New Delhi: Peering through a bioscope, drawing on slates, saying their mathematical tables — these are not scenes from a classroom but from makeshift day care centres for the children of labourers working at Commonwealth Games sites in the capital.
Seven-year-old Zainab, whose parents were away working at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, which is a venue for the mega event from October 3 to 14, says she loves coming to the creche.
"I like coming here. I learn mathematical tables and drawings," said the little girl.
These centres are a joint initiative by the NGO Mobile Creches and Sesame Workshop India, the organisation behind the "edutainment" show Galli Galli Sim Sim, which is the Indian version of the internationally popular Sesame Street.
While the centres have been installed by Mobile Creches, the study material and free training for teachers are being provided by Galli Galli Sim Sim.
User-friendly material
"These are mobile centres that have been set up at one corner of the sites. The kids are taught with the user-friendly material through trained teachers. We have a bioscope at the centre where kids are shown the Galli Galli Sim Sim TV show and are educated through the same as well," Sashwati Banerjee, executive director, Sesame Workshop said.
According to Banerjee, these centres have been functioning since 2007, but the ones at the Games sites were set up only when the work began there.
Though many such centres are spread across the city and in other cities as well, for the Games sites, these are located near the Indira Gandhi Stadium, Shivaji Stadium and Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
"It is very nice that these children get to study here or do something productive. Even the parents feel at ease as their children are safe here," Baladevi, a teacher incharge said.
A total of four teachers have been deputed at each centre to take care of nearly 40 children, who visit the creche between 9am and 5pm every day.
"At first, it was extremely difficult to convince the parents to let the children be here till the time they work at the construction site. But they realised that it's a safe option. The girls come here after doing their chores and everyone mingles very well," said the person in charge.
Apart from books, study and entertainment material the creche also provides nutritious food for children as well as periodic check-ups by a doctor for free.
