Hansta Bachpan started by Dr Rita Sharma Retd IAS at Gomti Nagar , Lucknow, Aims to transform lives of most underpriviged Children
By Anil Swarup
At the heart of this endeavor, Hansta Bachpan started by Dr Rita Sharma, a retired IAS officer in Gomtinagar, Lucknow is the idea that all children should be able to look forward to one weekly evening of merriment and enjoyment and be exposed to new and interesting stories, events, ideas, and slap-stick comedy. The venture was started two years ago with about 20 children and has now swelled to 450. Some children go to school. Many do not. Dr Sharma and her family try to get to know them better, but many are children of laborers who leave once the construction work is over. The time the children spend at Hansta Bachpan is neither pedagogical nor pedantic. There is no teaching and no tests. Children are exposed to new and interesting ideas and left very much to take away what they like. There are also young teens, some of whom bring along their infant siblings. Rita Sharma spends a significant part of the week surfing the internet, assembling a variety of video clips touching on a wide range of themes. Tales from Panchatantra are followed with as much interest as a selection from the world’s most famous stories, such as The Happy Prince and the Selfish Giant in Hindi. The marching beats of Republic Day parades, the brass bands, and the smartly turned-out women’s contingents cause excitement. Earth Day, educate the children about reducing plastic pollution, preserving biodiversity, kindness to animals, tree plantation, and water conservation. Each child was given a hygiene dental kit. The Bhamla Foundation has come out with peppy songs on biodiversity and plastic pollution. The children quickly memorize the catchy tunes and easy lyrics of Kasam yeh khayen re plastic tik na paye re … Chalo pani bachate hain… and enjoy singing along. Gattu and Chinki, the popular animation characters, regale with their adventures including issues such as traffic rules. She hopes that some of what happens at Hansta Bachpan stimulates the imagination of the youngsters and stays with them as they grow up. If this happens for even a few, it will be a blessing. Meanwhile, watching the children laughing at Tom and Jerry makes for the most treasured memories and moments.
