HT-PACE in association with a City-based non-Governmental organisation (NGO) Samarthan has launched a drive to create awareness about the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission (JNNURM) among school students.
As part of this drive, group discussions were conducted in Bal Bhavan School on Tuesday and St Mary’s Convent S S School and St Thomas S S School, Ayodhya Nagar on Wednesday. Students actively participated in this discussion wherein various aspects of developmental activities in the City were discussed.
Students expressed their concern about increasing pollution, threat due to growing population and traffic problems. These group discussions will culminate into a Inter-School talk show which will be held on January 19, 2007 during the HT-PACE Powerpoint Paper Presentation.
At Bal Bhavan School Shradha of Samarthan gave a presentation on the various features of JNNURM. She said JNNURM was a City-based programme which sought to build capacities for management of our cities. She said cities had the financial muscle and technical resources to rebuild themselves. Her presentation was followed by an interactive session.
Class X student Kumar Shashwat said, “It was a great discussion and I liked it very much as it made me aware of many facts I did not know before. If there are more presentations and discussions like this, we will have more aware citizens who will work for the betterment of society.”
In a similar interaction at St Mary’s Convent S S School social activist Shyam Bohre, who is presently working on governance issues at the panchayat level and has a rich administrative experience, spoke to students about JNNURM. This was followed by an interactive and enlightening session, which was tremendously appreciated by students.
{{/usCountry}}In a similar interaction at St Mary’s Convent S S School social activist Shyam Bohre, who is presently working on governance issues at the panchayat level and has a rich administrative experience, spoke to students about JNNURM. This was followed by an interactive and enlightening session, which was tremendously appreciated by students.
{{/usCountry}}The students felt the session was an eye-opener as they got to know issues that concerned them. Class XI students Jomol Joy and Sushil highlighted issues like polythene hazards, road safety, equitable distribution of resources etc.
After the session at St Thomas S S School, Ayodhya Nagar, Class XII student Swati said, “Action speaks louder than words. Unless and until efforts are put in from our side, implementing plans does not carry any meaning. An aware citizen means a developed country. The more we hear, the more we tend to learn and learning is the first step towards education.”
“In a nutshell, children should follow the rules and laws set by the regulating bodies for its citizens. Small deeds lead to big changes,” said Rini of Class XII.