Class act: Cop’s ‘pathshala’ brings smiles on faces of Churu slum kids

Jaipur: It was just another day of duty for constable Dharamveer Jakhar outside a bus stand in Churu back in 2016 when his curious glances spotted some kids sifting through trash. That image shook him so much that he returned home wondering since those kids cannot go to school, if he could bring a school to them.
That was the seed that grew into ‘Aapni Pathshala’ (our school), which helps nearly 200 children of migrant workers from Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar living in the slums of Churu. “I set up classrooms in makeshift huts in the localities where these kids lived. After arranging books for them, I began taking regular classes,” said Jakhar.
To make sure the children regularly attend classes, the constable took the help of charity organizations and began providing food to the children. “We feed 200 kids every day. It costs us about Rs 4,500 every day,” he said, adding that he also runs two school vans to bring children from faraway places to ‘Aapni Pathshala’.
When parents saw some children holding books and going to this school, they too began sending their kids there for education. Soon word spread around about Jakhar’s enterprise with its heart in the service of the downtrodden, and it drew both wider attention and some support.
“We recently achieved a milestone by arranging admission in class 8 for girls from poor families. A private coaching centre has helped provide the fees for the girls,” said Jakhar, adding that one batch of students is already studying at a private school in Jodhpur.
Senior police and administration officials also lauded Jakhar and encouraged him to continue with his mission. “Whenever I go outside Churu and see small kids holding trash instead of books, it pains me to imagine what kind of future they will have. I took a small step in Churu, and I hope more kids are persuaded to take up studies,” said Jakhar.