'Platform Pathshala': This Policeman Strikes a 'Deal' With Slum Kids

Constable Dharamvir Singh

New Delhi:  In a unique move, this Delhi Police constable has started a ‘platform pathshala’ for the slum kids at Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi. He struck a ‘deal’ with slum kids, who sell papad at the station, “Study for an hour and you can sell your papads”.

Nine-year-old Satya and many other kids like him, who have come to Delhi to earn livelihood, stay at a slum in the Sarai Kale area and make their living by selling papad at the railway station.

These kids were regularly driven away by policemen, till they met Constable Dharamvir Singh, four months ago.

Mr Singh, who has been in police services for 23 years, said he was moved by the plight of these children. They have no other mode of sustenance and therefore he decided to give them basic education at his duty station.

 

Many slum children drop by at Constable Dharamvir Singh’s duty station in their free time, wherein he teaches them numbers, alphabets and basic math.

These children drop by at Mr Singh’s duty station in their free time, wherein he teaches them numbers, alphabets and basic math.

He said these children will utilize their free time studying rather than fighting with each other and getting into other wrong habits. He wants to instill the culture and interest of education in them so that they can hopefully be put into good schools in the future.

Mr Singh dreams to open a school for these kids so that they can grow up to be IAS officers.

Amidst the deafening din at Nizamuddin station, the kindheartedness of one policeman ensures that these kids at the platform can now, finally, count the money that they earn.