Artist runs schools in Gurgaon for underprivileged kids through crowdfunding
The idea of establishing the NGO, Shakuntalam, was conceived when 59-year-old Nalini Bhargava, an artist, saw a group of slum children eagerly looking at children in uniform boarding a schoolbus.
At a time when several organisations are reaching out to economically weaker sections to improve the education of children, an NGO is doing whatever little it can, focusing on two schools in Gurgaon.
The school-- Shakuntalam Shiksha Kendra -- run by the NGO in Sector 23. (HT Photo)
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The idea of establishing the NGO, Shakuntalam, was conceived when 59-year-old Nalini Bhargava, an artist, saw a group of slum children eagerly looking at children in uniform boarding a schoolbus.
“I was on a morning walk and saw a four-year-old girl and her little brother wistfully watching children in school uniform boarding a schoolbus. On enquiring, I realised that these two kids were eager to go to school, but circumstances prevented them from being able to pursue it. I went on to meet their parents who were daily wage labourers,” Bhargava said.
With crowdfunding, Bhargava managed to start the NGO. The project started with two schools known as Shakuntalam Shiksha Kendra in Rajeev Nagar and Sector 23. As many as 110 children attend these schools where they are taught life skills and personal hygiene, and reading, writing lessons before they can join regular schools.
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Bhargava also generates funds by selling her paintings.
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Bhargava also generates funds by selling her paintings.
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Having helped more than 14 children join private and government schools, Shakuntalam provides financial assistance to students till they complete their schooling.
“The major challenge we face is the irregularity in attendance. There are times when we have only 30-35 kids in the schools and there are also few months when we have more than 110 children coming to school.”
There are only 40% students who are regular and their parents are serious about giving them education.
Meenakshi Sen, a student who joined the school at the age of 16, passed her class 10 open school exam with 77%. Now, she takes tuitions for other underprivileged children and she’s preparing to join a bachelor’s course.
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest.
Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents.
Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure.
Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing.
Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity.
Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations.
Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling.
A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.
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