A voluntary organisation has turned a widespread belief on its head. While any parents could be expected to tell their children that it makes sense to “study and then play”, Nidharsanam Public Charitable Trust says it makes better sense to “play, then read.”
This not-for-profit organisation has started an initiative at a slum in Mettupalayam, called “Play then read”, which lays emphasis on sports before anything else.
This programme was started at a street with 80 children, who were provided with sport equipment like caroms, shuttle badminton racquets, chess and volleyball to play every day between 4 p.m. and 5.30 p.m.
“A majority of children in the neighbourhood are from lower middle-class families and don’t get to play such sports as they don’t have any sports equipment,” says M.N. Sai Krishnan, founder of the Trust.
These children will also be trained in sports. Adityan, a resident of the area, is offering them training in basketball and volleyball.
Parents are happy about the initiative. “Often, children loiter around after school hours and sometimes, they get into bad company. Parents have to go in search of such children. Now, they don’t have to, for they know they will be engaged in any of these activities which are carried out at their own street,” says Krishnan.
After play, children get into the classroom where free tuitions are conducted from 6 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.
S. Mahalakshmi, a first year student of B. Sc Botany at Barathi Women’s College, is in-charge of the sports activities at the street.
“There are 14 streets in the slum and the plan is to expand it into the other streets,” said Krishnan. Madhu Sudhanagupta and his friends from 1997 batch of the Structural Engineering course atAnna University sponsored a majority of the sports equipment.
Next, the Trust will be starting free computer classes for the children.
Balasubramaniam of Nallorevattam, Meenakshi Ramesh, Mohan Sanders and Neelakandan are a few others supporting the initiative.
Those who wish to support the programme can contact Sai Krishnan at 9884488738, 9710032899
