Bal Shishu Niketan

BAL SHISHU NIKETAN or BSN was the first project of HRDF, started in 1990. Designed as a child resource center, it was started in the newly constructed house of the Founder, in village Nadwasarai, tehsil Ghosi, district Mau, Uttar Pradesh, INDIA. To begin with, it was started as a Nursery-cum-Primary school, up to class V, which was subsequently recognized by the District Education Department of Mau, U.P. Over the years the school was upgraded up to VIII class and the building was gradually built up to three stories to meet the growing number of students.

The BSN is a co-educational institution with nearly 350 students, who come from nearly a dozen adjoining villages. The students are a happy mix of children from various religions, casts and communities. Nearly 30% are girls and nearly 15% of the children enjoy free education.

The main objective of the BSN is to provide quality education to children in a rural setting. Over the years we have conducted here a large number of science-based workshops for teachers and students on a variety of topics: low-cost teaching aids; do-it-yourself science experiments; learning mathematics through origami; explaining the scientific basis of miracles; growing plants by hydroponics; solid-waste utilization through vermin-composting; and communication and advocacy. All these activities give considerable exposure to the students and allow them to meet well-known resource persons from all over the country.

The school has a Hall, a Guest Room, a Library, and a Gymnasium for indoor games. We have also built a big Hall on the first floor to serve as a Science Resource Center for the districts of eastern U.P. This is yet to be equipped. We also intend to start a Toy Bank for Nursery children; introduce computer education with Internet facility; and start vocational training for boys, girls and women. Another program-in-waiting is the construction of a Planetarium for sky watching by local students, children, men and women. The BSN also needs to have a TV, a VCR, educational cassette, CD-Rom and related equipment. To ensure uninterrupted power supply, we need to install solar panels. Besides, we intend to set up at least five Nursery-cum-Primary schools in adjoining villages for under-privileged children. Much of this expansion is held up due to financial constraints.

The idea is to develop BSN into a model institution for modern education in a predominantly rural setting. We envisage expenditure of the order of Rs 4,000,000 or approximately US $ 100,000 for this program. We shall be happy if some philanthropist or philanthropic institution comes forward to donate this amount to ensure modern education for under-privileged children. We would also like some donors to sponsor the education of poor children at Rs 3,600 (US $ 80) per child per year.