Back to School
Article about SMH in The Sunday Express
The Sunday Express
April 11, 2010
MAMOON AKHTAR, was a student of a reputed English-medium school in Howrah. When he was in Class IX his parents could no longer pay his school fees and as a result he had to drop out of school. Now, decades after the incident, Mammon has not forgotten the pains of being forced to quit school. At present he runs a school in Tikiapara in Howrah with about 2,000 students who just pay Rs 5 per month. Mamoon, who used to work as a librarian and give private tuition, started the Samaritan Health Mission (SHM) from his own savings and donations.
In the beginning, the financial condition of SHM was precarious and the annual budget was as low as Rs 38,000 per annum. Out of this, Mamoon and his friends contributed Rs10,000 and the rest Rs 28,000 was collected out of door-to-door collection from houses in the locality and from some small offices. It was an uphill task and required persistent and tireless efforts. He also motivated the local college-going poor girls of the locality to offer their services by teaching these children on the payment of a nominal honorarium of Rs 100 per month.
The noble mission of Mamoon at 127, Noor Md Munshi Lane in Howrah created quite a ripple among the right thinking people of Tikiapara. They realised the importance of education and wanted their children to be well educated. SHM believes that anything given free of cost will lose its value and importance. Therefore, for all its programmes, it charges a nominal fees and this has ensured the involvement of guardians, especially mothers. All of them are happy to be a part of the system. SHM, within a span of six years, has brought about an educational revolution as it were in the neighbourhood. The story of these eventful six years is that 3,000 children are back to school – they are continuing their education and are marching from strength to strength. The children of SHM are being trained in such a way that they develop a feeling of compassion for their fellow human beings and uphold secular views and love for their Motherland. SHM believes that children will serve the nation better, they will be part of its progress, and will break the barriers of caste, creed and religion.
Mamoon charges a nominal fees of Rs 5 from the children per month. He says that children should learn that nothing is free in the world and everything comes at a price. Mamoon, after dropping out in Class IX, so far has managed to pass his Higher Secondary examination only.
The organisation is involved in a number of projects. It has ventured into almost every domain that can help people access some form of education and employment. The projects include vocational training for poor girls and widows, literacy programme of formal school from Class I-IV for the underprivileged children, Samaritan Kindergarten, Computer Literacy Programme for poor meritorious girls who do not have access to computer education, sponsorship programme for orphan boys and girls for education from the primary level till Class X and further studies.
The help for Mamoon comes as people know about his work. Organizations and caring friends have come to his aid. Even the American Consulate has been attracted to his work. In March the Consul General, Beth Payne, will inaugurate a project of SHM in Howrah. As the efforts by Mamoon grow from strength to strength, he says that there are many responsibilities and a large number of underprivileged masses to be taken care of. His quest only goes on with only one aim that no child should be deprived of schooling even if he has limited resources.
Karmaveer Purashkar-2009
KARMAVEER PURASHKAR-2009 Dear Friends, Indian Confederation of NGOs (ICONGO) New Delhi, annually gives award to honour the the people in various field working selflessly for the upliftment of the poorest of the poor. In 2009, Br. Jerry Almeida founder of ICONGO visited Kolkata, He is a very close friend of Br. Vinyak and Br. Vinyak and Uncle proposed the name of Mamoon for the award in the field of education, health and women empowerment. ICONGO selected the Mamoon’s nomination and confered the AWARD of KARMVEER-2009, Mamoon was called in New Delhi to receive the award on 26th Dec-2009. SHM dedicate this award to Br. Vinyak and Uncle , they are the real Karmaveer who are working tirelessly behind the curtain.
THE UNCOMMON HEROES “LEGENDS IN THE MIDST”
THE TIMES OF INDIA SPECIAL REPORT-25th DEC-2005
Emerging Heroes defeating Poverty, Reyazuddin
Reyazuddin is 15 year boy, who is the adopted child in the sponsorship project of Samaritan Help Mission
Reyazuddin is the real hero of the poverty ridden society who is defeating poverty by his determination and zeal for education, Those who say poverty is the obstacles in the path of education must be 100% Correct, But the hard work sincerity and courage to overcome the situation what ever may be can change the against situation in your favour by the hard work and not to give himself to the mercy of the Circumstances. Reyazuddin is 15 year boy, who is the adopted child in the sponsorship project of Samaritan Help Mission, Reayzuddin father was Rickshaw puller another two younger brother who does not attend school, only earning member of the family is suffering with T.B and cannot bring bread for his family
Reazudin was admitted in a government school in class III after we find him reading a book on the side of a lane in the tikipara bustee. He comes for tuition in the after school evening project of SHM.
From that time Reayuddin show a very nice progress and always have a dream to complete class Xth, like other Children, He had a big dream too to get a govt Job, but the situation changes all of a sudden. His father was declared a T.B patient. And he stops playing Rickshaw. The family started to starve sometime they get breakfast in the morning and then no food in after noon. Mother started asking as small loan of Rs.100/- or more to provide for her children and husband, she has hope that her husband will be alright and she will repay the loan. But as the day passed, her husband condition deteriorated, and in the end no one helped with her loan. And started asking to get back the loan. Humiliation started and the family was in a very bad condition.
Reyazuddin, 15
Reayzuddin at last decided that He has to work and will work so that his small brothers, mother and father could survive. He took hold the handle of his father Rickshaw lying without repair, and one morning he was on the street of tikiapara, it seems his dream of getting a govt job was shattered, But Reayzuddin did not gave, He continued his school. and never missed his evening class at SHM. I was unaware of the fact and one day I was standing near the Rickshaw stand to catch a Rickshaw and just one Rickshaw passing by, the Rickshaw did not stop and it passed by , For a moment I was shocked to see the Rickshaw puller it was non-other than Reayzuddin,. I called him from behind and he did not stopped, I ran behind him and at last when I came in front of the Rickshaw, I was shocked to see the boy plying Rickshaw and he was Reyazuddin. I told him to get down from the Rickshaw and told him to come to the office, there he narrated the whole fact, but his eyes was not full tears but he was happy that he was serving his poor father and mother and now her mother is not asking any body for loan to get food,
I told him that I am proud of you, but do not comprise with the circumstance defeat the situation. As SHM was partly supporting his education decided to support him full for his education and also started giving his family Rs.500/- pm. So that the burden could be lessen, and they can survive and he can freely continue his education.
Reayzuddin will surely complete his education because the blessings of his poor parents his with him, and we all are proud of him, Just liked to share this with all of you.
Regards,
Mamoon
Samaritan Girls school
Samaritan Girls school
An English Medium School for the poor Girls of all Communities
A dream Come true
The 26th May-2008 is one of the remarkable day for Samaritan Help Mission. By the help and support from the well wishers and friends, SHM have succeeded in establishing an English medium school for the poor girls of all communities.
Those poor parents who never dreamt of sending their child to an English Medium School are proud and they are happier to find wonderful progress among the Children.
This is the very proud moment for SHM as well the poor inhabitants of Tikiapara that for the first time these children will be wearing dress, shoes and will be sitting on the benches and desk.
Mamoon Akhtar