http://www.ashanet.org/berkeley/projects/Prasanna/
Prasanna Jyothi,
Door 103, Puttanahalli
Kothanur Village,
J.P. Nagar, 7th Phase,
Bangalore - 78
This is a place housing
destitute and orphan girls. Currently there are about 18 girls from age group 4
years to 18 years. By next year the Trust plans to house about 25 girls. The
trust started in June 1988. Some of the first set of girls supported and
brought up by the trust are still with PJ. Asha has been funding for the education
and living of the children in PJ.
The children go to English
medium schools. Small children are dropped and picked in an auto rickshaw hired
by PJ. Big girls manage with the public transportation buses. A couple of girls are pursuing 3 year
Diploma in Computer Science. They intended to continue their studies doing an
Engineering course. One girl is awaiting CET counseling. We learnt that PJ
graduated a couple of girls and helped them in getting jobs. The girls are no
more staying with PJ as they have found their way of living independently. PJ’s
policy is to support and bring up the child, educate them, help them to get a
job and stand on their own. Once the girl finds a job, she may continue to stay
with PJ for some time till she arranges for her own accommodation and lives
independently.
Back in PJ, the housing
environment is calm and clean. There is a cook and a warden, who stay with them
full time and take care of the children. There is also a watchman who is
accommodated in a shed outside for their security. Generally children are
healthy. Their day starts at 5:30 in
the morning with a prayer followed by their routine work to get ready to
schools. They are given breakfast before they start to schools. They are packed
with lunch box. They are given snacks when they return back home (PJ). They go to study room and come back
for dinner at 8:30. While at home the bigger girls wear a full covering salwar
kameez only and no other dress.
The bigger girls are taught to take care and maintain their own
things like washing their clothes, keeping their premises clean. In addition
they help in the kitchen, garden and they help the small girls too. Some of
these girls are the toppers in their class. One diploma girl is awarded 50% fee
scholarship by the college for her good academic scores. The visitors need not
bother about the language to converse with the girls. Their spoken English is
too good. They also speak in Kannada, Tamil, Hindi and they understand Telugu.
Many have chosen Sanskrit as their first language in high school.
Apart from their studies and
their daily routine tasks, they possess good talent of craftwork. They make
greeting cards, paintings, wall decorations, show pieces, garlands out of
artificial flowers etc.
Needless to say they have not
left the field of music unexplored. They sing and dance. They are given classes
in classical vocal music /Bhajans every week. They are also taught dance
whenever they are called to perform at festival times in certain places like
Nirguna Mandir – a Meditation Centre run by their Parent Organization, viz.,
Prasanna Trust. They recently had performed for Gokulaashtami in Nirguna Mandir in Koramangala. One can see
cups and certificates and medals in living room at PJ given in appreciation to
their talent. The children also volunteer and help their schools in decorating
the premises etc during festive season and other occasions.
Girls are not only taught to
be self-reliant, they are taught Karate too for self-protection and defense.
They are not given pocket
money as the trust takes care of all their expenses. In addition every year the
children are taken out of Bangalore on a short trip. We were told that the
girls understand the value of every paisa they are sponsored. They are very
serious about their education and make full use of the opportunity they are
given. Few girls also said they are inclined to do some service to the society
once they stand up independently.
The smiles and their comforts
make us believe that the children are happy living in PJ. They are very
friendly.
Mrs. Sundari Srinivasan and her colleague Mrs. Rathna maintain their motherhood on these children teaching them the wonders of life and bringing them to live. Mrs. Sundari is happy that their efforts show good returns in the form of a good performance by the children both academically and socially.