Date:30/03/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/03/30/stories/2008033053790400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

It’s camping time for poor children

Bageshree S.

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan will hold summer camps for poor children

— Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

FUN AND CREATIVITY: A file picture of children attending a workshop on soft skills at a summer camp.

Bangalore: Summer camps need not be the exclusive privilege of children whose parents can pay hefty registration fees. Starting April 16, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) is starting summer camps for approximately 1.5 lakh poor children across the State.

Called “Chaitrada Chiguru”, it will have children participating in a host of activities, ranging from learning games to singing, dancing and mask-making till June 15. Folk arts of the specific regions in which the camps are held will be given special focus, with local folk artistes being invited to the camp at least twice a week.

The camps, being held for the first time by SSA, will start in the morning and go on till around 3 p.m., with lunch being served at the camp in between.

There will be some residential camps where children stay through the day. A teacher and a resource person will monitor the activities in each camp. SSA has come out with guidelines for co-ordinators and is holding a series of orientation programmes for them.

SSA State Project Director Nandita Sharma told The Hindu that the camp would be for out-of-school children identified under Chinnara Angala summer course programme which offers bridge courses to mainstream them.

Children who were part of Kalika Andolana, a remedial teaching programme for slow learners held between November and March across the State, will join the camps.

“This will bring out the talent in children and help in personality development. On the other hand, it will make school an attractive place”.

Children who participate in the camps will be given opportunities to showcase the arts they have learnt. “They will be provided platforms in functions organised by the School Development and Monitoring Committees or the local administration,” says Ms. Sharma.

“Children should not be deprived this opportunity because of their social and economic backgrounds,” she says.