BAREILLY: Thirteen-year-old Kajal and her grandmother used to beg outside temples to earn a living for the past several years. Since January however, this young girl has been taking lessons in both Hindi and English, all thanks to an NGO which has been imparting lessons to educate child beggars in the area. So far, 25 kids have joined these classes which are held for an hour every day in the mornings and evenings.The initiative was started after members of the NGO ‘Image Sewa Sanstha’ learnt that those families whose ancestors suffered from leprosy were forced to earn their living by begging on the streets. Ajay Sharma, president of the NGO, told TOI, “No member in any of these families currently suffers from leprosy. But the children were forced to help their parents earn money by begging. We then decided to teach these kids since education was the only way through which they could change their lives. All of them have stopped begging now.”The organization has identified 52 children from 18 families in the Kargaina locality of the city. Those aged between four to 13 years attend classes here. “Though many of these children are enrolled at a nearby government school, they barely attend classes. Our team, comprising of 25 members, visited each house in a bid to convince the parents to send their children to our classes,’’ said Sharma.Mili Sharma, who teaches these children, said, “They are taught various subjects. The children usually reach the venue on time and they have never been unruly. We have also been imparting lessons on cleanliness.”13-year-old Meera, a student, said, “I, along with my mother, used to beg at various city crossings. But these classes have changed my approach towards life. I too want to become a teacher now.’’Another student, Shaurya, 7, said, “I love to sing rhymes in both English and Hindi that I have learnt here.’’

Stay updated with all the Bareilly Lates News headlines here. For more exclusive & live news updates from all around India, stay connected with NYOOOZ.