In the rural landscape of Punjab, children from different government schools gather in a village to participate in Bal Mela or children's fair, an initiative of teachers to promote the unseen talent in rural children.
In village Bhari Panechan in Punjab, government school children from all over the state gather to participate in the annual Bal Mela. Introduced in 2010, this ‘Bal Mela’ (children’s fair) has been celebrated in various districts of Punjab every year since. More than 17 such events have been organised in which over 1500 students have taken part. An initiative of the Sikhiya Vikas Manch, an organisation of government school teachers that came forward to support the young talent that otherwise gets lost in government schools, the Bal Mela has been able to bring many talented children into the limelight, some going forward as singers and dancers onto regional reality shows.
In a state where government schools are mostly overlooked, this initiative provides a platform to these children who are mostly coming from rural areas. The Bal Mela provides a platform for representation and encourages a dynamic learning environment. It is also to note here that the arrangements, like accommodation and food, are made by the local villagers, where the event is organised. In essence, through this initiative, the Sikhiya Vikas Manch (Education Development Forum) has taken a brilliant step towards bridging a gap between government and private school students.
A platform called Bal Mela was organised in collaboration with teachers, parents and civil society. This platform not only enables children to enhance their educational experience but also monitors their personality development. Through this fair, children can showcase their talents and eventually perform on big stages.
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Kiranjit Kaur Jhunir contributes to Village Square.
Edited by: Novita Singh
