It is our learning that risk of alcohol, narcotics and similar substancesis great in the lives of children from the scheduled caste and scheduled tribes on account of environmental and social factors. Realising the potential damage on their future, with the involvement of the Panchayat authorities, we recently launched Nisagandhi project to be functional in thescheduled caste/tribe colonies or other habitations. The scheme envisages fruitful use of the evening after-school time of children in classes 5-12. During the evenings the school going children will stay with a sufficiently educated resident social worker in their own hamlet and practise sports, games, school lessons and exercises, additional reading etc. The children will be freed and made available to their parents at around 8 p.m.Arrangements for snacks and other essential amenities are available.The activities of each such centre will be monitored by Committees of parents of the students. The programme was officially launched at Anthamon Kalayapuram in the presence of Panchayat functionaries. Efforts are on to extend it to 19 more habitations.
