Caring for the not cared for

At a time when children of Harijan, a community that largely serves our society as sweepers and cleaners, are stymied by gross discrimination, a group of youths has stepped forward to provide them with basic education.

An online forum, “Gouripur Helpline” came up with the initiative in February this year.

They picked a spot inside a kitchen market in Gohata area of Mymensingh’s Gouripur upazila and started giving pre-primary education in English, Bangla and Mathematics to the local children of Harijan.

The forum is comprised of 20 boys and girls, mostly college students, who believe that it is their social responsibility to do something for the neglected children of the minority community.

“Currently we have 20 children aged between five and 10. We teach for two hours on Wednesdays and Fridays. The spot remains occupied by vegetable vendors on other days,” said Mustakim Ahmed, an admin of Gouripur Helpline.

“These children are not even allowed to sit beside their classmates in other schools. Such an adverse condition coupled with poverty forces them to drop out,” said Tofazzal Hossain, another admin.

“The members of the forum have created a fund through small contributions. They also distribute biscuits and education materials among the children during classes,” Tofazzal told this paper.

There is no bench under the tin-roof. Both the teachers and the children sit on mats.

“Harijan people are looked down upon in the society. Due to poverty, they cannot arrange proper education for their children,” said Rongila Banshfur, a local member of the Harijan community.

In this backdrop, such an initiative by a voluntary group had brought relief, he said.

Ten-year-old Rajon Banshfur, who attends the classes, said, “I am happy that now I am attending classes with other children of my community.”

Rupa Banshfur, 8, said that now she could learn without any fear of being isolated as all her classmates were from the same community.

Gouripur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Farhana Karim said she was aware of the initiative. “I had arranged text books for the children after Gouripur Helpline started the programme in February.”

The Harijans are a kind of community who are under the sub-division of Sudra caste in Hindu society. The term “Harijan”, meaning the “Children of God”, was first used by Mahatma Gandhi to refer to the “Dalits” in 1932.