Just eight kilometers from the Uttarakhand Police Headquarters in Dehradun, Premnagar Police Station has been doubling up as a day-care for under-privileged children.
Under the guidance of SI Mukesh Tyagi and Aasraa NGO, a successful day-care school has been running in the forecourt of the police station for months. Teachers here introduce children from 4-12 year olds to the world of literacy in two shifts which begin at 9:30 a.m. and wrap up around 3:30.
SI Mukesh tells us, “few months ago this NGO approached us asking for help regarding a place to teach the children, I suggested them to put up a temporary shed and started this day-care within the safety of the police station. We initially started with ten students in the month of March but now have close to fifty students.”
Seeing the initiative of the local police, many people volunteered to help. Now, these children not only get free education but their stationary, uniform, a pick up and drop facility and other expenses are taken care off by like-minded people who come from time to time to aid and assist in any which way possible.
This first-of-its-kind school opened within the premises of the police station, is also being seen as an initiative by the police to keep away children who belong to the Nanda-ki-chowki slum, along the Tons river, from anti-social activities.
Today, Mukesh Tyagi and his teams responsibility double up as they beautifully balance the world of crime and the written word giving these young minds an equal opportunity to a better and brighter future.
