"I am a painter working on daily wages..I am earning for the past ten years to help the poor children for education" said Mr Ajai Gosh (37) hailing from a poor family.  Due to poverty, Mr Gosh did not have even formal primary  education, but pushed into work even at the age of eight to earn money.  For nearly three decades, he has been working as a painter, working on the huge hoardings in the city.  He does not want any poor children should be deprived of primary education like him.  For nearly 10 years, he has been providing primary education to the poor children.  He does not have even a phone.  He feels that the money he may spend on phone could be used for helping one or two children.  In an exclusive interview to India Vision, he expalins his humble services to the society.  Excerpt from his interview :

Q:  Since how you long you are doing this service and what made you to do this type of service?

A:  I hail from a poor family.  Due to poverty, I did not go to school.  I started going to work at the age of eight.  I am a painter and paint banners, hoardings, boards, etc.   I donot want any children to refrain from education for want of funds. 

Q:  Who are assisting you in your task?

A:  Presently, we have a small school with 25 children and we give LKG and UKG education to these children, at Thorappakkam, in the outskirts of Chennai.  My sister Vijayakumari (45) and my wife Sundari (27) are helping me to run this school.  They administer the school and take classes also.  We  have one teacher and one servant maid.

Q: Which are the areas in the City you have covered  so far?

A:  First in 1995, we started teaching the children at Visalakshi Garden, Mylapore in the common area of 'slum clearance board'.  After five years, we shifted to Abiramapuram area, where somebody gave us a free space.  Since the house owner wanted the building back, recently we have shifted to Thorappakam, in the outskirts of Chennai.  In the earlier places, we had around 50 children learning UKG and LKG.    

In the new place also, we have provided toys and other kits to the children.  From here, they go and join the regular schools.  Our aim is to provide education upto 5th standard. Many children are interested to study in the school.  We do not have resources to maintain the children.  

We also provide snacks in the afternoon.  Regularly, we convene the meeting of 'mothers' and discuss about the need for educating the children. 

Q:  Besides providing basic education to the children, what else you do?

A: Even though, primary education is provided by the Government schools free of cost, the poor children are unable to spend for uniform, books, notes, etc.  

Because of this, many children opt out of school and forced to go for employment.  Every year we sponsor uniform, books and notes to around 25 children

Q:  How do you get financial support for all your activities?

A:  We are not getting any funding from any agencies.  I spare a part of my earnings.  

Besides, there are few good people, who often visit these children and provide support in a small way either in kind or cash.  If I get more money, I can help more children.  I don't want to possess even a phone.  the money that I would be spending on phone, may be used for two children.  I use my neighbours phones for inward and outward calls.

Q: What are your future plans?

A:  I want to provide education to poor children upto 5th standard and prevent them from going to employment.  

A tendency has developed nowadays to blame the Government for everything, as if we don't have any responsibility as a citizen.  I teach the young children to contribute whatever little to the country as  responsible citizens.