The Sikrara Model- Swadesh 2.0 for rural kids

Your Knowledge is of no use unless it educate the people and Teaching is not a profession, it’s a duty of nation. Youths of UP are doing such a duty of educating the poor children.

Belonging to the village Lakhesar, Jaunpur, Sikrara, UP, Neha Mishra is a student herself. At the age of 25 years, she is pursuing B.A. Being in the final year of her course, she simultaneously teaches students from her village.  In order to replace classroom teaching for the children in the situation of a pandemic, she realized that the students of rural schools did not have access to digital resources. Thereby she herself stepped forward to teach children and make them educated. By teaching a group of 10 children, she believes that she is serving her nation and her village as well. Her interests and capability have enabled her to be a part of her own initiative.

Young minds like Neha is an icon of Sikrara Model

Led by a teacher, Mr. Shivam Singh, young minds like Neha Mishra, Satyam Tiwari, Kuldeep Vishwakarma, and many more have been teaching such children. In the dire need to be educated amidst the pandemic, these children are being blessed by the priceless efforts of such tutors.

Do watch : Satyam Tiwari, an inspiring icon of sikrara model

By visiting each and every student’s home, they not only teach them but also provide them with adequate educational resources so that they can help themselves. Enthused by the spirit of patriotism and service to their country, these tutors have been tutoring children in the worsening conditions and perhaps ensuring that rural school children are well-educated. When asked on commenting the work he is doing in the current times, Mr. Kuldeep Vishwakarma proudly affirms, “National service does not need any position but only the spirit and the zeal to serve the country and its people!”

Do watch : Kuldeep Vishwakarma views on Sikrara Model

The SIKRARA MODEL

The SIKRARA MODEL is based in the Lakhesar village, Sikrara block, Jaunpur District, Uttar Pradesh. Started in a primary school in the Lakhesar village, Sikrara, UP, the students are taught by these young, bright-minded teachers who are willing to contribute towards the betterment of the country.

With an initiative of educating students of the village primary school, a teacher named Shivam Singh took the responsibility. He first came up with an idea of including the Youth, who were back to the village from cities like Kota, Delhi, Banaras, etc. due to lockdown and pandemic crisis. They were quarantined for a few weeks but when they came back to their home, they were free. Having a sound knowledge base, as some among them were IITians, engineers, aspiring doctors, and teachers, they were best for taking one-hour classes of small groups of children. 

It was the time to help their own people, their village. Shivam made a WhatsApp group, “Assembly of Gods” connecting these volunteers to work with a pace that was proved to be unmatchable. Several people then volunteered, and become a part of this Youth campaign. 

The most important thing that they had in mind was educating the students with just one motivation, “this pandemic can never defeat eduction”.

They managed to get into a big team, and together they helped countless small aspirants who hold the zeal to get knowledge, who loves studying as much as you and I do.

The WhatsApp group was then connected to government platform such as “Diksha” “Mission Prerna”, etc. the valuable lessons were shared via videos and contents, shared through pdfs. 

Youth were now the Guruji, for little students. 

They were studying in small groups by maintaining social distancing and were learning more than they used to do before.

Not only from the books but now the practical examples were there, with the skilled youth. Village children were now able to understand whats going on in the world, through these volunteers who taught them in a non-traditional manner, there were videos and live news, watched through one mobile on 3 or 5 students. They were now learning practical knowledge, out from books but with live examples. Volunteers were happy to share their experiences with these aspiring gold minds.

Mentored by Mr. Shivam Singh, these young tutors have been instructed about several steps to keep in mind. From ways to attract the students to learn and attend classes to how to teach the students in an effective manner, these tutors have been using digital platforms to attain commands from Mr. Singh. The education that they provide to the students living in rural areas is not only based on the syllabus. However, the teachers also provide them vocational training and make them independent.

Do watch : Sikrara Model is mentored by Mr. Shivam Singh, a passionate Govt school teacher

The name Swadesh 2.0 came as an inspiration from the Bollywood movie “SWADES”. The film follows a young Indian who is working overseas with NASA as a scientist. Yet when he decides to return to his village and improve the living conditions there, his journey gets fulfilled. The whole film thereafter recites his journey and the challenges he has to overcome in order to do better for his own village. Similarly, when the teachers who initiated this model returned to their own villages from urban cities, they were determined to change the living conditions in addition to the strain that COVID-19 had imposed on the world. 

This small step became a great movement it was then appreciated by Block Education Officer Mr. Rajeev Kumar Yadav, he even had a virtual meeting with all these volunteers. The BEO appreciated them for their work and motivated the village people to take education as a primary concern. 

This was then taken to a bigger level, it was launched as a pilot project in 20 additional villages. The idea spread like a fire, inspiring and touching the lives of several village students who were left without any concern.

Do watch : Under the leadership of BEO Rajeev Kumar Yadav ji, Skirara Model is visible in more than 20 schools.

Lets support our kids in learning, a dedicated volunteer of Sikrara Model, while helping kids to read their textbooks

Like all other students across the world, Madhu Dubey of class 5 persistently misses going to school. She respects her school and the teachers there and wishes to go to school again post-pandemic.

Do watch : Madhu Dubey, a class 5 student

Even the parents of such children are astonished by the determination and dedication that these young tutors are practising. They feel elated that their children and the village altogether is benefitting from their efforts. Sushila Mishra, mother of a student in the village, believes that these teachers are making these students walk on the right path.

Sushila Mishra, mother of a student in the village

Henceforth, such a situation is existent in almost all villages of the country. While the students in urban areas have full access to mobile phones and laptops, students back in villages like that of Lakhesar are struggling to keep up with what they have studied in the past.

A youth volunteer is trying to engage kids during covid-19 crisis

With the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic, many more students like Madhu Dubey are facing such problems. As much as uncertain this time is, it is also a golden opportunity for those who have access to facilities.

Jaunpur District Collector has also appreciated this effort. Now, this model will be implemented in the whole district and Sikrara BEO will mentor this initiative as a Nodal Officer.

DC Jaunpur lauded this effort in meeting held on 18th August 2020

As Benjamin Franklin rightly said, “Tell me and i’ll forget. Show me and i may remember. Involve me and i learn”. Youth of Sikrara is doing same. They’re involving so that children can be engaged in learning. Not only learning, but their efforts will help to build a strong relationship between school and community. Other may take inspiration from Sikrara. They must contribute to others’ education and help them grow and glow!

About the author: Abhishek Ranjan

Abhishek Ranjan is the Founder and Director of SarkariSchool.IN

5 comments to “The Sikrara Model- Swadesh 2.0 for rural kids”

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  1. Pradeep - September 6, 2020 Reply

    Very well created thought & even better implementation. Such act of dedication is what we wany from educators like you all. Please keep the good work going & develop the skills of young buds. Kudos to all your efforts

  2. Pranav Daga - September 6, 2020 Reply

    Thanks to Sarkari School volunteers. They are doing nice job and educating village kids.

  3. GITA YADAV - September 6, 2020 Reply

    Excellent work..A big congratulations to volunteers as well as their mentor….keep it up.

  4. Hariom Yadav - September 18, 2020 Reply

    लखेसर विद्यालय का पहल वास्तव में समाज के लिए बहुत बड़ा प्रेरणादायक साबित हो रहा है इसमें शामिल होने वाले युवा अपना बहुमूल्य समय देकर कोरोना महामारी का अच्छा फायदा उठाएं हैं और समाज के लिए एक सीख भी दिए मैं हरिओम यादव इस कार्यक्रम में सभी प्रतिभागी को हृदय से बहुत-बहुत धन्यवाद देता हूं और आपके अच्छे उज्जवल भविष्य की ईश्वर से कामना करता हूं आप सर्वदा नेक कार्यों में अपना योगदान यूं ही देते रहें।

  5. SHIVALI JAISWAL - September 22, 2020 Reply

    Superb initiative keep doing n motivate others

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