We have not yet seen the end of the monsoon here. Even though it has been raining everyday, there is some sunshine between showers. After a break of nearly four months, it is time for me to get back to gardening.
Every year, after the heavy rains, the garden looks haggard and unkempt because of the lack of attention. With every passing year, it has been getting more and more difficult to find someone to pull out the weeds and do the other menial tasks. This year, as I was mulling over some probable candidates, I thought of N.
Though he looks to be about 15, N is 18 years old. I know that because about 2-3 years ago, I saw his date of birth on his marks card. Class 10 results were out and N was refusing to go to school to check his results. Someone told his dad that these days, one could check them online and he came to me with the register number, requesting me to check N's 'pass-fail'.
Of course, I wasn't expecting great marks, but I didn't think N would be this bad! It was one of the toughest moments of my life.... to look at N's dad's face and tell him that his son had scored 61 out of 625 in Class 10. Well.... after that N refused to have anything to do with studies. He started working as an odd-job man, thus adding Rs.250/ day to his family's income.
N came here on a day when I couldn't afford to hover around as he was working. After giving him very detailed instructions, I could only hope that he would follow them correctly.
One of the customs in this town is to provide mid-morning and evening tea to people who work for you. As I gave him his tea, I checked out on how N was progressing. To my relief, he was doing quite well. Suddenly, I realised the logic behind one of the govt.'s educational policies that I don't quite agree with.....................................
In Karnataka, all students in all govt. schools are promoted from Class 1 until they reach Class 10, irrespective of their performances in examinations. The freebies (uniforms, books, meals, and, a bicycle during the mid-term of Class 9) along with the absence of the pressure to pass guarantees that almost every child goes to school till he/ she turns 14 - the legal age for children to start working.
Since the intention/ end result of all these incentives seems to be the eradication of child labour, I guess, I will have to accept the 'pass everyone' policy. If only there was some other way to stop child labour.....
Since N lives nearby, he cycled down to his duties here. I got my first close look at the 'free cycle'.
Initially, bicycles were given only to girls from BPL families. Soon after, all the boys & girls studying in govt. schools were included in the scheme. This basic model from 'Atlas Cycles' has been the favoured model thro' the years.
The present govt. is continuing this scheme, with some changes. Boys will be given blue-coloured bicycles and girls, brown. Schools will soon stock air-pumps and some bicycle spare parts. And, of course, some crores have already been set aside.
Now, if you do some arithmetic, you will realise that there is a large difference between the estimated cost and the actual cost involved. More arithmetic including other states with such schemes will make you wonder if our economy will ever look up.... As it is, the govt. is cheating the tax-payer by churning out large numbers of knowledge-challenged children from its schools year after year. Do they have to over-charge us for the bicycles? I can only imagine the irregularities involved with the costs of uniforms, books, etc....
Anyway...... I was quite happy with N's work. He had followed my instructions perfectly. Unfortunately, this feeling of contentment was not mutual. Nothing to do with me or the job, of course! Apparently, some of N's ex-classmates - on their way to college- saw him at work (Wonder what happened to their bicycles!). The boys jeered and the girls giggled, upsetting him thoroughly.
N has now decided not to take up such 'demeaning jobs'. He has already petitioned his dad for an auto-rickshaw. You don't have to pass Class 10 to get a license to drive an auto-rickshaw. So, all I can do until next year is hope that the boy changes his mind/ attitude.....
Every year, after the heavy rains, the garden looks haggard and unkempt because of the lack of attention. With every passing year, it has been getting more and more difficult to find someone to pull out the weeds and do the other menial tasks. This year, as I was mulling over some probable candidates, I thought of N.
Though he looks to be about 15, N is 18 years old. I know that because about 2-3 years ago, I saw his date of birth on his marks card. Class 10 results were out and N was refusing to go to school to check his results. Someone told his dad that these days, one could check them online and he came to me with the register number, requesting me to check N's 'pass-fail'.
Of course, I wasn't expecting great marks, but I didn't think N would be this bad! It was one of the toughest moments of my life.... to look at N's dad's face and tell him that his son had scored 61 out of 625 in Class 10. Well.... after that N refused to have anything to do with studies. He started working as an odd-job man, thus adding Rs.250/ day to his family's income.
N came here on a day when I couldn't afford to hover around as he was working. After giving him very detailed instructions, I could only hope that he would follow them correctly.
One of the customs in this town is to provide mid-morning and evening tea to people who work for you. As I gave him his tea, I checked out on how N was progressing. To my relief, he was doing quite well. Suddenly, I realised the logic behind one of the govt.'s educational policies that I don't quite agree with.....................................
In Karnataka, all students in all govt. schools are promoted from Class 1 until they reach Class 10, irrespective of their performances in examinations. The freebies (uniforms, books, meals, and, a bicycle during the mid-term of Class 9) along with the absence of the pressure to pass guarantees that almost every child goes to school till he/ she turns 14 - the legal age for children to start working.
Since the intention/ end result of all these incentives seems to be the eradication of child labour, I guess, I will have to accept the 'pass everyone' policy. If only there was some other way to stop child labour.....
Since N lives nearby, he cycled down to his duties here. I got my first close look at the 'free cycle'.
Initially, bicycles were given only to girls from BPL families. Soon after, all the boys & girls studying in govt. schools were included in the scheme. This basic model from 'Atlas Cycles' has been the favoured model thro' the years.
The present govt. is continuing this scheme, with some changes. Boys will be given blue-coloured bicycles and girls, brown. Schools will soon stock air-pumps and some bicycle spare parts. And, of course, some crores have already been set aside.
Now, if you do some arithmetic, you will realise that there is a large difference between the estimated cost and the actual cost involved. More arithmetic including other states with such schemes will make you wonder if our economy will ever look up.... As it is, the govt. is cheating the tax-payer by churning out large numbers of knowledge-challenged children from its schools year after year. Do they have to over-charge us for the bicycles? I can only imagine the irregularities involved with the costs of uniforms, books, etc....
Anyway...... I was quite happy with N's work. He had followed my instructions perfectly. Unfortunately, this feeling of contentment was not mutual. Nothing to do with me or the job, of course! Apparently, some of N's ex-classmates - on their way to college- saw him at work (Wonder what happened to their bicycles!). The boys jeered and the girls giggled, upsetting him thoroughly.
N has now decided not to take up such 'demeaning jobs'. He has already petitioned his dad for an auto-rickshaw. You don't have to pass Class 10 to get a license to drive an auto-rickshaw. So, all I can do until next year is hope that the boy changes his mind/ attitude.....
I guess it is quite embarrassing and humiliating to face such situations! But the fact is without such people, we can't afford to lead a comfortable life. Cobblers, sweepers, the guy mentioned here.. They all have their own position.. We can't do much about their situation and have no rights to comment on their jobs or force anyone to take up the job if they are not willing to.. But as a token of appreciation or gratitude, a THANK YOU at the end of their job can certainly give them the much needed self respect and the inferiority complex will surely be diminished..
ReplyDeleteEvery worker knows that the employer is grateful for his help. It is the attitude of people who laugh at menial jobs that should change...
DeleteVery much! They don't realise the fact that without those MENIAL jobs done, their HI5 life cannot be enjoyable!
DeleteThanks, Sudarshan :)
ReplyDeleteThere are garment factories ,printing press,etc here in Manipal, hundreds of girls work there thogh the salary is not that great because they feel house work is demeaning.
ReplyDeleteYes... that's the situation here as well..
DeleteI wonder what N will have to say if he eventually gets his auto rickshaw and a group of his ex-classmates come as his passengers....
ReplyDeleteWhen that happens, N will feel one up on them :)
ReplyDelete