970s vs 2025 Life Debate - “This Generation Has It Better”
Responding to Viral Post on Middle-Class Struggles, Ex-Bureaucrat Offers Candid Reflection on Then and...
Tigress Arrowhead
The End of an Era: A Queen Falls - Ranthambore’s Iconic Tigress Arrowhead (T-84) Passes Away at 14, Hours After Daughter’s Relocation
Ranthambore mourns the loss of one of its fiercest and most beloved tigers, Arrowhead, the granddaughter...
Screenshot 2025-06-13 194001
Wild Elephant Disrupts Riverside Picnic, Sparks Debate on Human Encroachment; IFS Parveen Kumar Shares the Video - Watch Here!
Mr. Kaswan used the viral video, which has garnered over 1.5 lakh views, to highlight the risks of human...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Hindustan Shipyard Limited HSL
PESB Declines to Recommend CMD for Hindustan Shipyard; Ministry May Extend Current Chief’s Tenure
IAS Ajitabh Sharma
“80% of Time Spent on Non-Core Tasks”: Rajasthan Principal Secretary Ajitabh Sharma Questions IAS Work Culture, Calls for Reform
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-25 at 5.07
Former Diplomat Ashok Sajjanhar
WhatsApp Image 2025-06-23 at 12.39
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT