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By:

Shoumojit Banerjee

27 August 2024 at 9:57:52 am

Classroom of Courage

In drought-scarred Maharashtra, a couple’s experiment in democratic schooling is turning child beggars into model citizens In the parched stretches of Maharashtra, from Solapur to the drought-hit villages of Marathwada, a modest social experiment has quietly unfolded for nearly two decades. It is neither a grand government scheme nor a corporate-backed charity. Since 2007, the Ajit Foundation, founded by Mahesh and Vinaya Nimbalkar, has worked with children living at the sharpest edges of...

Classroom of Courage

In drought-scarred Maharashtra, a couple’s experiment in democratic schooling is turning child beggars into model citizens In the parched stretches of Maharashtra, from Solapur to the drought-hit villages of Marathwada, a modest social experiment has quietly unfolded for nearly two decades. It is neither a grand government scheme nor a corporate-backed charity. Since 2007, the Ajit Foundation, founded by Mahesh and Vinaya Nimbalkar, has worked with children living at the sharpest edges of society in Maharashtra. The foundation has become a home for out-of-school children, those who have never enrolled, the children of migrant labourers and single parents, and those who scavenge at garbage dumps or drift between odd jobs. To call their foundation an “NGO” is to miss the point. Vinaya Nimbalkar describes it as a “democratic laboratory”, where education is not merely instruction but an initiation into citizenship. The couple were once government schoolteachers with the Solapur Zilla Parishad, leading stable lives. Yet what they witnessed unsettled them: children who had never held a pencil, begging at traffic signals or sorting refuse for a living. Prompted by this reality, the Nimbalkars resigned their jobs to work full-time for the education of such children. Leap of Faith They began modestly, teaching children in migrant settlements in Solapur and using their own salaries to pay small honorariums to activists. Funds soon ran dry, and volunteers drifted away. Forced out of their home because of their commitment to the cause, they started a one-room school where Vinaya, Mahesh, their infant son Srijan and forty children aged six to fourteen lived together as an unlikely family. The experiment later moved to Barshi in the Solapur district with support from Anandvan. Rural hardship, financial uncertainty and the pandemic repeatedly tested their resolve. At one stage, they assumed educational guardianship of nearly 200 children from families that survived by collecting scrap on the village outskirts. Eventually, the foundation relocated to Talegaon Dabhade near Pune, where it now runs a residential hostel. Twenty-five children currently live and study there. The numbers may seem modest, but the ambition is not. Democracy in Practice What distinguishes the Ajit Foundation is not only who it serves but also how it operates. Within its walls, democracy is practised through a Children’s Gram Panchayat and a miniature Municipal Council elected by the children themselves. Young candidates canvass, hold meetings and present their budgets. Children maintain accounts and share decisions about chores, activities and certain disciplinary matters. In a country where democratic culture is often reduced to voting, the foundation’s approach is quietly radical. It treats children from marginalised backgrounds as citizens in formation. The right to choose — whether to focus on sport, cooking, mathematics or cultural activities — is respected. “We try never to take away what is their own,” says Vinaya Nimbalkar. Rather than forcing every child into a uniform academic mould, individual abilities are encouraged. A boy skilled in daily calculations may not be pushed into hours of bookish study; a girl who excels in cooking may lead the kitchen team. For children who have known only precarity, standing for election, managing a budget or speaking at a meeting can be transformative. On International Women’s Day, the foundation seeks visibility not just for praise but for partnership. If you are inspired by their mission, consider supporting or collaborating—your involvement can help extend opportunities to more children in need.

Global Action Needed to Address Airlines Hoax Calls

Updated: Oct 30, 2024

Airlines Hoax

Hoax calls pose a serious threat to aviation security. Over the last few weeks, India has witnessed dozens of such hoax calls. These calls appear to originate from anti-India Khalistan elements who are operating from Canada, the United States, and the United Kingdom. These threats are conveyed through various channels, including direct messages, emails, and social platforms, including X and Meta, and are orchestrated using platforms headquartered in the U.S. yet easily accessible worldwide. The spread and accessibility of these digital platforms have compounded the challenge of tracing and addressing these threats effectively.


Social media platforms, including X and Meta, must extend cooperation with countries like India in curbing posts such as hoax threats, promoting radicalisation in the name of religion, and luring individuals into risky investments like cryptocurrency. These platforms are rife with fake accounts, which must be systematically identified and eliminated. Additionally, strict verification processes should be implemented, ensuring only authenticated accounts can participate actively.


While countries like the U.S. and Canada already enforce robust regulations against harmful content, similar rules must be extended to India and other nations to prevent double standards. Failing to do so amounts to a tacit endorsement of digital anarchy in emerging economies, with platforms becoming breeding grounds for misinformation and societal disruption. If cooperation remains insufficient, India may be compelled to consider severe restrictions on these platforms, following the precedent set by countries like China, Russia, and Brazil, which have limited or banned access to certain social networks to protect public order and security."


Today, India finds itself increasingly targeted by hoax calls threatening its airlines, a form of disruption that could soon extend to other nations, including those considered technologically advanced. To ensure aviation security and prevent such threats globally, it is essential for every country to actively participate in and support comprehensive measures aimed at curbing this practice. In the unfortunate event of a disaster resulting from such a hoax, citizens from multiple nations would be impacted, underscoring the need for a unified, international approach to address this serious security risk.


Airports and airlines worldwide implement stringent measures to maximise aircraft security, leaving little room for unusual incidents. Despite these precautions, flights are still being diverted and grounded for additional security checks in response to potential threats. These diversions come at a high cost, not only resulting in financial losses amounting to millions of dollars but also consuming the valuable time of passengers. Such interruptions highlight the ongoing challenges in balancing robust security protocols with efficiency and passenger convenience.


Let’s hope that the owners of social media platforms exercise sound judgement and take decisive action against individuals engaging in these harmful pranks.


(The author is a former DGP of Maharashtra. Views personal.)

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