Linking Home with School

The NPMU had written to State Programme Directors & Education Secretaries to celebrate Diwali in schools along with communities. A feedback received from Mr. Prem Chandra Kesari of Bihar is being reproduced here.

Diwali Celebration in Schools

17th October was the last day of the VEC Training Workshop for Mayurmach Panchayat of Mohanpur Block (District Deoghar). The training was held in the Ghormara Panchayat area. Presidents of all the six schools of Ghormara also participated in the training workshop. The participants decided to celebrate Diwali in schools by lighting lamps. One of the resource persons suggested that before lighting lamps, participants should clean the schools. So finally, the decision was taken to celebrate Diwali in schools with cleanliness drive on 18th October.

Each member of the micro-planning team took responsibility to visit the villages. Participation of VEC members, teachers and students was ensured in cleaning the schools. On 19th October which was Diwali day, celebrations started from 5 pm. in each village. Children, in particular, participated more enthusiastically in the celebrations. Lamps were brought from each home to the school and lit in the school premises. The Presidents took the lead in lighting lamps and decorating the schools. Children burst crackers.

It is important to note that even the schools in Muslim-dominated areas, such as Paradol, celebrated Diwali with the same enthusiasm. Teachers from the neighbouring schools also participated in these celebrations. The team members stayed in the villages on Diwali night and celebrated Diwali with the villagers. The villagers informed that on Diwali night no gambling took place in the village. Whereas earlier, village youth invariably indulged in gambling on Diwali days, this Diwali celebration in schools helped in checking this bad practice.

Prem Chandra Kesari
Micro-Planning Team
District Deoghar
Bihar