Cargill India partners with Agrasar and launches a program in Sikandarpur
Gurgaon has witnessed stupendous growth over last decade and a half with the best national and international schools setting up 
branches to cater to the children of the privileged class. However, beneath the tall skyscrapers and glittering vicinity, the Millennium City of India has a gloomy side as well. There is a huge inconsistency in the city when it comes to education. Thousands of children in Gurgaon, between the age group of 4 to 14 are not even enrolled in schools. These are the children of migrant workers – maids, driver, rickshaw-pullers, vegetable sellers, construction workers, etc.
In a one-of-a-kind initiative, Cargill India has partnered with Agrasar,a non-profit organization working in the field of human capital development and social security of the disadvantaged communities in India,with the objective of providing structured learning to underprivileged children in ages 4-14 years, at SikandapurGhosivillage in Gurgaon. With the objective of boosting their morale and setting up the foundation for further psycho-social development, 60 children initially will be enrolled in the first three months at the AgrasarBachpanlearning centre.
Speaking on the significance of the initiative, Ayan Dutta, Managing Director, TSF and Treasurer, Cargill India, said, “Offering non-school-going children the opportunity to participate in a structured learning process will build their confidence, empowering their social development with a strong educational foundation.” He further added, “The program has been designed to go beyond academic learning and seeks to nurture the all-round development and growth of underprivileged children.”
Speaking on the need for an initiative like AgrasarBachpan, in a village like Sikandarpur, PreritRana, Co-founder and CEO, Agrasarsaid, “The village has a high population of migrants; 20000 by conservative estimates. They have migrated from the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh etc. Around 60% of the migrants are staying with families. Around 10% of the children (age 6 to 14) of migrants are not even enrolled in schools, owing to factors such as seasonal movement, distance for small children, both parents working from 7am in the morning till late in the evening and thus having no time for children, admissions denied by the government schools etc.”
AgrasarBachpan program is designed to follow a ‘child-centric approach’. The teachers will be trained in facilitation skills, group-learning theory, use of Teaching-Learning Materials, and other principles/methods of effective learning. Importantly, Parents, especially mothers of all children, will undergo developmental classes so that they can actively participate in learning and holistic development of their wards.
