The Parijat Academy, Pamohi, Assam

Thanks to a friend I found out about the Parijat Academy, Pamohi last week. Pamohi is a tribal hamlet in Assam and most of the people living here are poor farmers and daily wage workers working in nearby stone quarries. Before the Parijat Academy was opened, the children of these stone quarry workers were seen spending most of their time during the day in and around the quarries, because of no access to schooling. In 2003 Uttam Theron, started the Parijat Academy – a school for children of families with low income, living in Pamohi and three adjoining tribal hamlets on the outskirts of Assam's capital Guwahati.

As Uttam watched kids wander about aimlessly, it set him thinking about ways to keep them occupied. A school was the only answer. It began at his home. Since then there has been no looking back for Uttam. He has been successful in starting a small scale school to imbibe the value of education among the children. The school does not receive any government funds and is run completely on funds contributed by people in the local area as well as from outside.Uttam sees educating the underprivileged children in the neighborhood as a first step in helping the community. As part of that effort, along with the Institute of Child and Women Health Care, the Academy organises Health clinics every second and fourth Sunday of the month for the children of the school and the local people. Into the future, the school would like to start vocational training like handloom classes, repairing TV and radios etc. Uttam believes that education is the birth right of every child and no child - rich or poor should be left behind. The goal of Parijat Academy, is not only to provide education for the children, but also to work closely with the local community in their development.

I wrote to Uttam last week and received a prompt and warm response. I also realized the value of what he is doing when my courier service said they could not deliver my envelope since they do not have service beyond Assam. They had not even heard of Pamohi (neither had I prior to this). I am not sure if I have the selflessness and courage that Uttam has, but I do know that a contribution from me will help realize Uttam’s dream of education for these children. For those interested in helping in Uttam’s cause details of the Parijat Academy are listed below -

You can courier or speed post your cheque in favour of "PARIJAT ACADEMY". The address is -
Parijat Academy
A school for underprivileged children
Pamohi, P.O. Garchuk, Guwahati-781035, Assam
mobile: 09864041711
Email: parijatacademy03@yahoo.com
www.parijatacademy.org

The photographs on the website of Parijat Academy are endearing and I hope to go there soon.