It was an experience of a lifetime for 50 underprivileged children as they got to see their favourite cricketers from close range on Sunday.
Thanks to Rachakonda Commissioner Mahesh M. Bhagwat’s initiative, the children, whose parents are employed in various brick kilns, witnessed an IPL match between Sunrisers Hyderabad and Delhi Capitals at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium in Uppal here.
The kids are students of an Odia school run in association with governments of Odisha and Telangana. Alongside them, there were 30 students of Ashray Akruthi, a school for hearing-impaired children, who were brought to the stadium by NGO Aide et Action.
“School jaao, kaama karaw naahi” (go to school, don’t go to work) was what Mr. Bhagwat told the children in Odia during their interaction. “They were wearing Sunrisers headbands and jumping with joy. I was moved by how happy they were to watch the match at the stadium,” the top cop told The Hindu .
Kids ecstatic
Naresh Sandh, a class V student of a government school in Ravirala, said he was excited throughout the duration of the match since it was the first time he was watching it from the stands. “We jumped, clapped and screamed non-stop to show support to Sunrisers. Even though they lost, I will always cherish this experience of watching a live match at the stadium,” he said.
Another young boy, Sushant Bariha, a class IV student, said it was a dream come true for him. “I enjoy watching and playing cricket,” he said. Asked if he would want to become a cricketer, he promptly responded, “Why not? I would love to be a fast bowler like Delhi Capitals pacer Ishant Sharma. But I want Sunrisers Hyderabad to win the trophy this year.”
Enrolment in schools
In 2017, the Rachakonda police under ‘Operation Muskaan’ rescued 376 children from brick kilns and necessary steps were taken to enrol them in schools.
“For that, we got the support of the district administration to enrol those children in local government schools and volunteers from Odisha were mobilised to impart education in their mother tongue,” Mr Bhagwat said.
The brick kiln owners also came forward to support the ‘worksite schools’ and parents were overwhelmed to see their children being educated in their mother tongue in an ‘alien’ State, which they had not expected, Mr. Bhagwat said. “Now, we have over 1,200 migrant children studying in five different schools in the Commissionerate. Even Karimnagar Commissionerate has adopted the initiative of enrolling children in schools,” he added.
