‘Kaise aakash me suraakh naheen ho sakta, Ek patthar to tabeeyat se uchhaalo yaaro’, is a line from famous Hindi poet Dushyant Kumar that roughly translates to “nothing is unachievable if one has the right intention”, and Dharmveer Jakhar from Rajasthan police is a living example.
While many carry great intention but never put them into practice, Mr. Jakhar believed in what he wanted to do for the society.
The constable from Churu, Mr Jakhar, established a school for slum dwellers and nomadic communities seven years back almost on his own.
Started in December, 2015, Jakhar’s ‘Aapni Pathshala’ has been imparting non-formal education to the underprivileged kids.
He set out on his lone mission with 8 to 10 children and today there are over 250. Soon, he will start a hostel facility for these kids.
Doing all this with a constable’s salary was not easy but Mr. Jakhar’s faith moved him onwards. His journey is full of inspirations.
Speaking with Indian Masterminds, he said: “Life in slums is no less than hell. Children growing up in slums are robbed off an ‘innocent childhood’.
These children should not be deprived of education, which is everyone’s right. That is why our mission is important.”
AAPNI PATHSHALA
Aapni pathshala runs like any government primary school in India. Only difference is its non-recognized and runs from huts. For the students from classes 1 to 5, along with education, they are also given proper food arranged daily with public participation. Even the kids’ conveyance is free of cost. “Everything is free of cost to the kids,” he said.
Mr. Jakhar spends almost Rs 4.50 lakh per month on these children. This entire amount is crowd funded.
How It All Started? In 2015, Mr Jakhar was posted in Churu and he saw many nomadic communities’ children roaming around and begging at police lines. He wanted to educate them, so he started teaching with his two friends under a tree adjacent to the women’s police station. This initiative gradually took the form of a school.
Women and men constables and other social workers helped along and that is how “Aapni Pathshala” came into being.
It runs under the aegis of ‘Muskan Sansthan’ which was established by Mr Jakhar later after receiving help from others.
GROWING BIG
With his school being a temporary shelter, the children often disappear for a couple of months. Convincing the parents is also a job.
That is why he will soon start a hostel facility for these children, where they will stay and study. The construction of hostel is already underway.
Now Mr Jakhar has a proper team of few teachers. They are employed. Children have been given school dresses, shoes, food and books free of cost.
After passing class 5, those who are talented, their admission is sought in the nearest private school. Their fees are paid by the Muskan Sansthan.
ONE REGRET
Although, Mr Jakhar has been running Aapni Pathshala successfully for 7 years, he still feels let down by the government. Though he received praises from politicians, government and even his own Rajasthan police, but no monetary help.
He now hopes his school will get accredited. He said, “This is a work for our future generation. These children living in slum have right to education too. Government should come forward and help them.”
Mr Jakhar’s mission to mankind has extended to getting daughters of many poor families married. His trust Muskan has also worked for the release of four Rajasthani labourers imprisoned in Dubai jail.
