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Educating the other half

Marianne de Nazareth

The Round Table School in Roopena Agrahara, has got a new lease of life, thanks to the effort of the members of the Round Table. This full fledged SSLC school, which they have built brick by brick over the years, today boasts of 700 children on its rolls.

A visit to The Round Table School in Roopena Agrahara, off Hosur Road, built by a group of young businessmen who belong to the Round Table is proof that just one square meal a day can help change the lives of underprivileged children from the surrounding slums.

The class rooms are full of children busy with exams, all hunched up over their exam sheets. We walk past with the proud head-master and my heart swells with joy to see that there are so many girls in every co-ed class. I am being taken round a school called The Round Table School in Roopena Agrahara, off Hosur Road, by a group of young, successful businessmen who belong to the Round Table.

All are young men, in their thirties, with the wherewithal to blow their excess money in partying and living it up. Instead here they are, pride writ large on their faces, taking me around what is their ‘baby’. A full fledged SSLC school which they have built brick by brick over the years and which today boasts of 700 children on its rolls.“The school began with a nursery section which has now grown into a full fledged school,” explains Dhiren Gandhi.

“We build and maintain the schools but are not involved with the curriculum,” explains Ravi Khanna (RT 50) the National President who happens to be in town, to tie up other such schools with the government in Hubli. “We also do not spend our funds in buying land. This land was donated by a philanthropist, a corporator, Gopal Reddy in 1986.

The Round Table members then, built it brick by brick and their wives cooked the meal at home and brought it for the kids. This year we have built the dining area at a cost of five lakhs so that the kids can eat in the shade,” explained Ravi Khanna.

“Last year we had 100 percent passes in the SSLC which follows the State syllabus of Kannada medium, with English as second language and Hindi as the third,” revealed the headmaster with pride. “This school is absolutely free,” explains Dhiren, “with everything from text books, uniforms, shoes, all the requirements of a school going child is met by us.”

The children are from the nearby slums whose parents are coolies and construction labourers and by and large totally illiterate. “It is heartening to note,” said Anurag Agarwal, “that we have had no dropouts at all and instead it is a joy to observe that there are 200 applicants for just 60 seats.” In the Library there are rows of prizes won by the school for Kho Kho and for their band.

Once the child finishes school there, vocational training is given to those interested.

Anil Lala one of the members has a garment export unit and so he has been behind the idea of giving the girls vocational training to be able to work in garment units. He lends his experienced hands to give the children hands-on training in the school. Delicious smells of bisi bela bath waft through the school premises and we are led by the nose to the clean and airy kitchen where a in a huge handi a nutritious meal, with everything in one is prepared.

It is heartening to note that in the rat race for survival where there is no thought for fellow beings, these committed young men believe in helping the under privileged make the world a better place. You could make donations may be made in cash or kind. For details contact, Vimal Menda: 9845023594 or Dhiren Gandhi:23493132