“One in two Government schools in Puducherry don’t have proper infrastructure. Even a blackboard is a big thing for them,” claims Mageshwar R, founder of Paint Pondicherry, when asked what prompted him to start the outfit that tries to beautify the city, one school at a time.
The 25-year-old goes on to say that this doesn’t necessarily mean a complete lack of apathy. “Both my parents are Government schoolteachers. I see how involved they are in their work, how much they care.
But at the end of the day, everyone, if given a choice, would prefer sending their children to a private school. Better facility is one of the reasons.” Having said that, Mageshwar also observes that Puducherry is a town with more public schools than private. “But nobody wants to send their kids there,” he rues, adding, “There used to be a time when Tamil Nadu would set the standard for Government education in the country.”
Mageshwar has found at least one way of countering this trend: making the schools look appealing to children. Enter Paint Pondicherry, which brings in like-minded enthusiasts from various fields together on weekends to clean not just schools but also beaches, paint public spaces and beautify the city in general.
Every weekend at least thirty people gather at a designated place to do their bit.
“Most of them are working professionals, though there are some students as well,” says Mageshwar. “The core committee consists of six people, who are either preparing for their Civil Services exam or have just started working.” Mageshwar himself recently joined a private corporation, having completed his MBA.
“Since 2017, we have painted six schools, and also done a public project,” he says. The “public project” basically involves gathering at a public space — with prior permission — cleaning it up and beautifying it. The group has conducted a wall painting session at Rock Beach, and also painted and beautified parks. They’re taking it one locality at a time, and are always ready to welcome more helpful hands.
To volunteer with Paint Pondicherry, call 9629633119 or visit their Facebook page.
