Sushmita Mondol, (Kolkata)

Sushmita Mondol is a 6 year old child staying in the Chinamandir community of Kolkata in a joint family. Her father, Sri. Bablu Mondol is a daily labour and has a monthly income of Rs.2500/-. Her mother, Smt. Tapashi Mondol takes care of the children at home and makes ‘Thandai’ and earns almost Rs. 300/month. The family has been staying in the Chinamandir community for past 5 years after being evicted from the Naskarhatt slum. They have still not been allotted any quarter from the government and so the family is staying in the camp area in a kutcha house.

Sushmita is the elder daughter in the family. Her sister is almost a year younger than her.

The child was enrolled in the ECD Programme of Aurobindo Chaudhuri Memorial Great Indian Dream Foundation on 15th March’2010. The child’s mother brought her to the centre after she came to know about the programme from the neighborhood. The child’s mother said that the child keeps roaming in the locality throughout the day and has not learnt anything. So, she expected that through the ECD programme her child would be benefitted and she could be enrolled in the formal school.

Sushmita started attending the ECD Programme. Initially, she remained very quiet in the centre. During the first week, she was regularly asked her name by the educator. Gradually, she was asked the name of the other children in the centre and she started becoming friends with others. Gradually, during the learning sessions, teaching was done using the various TLMs. Sushmita enjoyed the story telling sessions and listened to the educator very patiently. She hardly had tiff with any child in the centre. It was very evident that the child was showing interest in the programme and was learning as well. She also participated in the rhymes competition. Sushmita also bagged prizes in the ‘Dress As You Like’ competition in the centre. She has been extended all kinds of support in terms of clothes and books distribution and health check ups. Sushmita is among the first generation learner in her family.

The parents are very happy of the effort given by the educator in preparing her for the mainstreaming. Sushmita has been successfully enrolled in the VIP Nagar Junior High School in Std. III in the month of January’2012. This was possible because of the interest shown by her parents. Her parents have gratefully acknowledged GIDF for the child.

We wish her all the best for her future and hope to continue our support for the child. We are sure that Sushmita would turn up as a very intelligent student and make her parents proud in future.