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Author: Priya Menon - Independent Writer and Journalist

Categories
Health

Healthcare on Wheels brings Relief to Rural India

Healthcare on Wheels brings Relief to Rural India
Healthcare on Wheels brings Relief to Rural India

We have all heard about people having to travel miles, often on foot to access medical care in rural India. Some of them don’t get access to proper treatment on time, others lose their lives. Just think about this. According to the 2011 Census of India, approximately 70% of the Indian population lives in rural areas. But many of these areas lack adequate healthcare infrastructure, and people in these regions often have to travel long distances to access medical facilities. Even then, they may not be able to meet specialists. That’s where mobile health units or healthcare on wheels initiatives play a vital role as they help screen, diagnose, and treat people at their doorsteps.

Majority of rural Indians do not have access to healthcare

Bharat Health Index (BHI) 2023 survey shows that only 25% of the semi-rural and rural population in India have access to modern healthcare facilities within their localities. The accessibility index saw a major dip as one moved from urban to rural India, with only 10% of the rural respondents citing that they had access to healthcare within a 10km radius.

The lack of skilled healthcare providers at the last mile poses a significant challenge to accessibility. Only 15% respondents confirmed having a doctor’s clinic or healthcare facility within a 5km radius.  While 25% had access to general physicians in their area, 92% lacked specialists, such as cardiologists, gynaecologists or paediatricians impacting medical care.

Advantages of using mobile healthcare units

“Accessing healthcare services is a problem in rural areas, and reaching out to specialists is difficult. It’s even more challenging if the patient is not mobile, physically challenged, visually or hearing impaired as then getting out of the home to access health services is an issue. Often, they have to travel 10-15 km to reach the nearest medical facility,” says Dr Sridhar Vaitheeswaran, consultant psychiatrist, SCARF, who has been in charge of a mental health programme in Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu, which helps rural people access mental healthcare.  

Another problem is the fact that many older adults live alone as their family members have migrated to other places. “So they are unable to access these services,” he says.

Yet another issue is the lack of availability of all medicines and facilities in local healthcare centres. Many investigations that need to be done or special medicines may not be available locally and mobile healthcare services help bridge this gap.

These mobile clinics reach areas that lack proper medical infrastructure and provide basic healthcare services, such as consultations, preventive care, immunizations, maternal and child healthcare, and diagnostic tests, making it easier for people to access medical help.

In some cases, mobile healthcare units are equipped to provide emergency medical services and may even have specialists or equipment onboard to treat certain conditions that may otherwise require patients to travel to urban centres.

It also helps early detection and treatment of diseases. “We have had young people in their late 20s walk in and found that they have high BP and sugar levels. These are people at high risk of having a stroke or heart attack who don’t even realise that they have these health issues as they don’t have any symptoms,” says Dr V Mohan, chairman, Dr Mohan’s Diabetes Specialities Centre, Chennai, whose team works with the Sri Sathya Sai Seva Organisation (SSSSO) to operate free mobile clinics. 

Healthcare on wheels helps reduce transportation costs for people in rural areas as travelling to a distant healthcare facility can be both expensive and time-consuming. Many of these services also include educational programmes that inform rural populations about health issues, hygiene practices, disease prevention, and healthy lifestyles, which can have long-term benefits on community health.

Maternal and child health is one area where mobile clinics play a vital role, providing prenatal and postnatal care, vaccination services, and basic check-ups, helping to reduce maternal and infant mortality rates in rural areas.

Regular visits by mobile healthcare units allow for ongoing monitoring of chronic diseases like diabetes, hypertension, and infections, ensuring that rural populations receive the follow-up care they need. By offering services to rural populations, healthcare on wheels helps reduce the burden on already overcrowded urban hospitals and clinics.

Government initiatives help deliver healthcare to the doorstep

The Indian government has launched several initiatives to provide healthcare on wheels, particularly to address the challenges of delivering healthcare services to remote and underserved rural areas. These initiatives aim to bridge the gap in healthcare access and ensure that rural populations can receive essential medical services. 

For instance, under the National Health Mission (NHM), which encompasses the National Rural Health Mission and the National Urban Health Mission, the government provides funding and support to states to establish mobile medical units (MMUs) in rural areas. These units offer regular health check-ups, treatment for common ailments, maternal and child health services, vaccination campaigns, and prevention of diseases like malaria and tuberculosis. Various states, such as Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Odisha, have implemented mobile health units under this programme.

As part of Ayushman Bharat, the government has launched Health and Wellness Centers (HWCs) to offer comprehensive healthcare services to rural populations. While many of these centers are stationary, there are mobile health units that complement the HWCs. Apart from the regular healthcare services, these units also offer essential diagnostic and laboratory services.

Several states have implemented their own mobile healthcare programmes to improve access to healthcare for rural populations. The Tamil Nadu government’s flagship programme, Makkalai Thedi Maruthuvam Scheme, offers a comprehensive set of home-based health care services to ensure a continuum of care and meet the health needs of beneficiaries in the family. 

“It’s very innovative and doing well so the need for us conducting these camps is much less nowadays,” says Dr Mohan, adding that Tamil Nadu also won the ‘United Nations Interagency Task Force Awards (UNIATF) for 2024’ for the programme.

Private initiatives also help

Many initiatives rope in the local community, and have volunteers and community level workers who have been trained to screen people for mental health issues and to refer them to psychiatrists.

NGOs play a vital role

NGOs have also launched mobile units to help with delivery of healthcare services to rural areas. Smile Foundation’s healthcare intervention provides primary healthcare facilities at the doorsteps of the underserved communities in identified rural areas and urban slums. The aim is to reach the vulnerable population who cannot afford basic healthcare facilities. 

Our Smile on Wheels (SoW) programme aims to reach the unreached through fully-equipped Mobile Healthcare Units staffed with doctors and paramedics, providing OPD services, point-of-care test facilities and medicines.

To make dental treatment affordable and accessible and to address the gaps existing in dental healthcare at the community level Smile Foundation joined hands with GlaxoSmithKline Asia Private Limited (now Haleon). The dental health units have been providing diagnostic as well as curative services through roster based OPDs. They organize regular Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities to enhance health seeking behaviour. 

Another very important component of the Smile on Wheels Dental HealthCare is the School Oral Health Programme that includes awareness sessions on oral health and hygiene followed by regular dental check-ups.

Our interventions in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka

SoWs has made a tremendous impact on the health of the community in Indalawadi village, nestled in the remote Anekal block on the border of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which has faced numerous challenges in accessing healthcare services. 

The village is home to around 1,230 residents, the majority of whom are farmers and daily wage workers with limited financial resources. The high transportation costs required to travel to Anekal Government Hospital posed a substantial obstacle for the community in accessing crucial healthcare services. 

SoW’s mobile clinic has provided a total of 1,881 consultations, catering to the diverse healthcare needs of the villagers. 76% of these consultations were for females and children, highlighting the importance of accessible healthcare for vulnerable populations.

During these consultations, approximately 18% of the patients were diagnosed with Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus II, requiring regular check-ups and medication. SoW has played a crucial role in monitoring their blood pressure and sugar levels, ensuring that these patients receive the necessary care and support. Through timely treatment and regular monitoring, the initiative has significantly improved the health outcomes of community members living with these conditions.

Categories
Smile

Distractions, Pressure Impact Reading Habit in Youth

Distractions, Pressure Impact Reading Habit in Youth
Distractions, Pressure Impact Reading Habit in Youth

Nageswara Rao Park in Mylapore, Chennai, has always been a popular hangout for locals. Morning walkers head there at break of dawn as do yoga enthusiasts and people in search of peace and quiet. But, every other Sunday, a small group of people gather in the evening, armed with books. Even as the world walks by, they remain immersed in the world of letters, pausing only to share refreshments and chat about their favourite books and authors.

“A few of us got together and started Mylapore Reads in August 2023 after we read an article in the paper about the silent reading movement where, around the world, people gather in public spaces to read,” says Balaji Venkatramanan, a Mylapore resident. “We gather between 4pm and 5pm with a bagful of books. Anyone can pick up a book and read, or bring their own book. You can read a newspaper or on your Kindle, there are no rules. We just want to encourage people, especially youngsters, to read,” he adds.

The turnout for these events varies. “At the first event, the community cats outnumbered us. Now, we have a few regulars. On a good day, we may get 25 to 30 people. Sometimes people stop by, read for a while and then move on,” says Venkatramanan.

Reading habit in youth on the decline

Similar sessions and other initiatives have been launched across India as fewer people are now reading. The 2024 Annual Literacy Survey by the National Literacy Trust (NLT) organisation reveals a steady decline in the number of children and young people who enjoy reading and engaging in daily reading during their free time, says an article in NDTV.com.

Just one in three (34.6%) children and young people aged eight to 18 said that they enjoyed reading in their free time in 2024. Reading enjoyment levels have decreased by 8.8 percentage points over the past year alone.

Only one in five (20.5%) eight to 18-year-olds said that they read something daily in their free time in 2024, which is, once again, the lowest levels recorded since 2005, with daily reading levels decreasing by 7.5pp in the last year alone.

“It seems to be a global trend that children are reading lesser, which makes it incumbent on parents, educators, and librarians to find ways to encourage students to read, by identifying points of interest from the child’s life and find reading that’s linked to it,” says Karthika Gopalakrishnan, head of reading, Neev Academy, Bengaluru, and director, Neev Literature Festival.

Digital distractions, technology kill reading habit in youth

More young people now have access to smartphones and social media platforms such as Instagram, YouTube, and TikTok, which offer instant gratification. This results in shortened attention span, which in turn has an adverse impact on activities such as reading, which require concentration and time. 

Streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Prime, and YouTube also offer easy access to entertainment. Video gaming is another digital addiction, which keeps youngsters glued to screens.

According to a report in Business Standard, 66% of parents believe their children are addicted to social media. A survey of parents of children aged between nine and 17 years in urban areas revealed that 47% parents said that their wards spend an average of three hours or more every day on social media, videos, over-the-top apps, and online games, says the online survey firm LocalCircles. 

Around 10% of the parents shared that their children spend more than six hours on social media, online games and videos. The survey received over 70,000 responses from parents located in over 368 urban districts of the country.

Pressure of academics, lack of reading culture adds to the problem

In India, where emphasis is placed on academics, reading is seen as an educational activity, which reduces children’s interest in leisure reading. Students are expected to devote most of their time to textbooks, study guides, and coaching material, which leaves little room for non-academic reading or to explore books beyond the syllabus. In many households, there are few role models who actively read for pleasure. If parents, elders, or peers don’t model reading habits, young people are less likely to develop a passion for reading themselves.

“Parents want to fiddle with their gadgets while children read. But children tend to pick up what you do. So, if you pick up a phone, they are likely to do the same. If you pick up a book, they are also more likely to engage in reading,” says Venkatramanan.

Why is reading important?

Reading habit in children stimulates their brain, keeping it sharp and engaged. Reading regularly can help improve brain function and reduce the risk of cognitive decline as you age. It strengthens neural connections, enhances memory, and improves problem-solving skills.

It also builds your vocabulary, improves your grammar and fluency in any language. Since reading requires active engagement, as it requires you to analyse characters, and follow plot twists, it improves your ability to think critically, evaluate different perspectives, and make informed decisions. Reading encourages a deeper understanding of complex ideas and improves your knowledge of different subjects, introducing you to new ideas, concepts and cultures. It can also reduce stress levels as it’s a relaxing activity. 

Initiatives to promote reading culture 

There are government as well as private initiatives to inculcate the reading habit in people. Recently, the northern region of Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC), set up “Reading Zones” in two parks in Royapuram zone to promote reading habits among the public and to provide children access to books.

The reading zones are being launched in 10 GCC parks in north Chennai on a pilot basis. According to a report in The Hindu, GCC’s Regional Deputy Commissioner (North) Katta Ravi Teja said that the initiative aims to provide access to books in areas that predominantly have slum pockets and to inculcate reading habits among the public.

The reading zones, open from 8am to 12 noon and from 4pm to 8pm, will have a variety of books ranging from short stories, biographies and novels and the public will have free access to these books. place it back in the box after reading. 

Citizens’ initiatives, and efforts by educational institutions

Many neighbourhoods across India have started Little Free Libraries or Free Book Sharing Boxes. This concept, which aims to foster a love for reading by providing easy access to books, has people placing books in a weatherproof box or nook. Those who are interested can pick up a book, but are expected to replace it with another one so that someone else can enjoy it.

Educational institutions have also come up with their own initiatives to promote reading among the young. Karthika says the The Neev Literature Festival began in 2017 and the Neev Book Award in 2018 to find and showcase great children’s books from and about Indian lives; books that are mirrors, windows and doors to the Indian identity. “The Neev Literature Festival targets readers in the age group of three to 18 years and is an opportunity for readers to meet some of their favourite authors, as well as for librarians, educators, and parents to be a part of conversations from the world of children’s literature and understand the trends in the space,” she says.

There are popular works that readers gravitate towards such as books in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series or books by Sudha Murty or books by Rick Riordan and the Percy Jackson series, says Karthika. “There is a growing interest in non-fiction for younger readers that publishers in India have picked up producing books such as the Dreamers series of biographies of eminent Indians for readers in the Gr 2-4 age group published by Duckbill, an imprint of PRH,” she says, adding that older children like mysteries and murder mysteries. “Shabnam Minwalla is a popular author in the young adults’ segment, as is Andaleeb Wajid who’s known for her romance books in this age group.”

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Infographic: Reading Decline to Revival (Smile Foundation)

NGOs pitch in to inculcate reading habit in children

Various NGOs have come up with initiatives to promote reading habit in children. Smile Foundation’s flagship programme, Mission Education, works to empower children by providing education, nutrition and wellness support. We also promote reading among children and stock libraries with storybooks, puzzles, and educational games to encourage children to read and develop their imagination. It also involves local communities in the success of its centres.

The way forward

Reading programmes are adopting different approaches to attract people. Venkatramanan says they have begun conducting storytelling sessions also. “One of the people who came for the reading runs a library that has an impressive collection of picture books. She brings her library books and decides to tell the stories to the kids who gather so that they get drawn to reading,” he says, adding that they also serve juice and biscuits. “People come, read, chat among themselves and form bonds over a common love of reading. They have also begun donating books,” he says.

According to Karthika, schools, parents and others can do more to promote reading. “For instance, have regular conversations, meet-ups with other readers, and introducing new books from global ‘Best Of lists’ such as those released by BookTrust or the New York Public Library, as well as children’s book awards lists such as the Neev Book Award or the Parag Honor List will help,” she says.

Categories
Smile Education

Experts Stress on Need to Limit Screen Time

Limit Screen Time

Recently, Australia approved a social media ban for children under the age of 16, triggering conversations around digital wellness and the need to cut down screen time for children.

According to a BBC report, the ban, which will not take effect for at least 12 months, could see tech companies fined up to A$50m if they don’t comply. “We want our kids to have a childhood and parents to know we have their backs,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese is reported to have told the media. While the legislation does not specify which platforms will be banned, Australia’s Minister for Communications, Michelle Rowland, has said the ban will include Snapchat, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and X. Gaming and messaging platforms are exempt, as are sites that can be accessed without an account, meaning YouTube, for instance, is likely to be spared, says the BBC report.

Digital Wellness of Children: A Global Concern

Australia is not the first country to attempt to restrict children’s social media use. While the Australian ban is absolute, countries including France and some US states have passed laws to restrict access for minors, without a parent’s permission, says a Reuters report. A full under-14s ban in Florida is being challenged in court on free speech grounds.

Younger Children Now Access the Internet

According to a UNESCO report, globally, one in three internet users are children under the age of 18. It also highlighted that children are increasingly accessing the internet at a younger age — in some countries, children under 15 are as likely to use the internet as adults. This study was carried out before the Covid-19 pandemic. The subsequent lockdowns increased screen time across age groups as many children were forced to attend schools online.

According to another study carried out by the Pew Research Centre in 2021, 72% of parents of children in grades K-12 reported an increase in their child’s screen time when compared to pre-pandemic times.

The Indian Scenario

In India, there has been a growing concern around the use of social media by children and the impact of screen time on psychological as well as physical health.

According to a study commissioned by the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights in India 2021, 30.2% of the children between the age group of eight to 18 years used a smartphone or a device connected to the internet for online learning and classes. Children predominantly used the internet to access messaging applications, study materials, music, and games. Interestingly, the study also found that nearly 37.8% and 24.3% of 10-year- old children have an account on Facebook, and Instagram respectively, sparking concern.

“The internet can be both a boon and a bane, and in this respect, it is largely a bane. It is full of negative content and young children accessing it can be exposed to cyber bullying, body shaming, etc, which can lead to anxiety and depression,” says psychologist Mini Rao. 

Psychiatrist Dr Suresh Kumar says a complete social media ban for children may not be possible. “But a lot of things online are detrimental to brain health. For instance, Insta reels and shorts on YouTube lead to decreased attention span as what is being seen and consumed changes every 30 seconds,” he says.

Impact of Screen Time on Mental, Physical Health

Long hours spent glued to screens can impact you physically and psychologically:

Developmental Delay: According to ‘Prevalence of excessive screen time and its association with developmental delay in children aged <5 years: A population-based cross-sectional study in India’, excessive screen time usage has caused developmental delay in children under five years of age. Increased screen time was significantly associated with developmental delay, particularly language acquisition and communication, especially in children under two years of age. 

Tech Addiction: “There should be no exposure to screens till the age of five, from five to 12, it needs to be strictly supervised and 12-15, parents should see children are not exposed to things that are ‘rewarding’ such gaming, gambling, social media shopping, or porn,” says Dr Suresh Kumar, adding that it can lead to tech addiction.

Impacts Eyesight: In a study published in the BMC Public Health, children who spent more time on screens had a higher risk of developing myopia or near-sightedness, damaging eye health. 

Childhood Obesity: There has been an increase in childhood obesity. About 12.5 million of those between the ages of five and 19 were overweight in 2022 compared to 0.4 million in 1990, according to a global analysis published in The Lancet journal. Sedentary screen time is said to be a key factor contributing to this crisis.

Affects Sleep, Social Skills: Constant stimuli makes it hard for children to concentrate, which affects academic performance. The blue light from the screen interferes with melatonin production, causing sleeplessness. This also causes daytime fatigue, irritability and reduced cognitive function. More screen time leads to limited social interaction. 

Psychological Impact: Being constantly on social media is creating a ‘culture of comparison’, where children and teens constantly measure their self-worth against their peers and ‘influencers’ based on likes, comments and followers. 

Reduced Screen Time can Improve Mental Health; contribute towards Digital Wellness

According to a study done by the University of Southern Denmark, there is a significant correlation between reduced screen time and improved mental health in kids. 

On an average, children spend almost 7 to 8 hours every day on entertainment, be it playing games, or watching movies. The study concluded that reducing this to three hours makes them emotionally more stable. The improvement is rapid, with visible changes within just 14 days. 

Guidelines for Screen Time Needed to ensure Holistic Digital Wellness

In India, we have the Indian Academy of Pediatrics Guidelines on Screen Time and Digital Wellness in Infants, Children and Adolescents. 

With the digital revolution, Indian children are increasingly spending more time glued to screens, which has been linked to physical, developmental and emotional problems. So, experts have felt a need to develop guidelines related to ensure digital wellness and regulate screen time in infants, children and adolescents.

An Expert Committee constituted by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics (IAP) reviewed the literature and existing guidelines. A detailed review document was circulated to the members, and the National consultative meet was held online on March 26, 2021.

It was recommended that children aged below two should not be exposed to any type of screen. Exposure should be limited to a maximum of one hour of supervised screen time per day for children 24–59 months old, and less than two hours per day for children five to 10 years old. 

Screen time must not replace other activities such as outdoor physical activities, sleep, family and peer interaction, studies, and skill development, which are necessary for overall health and development of the children and adolescents.

Families should ensure a warm, nurturing, supportive, fun filled and secure environment at home, and monitor their children’s screen use to ensure that the content being watched is educational, age-appropriate and non-violent. 

What can Schools, Parents do to Stem the Crisis

Set Limits on Screen Time: “Parents have to be much with younger children and not expose them to screen-based activities. Children aged 10 to 15 years also need to be monitored as they can be exposed to content that is not appropriate, and full of negativity,” says Mini Rao.

Implement the 20-20-20 Rule: After every 20 minutes of screen time, they should look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. This simple habit can alleviate eye strain and reduce the risks of long-term damage to eyesight.

Encourage Real-world Activities: Encourage children to go out and play with friends, engage in physical, outdoor activities. Implement technology-free times. For instance, ask everyone to put away their gadgets during meal times, before bedtime and during social activities or events. “As a parent, I am strict that dinner has to be quality time spent with the family without any devices. It’s a time for everyone to share what happened during the day and reconnect with each other,” says Rao. 

Model Healthy Behaviour:  If parents spend time glued to their gadgets, children are more likely to copy their behaviour. Schedule device-free times with the family. “Promoting digital wellbeing begins with parents. Positive parenting programme teaches parents how to encourage children to engage in art, music, theatre, or physical activity, which indirectly prevents children from indulging in online activities,” says Dr Suresh Kumar.

Avoid using Screens as Rewards: Do not use screen time as a reward as children then associate it with pleasure, achievement and comfort and view it as a desirable activity. Children also begin to expect screen time whenever they have completed a task, which makes it difficult for parents to regulate screen time.

Keep Phones out of Classrooms: Do not allow children to bring any electronic devices to school.  Even if children are allowed to bring phones to school, the devices should be kept out of classrooms. 

Create a Fun, Interactive Learning Environment: Smile Foundation has been working to make classrooms more vibrant and also to upskill teachers. We believe that an exciting and fun learning environment contributes towards a positive and energetic interaction that in turn enables children to understand easily and retain the concepts well. We provide sports materials, musical instruments, speaker systems, etc. at 18 locations as part of our education initiative.

The Foundation has also created teacher training sessions to update and upgrade the teaching learning techniques and methodologies in teachers and help classrooms become more interactive, vibrant and fun. The programmes have dealt with inquiry-based and activity-based learning, classroom management, child pedagogy and multilevel child centric teaching. 

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Education

Scholarships lend a helping hand to students

Why should all our actions be children-centred?
Why should all our actions be children-centred?

Every year, when board exam results are declared, we hear inspiring stories of young children from disadvantaged sections of society who have braved all odds to achieve academic success. However, for many youngsters from low-income families, access to higher education remains a distant dream. And that’s where scholarships, offered by the central and state governments or charitable foundations and individuals, play a vital role in helping needy students continue with their education, thereby leading to the upliftment of the family unit itself.

What are scholarships and how do they help?

A scholarship is a financial award given by an organisation, institution or person that helps students pay for their education. Deserving students are chosen to be recipients of scholarships on the basis of academic excellence, any other talent or financial needs. As far as students from low-income families are concerned, educational scholarships are a boon, helping them continue their studies and launch their careers.

These are some of the ways in which educational scholarships benefit students as well as their families.

Provides access to education

Scholarships help cover tuition fees and related expenses, making higher education and courses in prestigious institutions accessible to students who might otherwise be unable to afford it. 

“Though children from low-income groups may have huge aspirations, they are challenged due to a lack of money or resources,” says Sethulakshmi, managing director, Sethu Foundation, which also offers scholarships to less privileged students. “They have a sense of direction after interacting with teachers and mentors but have no resources to realise their dreams.

For instance, theymay want to tutor themselves better to clear a competitive exam, may want to join the army, or learn to become an accomplished artist or singer, but are unable to hone their skills as they can’t pay for the lessons. That’s why scholarships are very important; they help students follow their preferred career paths.”

Reduces financial burden

Scholarships reduce the financial strain on families. They enable students to focus on academics rather than stressing about money, which helps them do better academically. Parents are also motivated to send their children to schools/ colleges as it doesn’t drain their financial resources.

Better job opportunities and improved economic mobility

With financial help, students can pursue higher studies, which in turn may lead to better job opportunities and salaries. This also helps the family unit as they can support their parents and help siblings access higher education.

“Scholarships can transform the lives of students and improve their socio-economic status. It helps students from low-income groups graduate from elite institutions,” says S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice chancellor of SASTRA University, Thanjavur. “It also benefits their families as they become earning members. And society at large benefits as the family is the smallest micro-economic unit.”

SASTRA University also offers need-based scholarships to students. “Some are internally funded, others are channelised through donations that we get. We identify deserving students and ensure that the scholarship money reaches them,” says Vaidhyasubramaniam.

Supports diversity

By enabling students from various backgrounds attend educational institutions, scholarships promote a more inclusive and diverse learning environment in schools and colleges.

Helps skill development

Some scholarships also offer mentorship and support programmes that connect students with professionals and peers in their areas of study. This helps enhance the skills and employability of students, improving their chances of landing jobs and doing better in the workforce.

Fosters sense of empowerment

Receiving a scholarship can boost a student’s confidence and self-esteem. It also encourages them to aspire for greater achievements. “Getting a scholarship and being able to study at a good educational institution boosts the self-confidence of students, and also catalyses and accelerates career progress,” says Vaidhyasubramaniam.

Government educational scholarships for the less privileged

There are several scholarships that are available for Indian students from low-income families such as the National Means-cum-Merit Scholarship Scheme (NMMSS), launched in 2008, which awards scholarships to meritorious students of economically weaker sections to arrest their drop out at class VIII and encourage them to continue their education at the secondary stage.

Offered by the Ministry of Education, the Central Sector Scheme of Scholarships for College and University Students supports undergraduate students from low-income families. The Post-Matric Scholarship for SC/ST Students aims to appreciably increase the Gross Enrolment Ratio of SC students in higher education with a focus on those from the poorest households, by providing financial assistance at post-matriculation or post-secondary stage to enable them to complete their education.

Private sector, Nonprofits chip in

Many companies that have education as part of their CSR programmes also offer scholarships.

HDFC Bank Parivartan’s Educational Crisis Scholarship Support (ECSS) Programme aims to support meritorious and needy students belonging to underprivileged sections of society. It is meant for school students from Class 1 to 12 and those pursuing diploma, ITI, polytechnic, UG and PG (general and professional) programmes. Under the ECSS programme, students who are unable to bear the cost of education due to personal/family crises or any other financial problems and are at a risk of dropping out are provided with monetary assistance of up to INR 75,000 for their studies.

HDFC Bank Educational Crisis Scholarship Support assists students facing financial difficulties due to unforeseen circumstances, helping them continue their education.

The Sitaram Jindal Foundation Scholarship, a merit-cum-means scholarship programme, provides financial aid to deserving and meritorious students from underprivileged families. It is open for students studying in all courses.

What about us?

Smile Foundation operates educational scholarships projects in collaboration with esteemed donors, including Deutsche Bank, Quantiphi, Quest Global, and Siemens. These projects collectively benefit thousands of students.

The Foundation is committed to the long-term success of its scholars. A retention strategy is in place, including the regular review of academic performance, counselling services and mentoring. Some key features of these scholarship projects are:

Financial Assistance: They offer scholarships for the four-year duration of the engineering course, covering the tuition fee and ensuring that economic constraints do not impede their academic progress.

Learning Tools: Each scholarship recipient is provided with a laptop and other essential resources, ensuring that they have the technology required for online learning and research.

Employability Skills: The programme provides training in employability and communication, and internships to equip scholars with the skills required to not just graduate but to thrive in the competitive world.

Industry Exposure: Smile Foundation helps students visit the sites, offices, and different departments of potential employers based on their interests, education, and industry needs.

Domain Skills: Scholars are also provided with domain/technical skills training based on industry needs and in alignment with their chosen fields in the second year of the course.

Placement Assistance: Provides placement assistance in the fourth year of the course and helps the scholars with aptitude tests, mock tests, and mock interviews.

The path forward

“Many organisations have an earmarked CSR budget that they spend on education. There are other charities that also look at funding education for the less privileged. However, on one hand you have these organisations searching for good avenues where they can spend this money. On the other hand, you have institutions that are not fully aware of the opportunities available,” says Vaidhyasubramaniam.

That’s because many Indians believe in silent philanthropy, he says. “We have to make it a little noisier to make sure deserving people have access to it. But how do we familiarise and popularise these initiatives as these are people who don’t advertise?” he asks. “Some of them do their due diligence and reach out to credible institutions, honestly disbursing funds to deserving people. But amplifying silent philanthropy is a challenge.”

Categories
Education

Bagless Days to Reduce Burden on Children

Bagless Days to Reduce Burden on Children
Bagless Days to Reduce Burden on Children

Every day, Soumya Karanth and her husband accompany their children downstairs to the bus-stop where the school van comes to pick them up. “My son is 12 and daughter is eight years old, but their school bags are heavy, so we carry them till the van,” says 38-year-old Soumya, a resident of Velachery, Chennai. “But once they reach the school, they have to carry everything. My son has to climb three floors to reach his classroom and sometimes complains of backache.”

Weighed down by academics

Children carrying heavy backpacks to school are a common sight in India. Since it can have an adverse impact on health, the issue has been debated upon for years, bringing it to the attention of policymakers. 

According to guidelines issued by the Ministry of Education, the weight of a school bag should not exceed 10% of the child’s body weight. So, if a child weighs 30kg, the weight of the school bag should not be more than 3kg. But most school bags weigh way more, which can have dire consequences.

The loss of life and love

In 2013, India Today reported that a Class 6 student of a school in East Delhi school “fell to his death after losing balance while leaning over a railing due to the weight of his near-13 kg bag”.

“I see children as young as four complaining about neck or shoulder pain. When I speak to them, I find that there is no history of injury or poor posture while sleeping but they have to carry heavy bags to school,” says paediatrician Benny Benjamin. “Older children often tell me that they are forced to carry heavy bags up several flights of stairs.”

This can cause pain, sprains, secondary posture problems (as the child walks bent forward to balance the weight) and can result in falls, says Dr Benjamin.

According to a report in The News Minute, in 2015, a Maharashtra government appointed committee submitted a report to the Bombay High Court, which showed that over 58% of school students below the age of 10 suffer from orthopaedic ailments due to carrying heavy school bags.

In low-income communities of rural areas, where kids often face malnutrition and lack access to healthy diets, carrying heavy school bags can make it really tough for them to attend school regularly. This is especially hard for those who get tired easily and have to walk long distances or switch transportation modes to reach school.

Packing the bag is a ritual that puts stress on the whole family unit. “We sit with the timetable every day to ensure that our children take the right books to school or else they will get punished,” says Soumya. 

NEP – vocational education and bagless days

But the winds of change are blowing. In July 2020, the Union Cabinet of India approved the National Education Policy (NEP), which aims to overhaul the country’s educational system and bring about reforms at the school and college level.

NEP, which aims to introduce at least 50% students to vocational education, introduced the concept of having 10 ‘bagless days’ every academic year for children in classes 6 to 8. The aim is to use those days to promote experiential learning, engage students in hands-on activities and organise field trips.

Recently, the Ministry of Education reviewed the National Council for Educational Research and Training (NCERT) guidelines for implementing bagless days in schools, with the intention of finetuning them further. 

The PSS Central Institute of Vocational Education (PSSCIVE), a unit of NCERT, has developed comprehensive guidelines to implement bagless days. These include incorporating activities such as quizzes, sports, arts and skill-based learning. According to various newspaper reports, students will be exposed to activities outside the classroom, such as visits to monuments, vegetable markets, biogas plants and solar energy parks; doodling, kite-making and sitting under banyan trees.

Schools, NGOs state governments swing into action

While many schools across India continue to burden children with heavy school bags, a few educational institutions have begun cutting down on the number of books children have to carry to school and also introduced bagless days.

An Indian Certificate of Secondary Education (ICSE) school on Old Mahabalipuram Road, Chennai, for instance, conducts bagless days thrice a year. “We plan activities for children on those days based on their skills and interests,” says a school spokesperson.

Adarsh Vidya Mandir School in Jaipur became fully digitised last year, so students do not have to carry textbooks and heavy school bags.

NGOs like ours also does its bit towards making the lives of children easier. Smile Foundation helps underserved children have access to equal opportunities for school completion. We design our learning programmes of Mission Education initiative in alignment with NEP and facilitates holistic learning and development. Children are exposed to vocational learning and introduced to organic farming techniques, recycling of used clean clothes to make socially useful products, organic production of essential oils and other daily use products and small-scale domestic repair and maintenance.

Leading by example

State governments have been taking steps to implement bagless days. Last year, the Karnataka state government took steps to reduce the burden of school bags by cutting 50% of textbooks for students of classes 1 to 10 from the academic year 2024-25 by issuing textbooks twice in an academic year.

Last July, the Puducherry government decided to introduce at least 10 bagless days every academic year in government, government-aided and private schools in the union territory.

The hope

It’s made life easier for parents and children. “My twin daughters went to Pallikoodam, a school established by educator and women’s rights activist Mary Roy,” says Smitha Thomas, who lives in Kottayam, Kerala.  “It’s an alternative learning school till class 8 and, for higher classes, Saturdays were bagless days when they would learn life skills such as carpentry. My daughters really looked forward to those days.”

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