The views expressed in this article are those of the author and do not in any way reflect the views of the organisation.
Education is an important aspect of human development. This makes it crucial that we be aware and alert as to what is being taught in our schools today and conscious of whether it is contributing to the overall growth of our children. Is our present education system in India doing that? Here are 12 components that I think should be immediately included in school curricula for the development of the full potential of students. Even if some of these are part of the syllabus in a few schools, they need more attention and the scope of the subjects needs to be expanded:
1. Road Safety
Image Source: Gilbert Laszlo Kallenborn/Flickr
The topic of road safety should be included in the syllabus to teach students about the essential safety practices they need to observe on the road. Along with theoretical classes, students should also receive practical exposure for better results.2. Logical Reasoning
A major drawback of our education system is the lack of focus on critical and logical reasoning skills. Using the classroom to teach these will help students build analytical and reasoning skills and boost their confidence as well.3. Comprehensive Sex Education
Students should be given proper education on sex and sexuality so they can build healthy relationships in life. This knowledge will help them learn about and be sensitive towards the nature of multiple sexualities also. Additionally, teaching them about safe-sex practices is crucial for their health.4. Mental Health
A healthy person is someone who has achieved both physical and mental well being. Proper mental health education develops the cognitive ability and emotional quotient in students. They develop the ability to cope with stress and adapt to various environments.5. Physical Education
Image Source: By Gayatri2388 (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons
The World Health Organisation confirms that physical inactivity is one of the leading causes of lifestyle diseases. Proper physical training can counter the ill effects of the sedentary lifestyle that most of us adopt. It is quite common in our schools to not have specialised teachers for physical training. This needs to change.6. Art and Crafts
The benefits of art in improving cognitive abilities and building confidence among students have been well established. This subject also provides a creative outlet for many students.7. First Aid
Image Source: Biswarup Ganguly [GFDL or CC BY 3.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Proper first aid education can transform every student into a lifesaver. First aid training doesn’t just help in the individual development of each student, it also serves the wider community, health institutions and people who are in need of urgent care.8. Social Media
These days, every other school student possesses a smartphone and has accounts on various social media platforms. This has both positive and negative impacts. Many incidents have been reported regarding the malicious use of social media. Our education system should disseminate knowledge regarding the responsible use of social media.9. Soft Skills
Soft skills development from a young age helps students polish their communication skills, creativity, leadership skills, etc., which helps them in both their personal and professional lives.10. Agriculture
Image Source: By Rajarshi MITRA (Flickr: Down on the farm...) [CC BY 2.0], via Wikimedia Commons
Agriculture education should be made compulsory in schools. Students should know that we survive because of agriculture. And also that the food we consume comes because of the hard work of farmers. This will help students respect food and farmers, along with teaching them about the need for environment conservation.11. Financial Education
Students should know the importance of money and should learn about the adverse effects of being careless with their finances. They should cultivate the habit of saving and should also be taught about how banks work, what are taxes, what is an investment, etc.12. Legal Education
Image Source: Asian Development Bank/Flickr
Students should learn about child rights and other related policies. This aspect of their education will allow them to question illegal activities and also prompt them to advocate for more child friendly laws. -Arun A.G.Featured image source: Tushar Dayal/Flickr
Like this story? Or have something to share? Write to us: contact@thebetterindia.com, or connect with us on Facebook and Twitter (@thebetterindia).
About the author: Arun. A.G. is currently working as a Project Coordinator in Evangelical Social Action Forum, Thrissur, Kerala.
Aditya gaining the support of football star Andriy Shevchenko for the football project[/caption]
The project went well. The kids were overjoyed, the women running the school suitably impressed. And I was addicted.
My journey with Pragati has continued ever since. In Middle School in Italy, I organised two charity rock concerts with my friends, and a ‘Just One Euro’ fundraising campaign – all of which were very successful.
The first concert attracted people in large numbers and was popular enough to warrant a second one a few months later. For the fundraising campaign, I emphasised the fact that 1 Euro (Rs. 75) is a very small amount of money for those giving it but for Pragati students it is enough to buy a blanket and a meal. Everyone who donated a Euro (although most chose to give more) received a good-luck moli dhaga as a thank-you present. I presented the funds when I visited Pragati in the summer, and all the aunties who run the school sent a thank you message to my school.
More recently, I conducted a hygiene awareness workshop at Pragati, using balloons with powder coating to demonstrate how germs can be carried. I also screened a film on the importance of hand washing made by Kid Powered Media. I did my best to show them the importance of hand washing in order to avoid sickness.
Hand washing exercise with the children.[/caption]
Children after a football match.[/caption]
But the true triumph of Pragati lies in the fact that students continue to attend the school and that speaks volumes about the dedication of the women who run it. They started with a tarpaulin cover in a Delhi park but now they have three campuses, permanent staff, and several students completing their Class 12 exams. Pragati has blossomed, but they still rely on donations and volunteer work to ensure the school runs smoothly. More information about the school and how to volunteer and donate can be found on this 
Entrance of the school[/caption]
Raising funds to run the school successfully has been a problem for him but it is by no means the only one. The struggle to convince parents to admit their children to school and to let them continue with their education has been equally tough, if not more. “The parents don’t care about their kids. When hostel kids come back from their homes after the winter break, we’re disgusted to see how careless mothers and fathers can be. A lot of those kids look like they haven’t been given a bath even once in two months. For some, it actually holds true,” said his wife Maree, who works with him at the school.
She paused for a while on seeing the disbelief on my face, and then continued, “The parents aren’t even concerned about the documentation their children will need once they’re out of this school, after Class 5. We’ve chased after so many families, even visited them in far-flung villages, requesting them to arrange for birth certificates that will be required for further admissions elsewhere. But they don’t understand. Given an option many of these kids will probably never go home. This school, right here, is where they like to belong. Teachers and their fellow students are their family.”
Mr. and Mrs. Gurung[/caption]
Reading session for Class 1[/caption]
Students at the morning assembly.[/caption]
Sikkim Himalayan Academy[/caption]
Children pose during a Jungle walk.[/caption]
To volunteer with Sikkim Himalayan Academy or to donate funds, get in touch with them on their 
We began by making our bucket list. We wanted to explore the top 100 hill stations in India first and then explore the remaining parts of the globe. Our first trip as a duo was to Kullu Valley in Himachal Pradesh. It was a memorable trip and we covered the entire Kullu district, including places like Manali, Kasol, Manikaran, Marhi, etc. This was just the beginning of our journey through the valleys. It was around the same time that we came to know that a new member was going to join our family soon – our daughter.
We are not preachers of luxury stays and high-end tours. Instead, we prefer budget trips because they help us connect with people. You will not be able to connect with the culture of a place freely if you are sitting in your luxurious SUV; people won’t come to share local stories with you if you keep yourself closed inside five-star hotels and resorts. The highest amount of money we have spent on one trip was $600 (approximately Rs 40,000). I work as a freelance web developer and freelancing gives me the opportunity to work from anywhere, while successfully funding our travel plans.
Dr. Verghese Kurien[/caption]
But more than anything else, Sudarshan was deeply passionate about helping people in those homes where a death had taken place. Irrespective of caste, creed, and religion, he would rush to take charge the moment he came to know about a death in any family. Consoling the family members, communicating with relatives, arranging an ambulance, arranging for the funeral, fulfilling formalities to obtain the death certificate, arranging for the 13th day ceremony, and more -- he used to take all these tasks up as his responsibility. He was practically a one-man army in dealing with such matters!
He used to say that there is no dearth of people willing to attend and help out during marriages, birthdays and other happy occasions, but what about those homes where people have lost someone? “The situation in such houses is usually traumatic and most people don't even know where to get the funeral material from. Under such circumstances, it is my duty to help such a family,” he would say.
He must have attended about 1,000 funerals and given his shoulder to more than 700 bodies on their way to the cremation ghats. In some cases, the bodies used to be diseased and even the family members would be reluctant to touch them. Even then, Sudarshan used to clean the bodies and help provide dignified last minute rituals to the departed souls. After returning home from the cremation ground, he used to take his bath and then only have something to eat.
He was also instrumental in starting a sangha or association in Tumkur for performing death ceremonies. He went from house to house raising funds for the association and in due course, a building with a proper bathing facility, residential arrangements and the services of in-house priests was erected. The rates were reasonable and fixed and the ceremonies were performed as per the shastras. Many people from Tumkur and even nearby districts started utilizing this facility, because in this age of nuclear families, it becomes difficult for people to perform such ceremonies in their houses considering the strict formalities to be followed before and during the ceremonies.
Other than this, in many marriage functions where the parents were too poor to engage photographers, Sudarshan would either not charge anything or charge only the cost price for taking photographs.
At the hospital where he was to undergo surgery, people gave their ATM cards with PIN numbers or signed blank cheques to Sudarshan’s wife to take care of his medical expenses. The crowd at the hospital and the crematorium was unmanageable during his cremation – so much so that the person in charge of the crematorium enquired whether Sudarshan was an MLA or zilla parishad member. Our reply was that he was much more than them.
Such was his charm! His ability to smile at all problems kept him happy despite a heart problem for the last 10 years. Everyone – from the vegetable and milk vendors to neighbours to relatives and friends – wept uncontrollably at his passing. "Sudarshan taught us how to live," they said.
-K. L. Vinay
Delhi does not exactly have the best reputation when it comes to its bus drivers, so when one of them does something so wonderful, praise is always due. In an age of widespread scams, corruption, greed, indifference, and selfishness, honesty needs to be encouraged and celebrated. Let's hope DTC authorities and the city administration take note of Pramod Kumar's selfless actions and he gets the praise and recognition he deserves.
Pramod is the driver of DTC Red Bus No DL1PC 8751 (Badge No. 91039)
Those who wish to see him get some recognition can contact the Delhi Transportation Corporation (DTC) by writing to Dr. R S Minhar, Deputy Chief General Manager PR, at 
The prototype includes a system in which a sensor can be placed at some distance from the railway crossing so that it can detect an approaching train even when it is 10 km away from the crossing. The sensor will send wireless signals to the railway crossing and an alarm will alert people about the coming train. An LCD segment display will also be installed at the crossing to initiate the approximate count-down through a timing circuit, ensuring safety no matter if the crossing is manned or unmanned.
We have heard of many accidents that take place when passengers try to catch a moving train or to get off one, and when they cross tracks to avoid going up the overhead bridge. These accidents happen mainly due to the carelessness of passengers. Hence, for enhancing safety procedures, the platform in this prototype has been designed in a way that it will not be parallel to the track.
The prototype has an application to detect possible cracks or breakage in rail lines. The system will send warning signals to the nearest railway authorities so that immediate action can be taken.
- Harshul Balani
While other children frolicked in school yards, I had to build my own playgrounds and secret worlds in recovery rooms and hospital halls. Doctors and nurses were my peers and playmates. By the time I reached adulthood I had undergone several major surgeries, more times than most men three times my age. But, in spite of all this, I learned how to greet people each morning with a smile on my face and hope in my heart.
That was how I learned a lesson more important than anything I could have learned at school -- the simple idea that I am in control of my own happiness. Once I discovered that, no diagnosis could depress me. No grim doctor’s face could dim the joy in my world. I began to thrive in the face of adversity when I tapped into the eternal sense of hope that flowed through my faulty human heart.
That discovery led me from the hospital all the way to Nigeria, where I was involved in a family business, and then to Dubai where I became one of the youngest entrepreneurs in UAE. The feeling of success is now as familiar to me as was the feeling of fear when I was a child.
I am grateful for the love and support of my family. And I also want to spread the message of hope and joy to people who are where I am, dealing with health struggles and wanting to live full lives. I want to let people know that not only can they find happiness in even the most grim situations but that they are allowed to take that happiness and let it flourish within them
The company has signed an agreement with the Delhi Jal Board to set up such decentralised sewage treatment plants (STPs) in order to recover usable water from the wastewater generated from different avenues. The plant, located in Keshopur, has a capacity of 100 kilolitres per day and utilises sewage water to make pure drinking water.,
Conventional STPs run on the principle of aeration, utilise chemicals and have a significantly high requirement of electricity. However, Absolute Water’s STP and water recovery system is a game-changer in the context of sustainable solutions. It utilises a bio-filter comprised of gravel, especially bred worms and bacteria.
The recovered water is of potable quality (as per WHO standards) and can be used for drinking and bathing purposes. The reject from the membrane can also be used as liquid urea due to its richness in nitrogen. Maintenance costs are also low, with only the organic media of worms, sand and gravel requiring replacement at intervals of six to eight months. Each removed batch of media can be used as biofertiliser in agriculture. Every element of the STP is reusable, thus making it an environmentally sustainable, economically viable and socially acceptable technology.
This is a flowchart representing how the treatment plant works:
To learn more, visit 
The Ganesh Pol or Gate is the entry to the private palaces of the Maharajas. Built under the orders of Mirza Raja Jai Singh, it is
covered with elaborate frescoes and a Ganesh painted above the gate, symbolising good luck.
Pritam Niwas Chowk is the inner courtyard of the City Palace. It has four smaller gates, each themed around the four seasons and dedicated to a particular Hindu god. The northeastern peacock gate represents autumn and has a small idol of Lord Vishnu on its lintel.
The Lotus Gate in the southwest is adorned with dramatic lotus petals and flower patterns. It represents the summer and lord Shiva.
The winter season is showcased by the Rose Gate. Filled with repeating rose patterns, it is dedicated to Goddess Devi.
The fourth gate, also called the Leheriya (waves) gate, is on the northwest side of the courtyard. It is in a gorgeous green colour, indicating spring and dedicated to Lord Ganesha.
Diwan-E-Aam or the Hall of Public Audience is a courtyard that is marked by 27 columns, each with an elephant shaped capital. It also has rooms leading off that were used by royalty.
Benches seen through the arched corridors at the entrance of Amer Fort present a departure from the usual ornate doorways of the rest of the palace. This place has an almost Mediterranean feel.
The courtyard at the Mansingh Palace, Amer Fort, is surrounded by balconies on the first floor and has doors overlooking the central pavilion. The walls are decorated with floral patterned frescoes.
This door provides access to the Dakshinottar Bhitti Yantra, which is an instrument used for observing the different altitudes of celestial bodies. The marble arched panel on top of the door provides a detailed description of the yantra.
- Aparna Rajagopalan
You can have a look at Aparna's work 
These awards were established in the year 1954 and have three subcategories, namely Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shree (in decreasing order of precedence). The awards are conferred on individuals who exhibit exceptional achievements and significant contributions in various fields like arts, science and engineering, civil services, sports, trade and industry, public service, literature and education, social work, and medicine.
Ever since the inception of these awards, the process of nominations has been restricted solely to government authorities. Up until now, the nominations used to come from the ministers of various states, union territories and the central government; Members of Parliament; various departments of the Central government; and Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan awardees only.
In addition to the nomination process being made open to the public this year, it is also being digitalised on a single online platform. Any citizen with a valid Aadhar card and mobile number is eligible to nominate. All he/she has to do is register, log in, and recommend self or others for the awards.
After the nominations are recorded for the awards, the names are put forward to the Padma Awards Committee. Members of this committee include the Cabinet Secretary, Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and 5-6 eminent personalities, who make the final recommendations, to be approved by the Prime Minister and the President.
Nominations by the general public will, it is hoped, provide greater transparency and reduce the chances of lobbying by interested parties. Open nominations will also ensure greater participation by the public and help highlight the achievements of deserving persons who would otherwise shy away from the limelight.
You can visit the website for more information and nominate a candidate 
Garbage content in India is different from that in western countries. He realized that simply copying the machines used in the west will not solve the problem. He visited 192 cities in India and 80 cities of six continents to explore other systems and finally designed three unique bins. Any tourist visiting India wonders about the filth that is strewn all around. Mr. Ghosh chose to work with garbage because it affects public health in a huge way. Besides looking dirty, strewn garbage clogs drains and leads to floods. Open heaps of rotting garbage secretes leachate, which gets washed away with the rain and contaminates surface water and eventually groundwater. Garbage piles also release methane, which happens to be a highly inflammable greenhouse gas.
Though he has been living in America due to certain circumstances for the last 16 years, Mr. Ghosh continues to travel to India every year to create a network of committed people. His patented designs for bins are unique in three different ways. Every bin is covered, which prevents birds and animals from grabbing the waste content inside. Each bin is elevated so the bottom does not get submerged in water and is not corroded. The third and perhaps most unique feature is that the bottom portion of every bin is sloping. The slope creates an ‘angle of slide’ that helps in emptying waste once the front hatch is opened. The garbage automatically comes out of the opening due to gravity.
Specially designed handcarts or regular open-top trucks can be strategically placed in front of the bins to collect waste. This is a huge relief for garbage handlers. They hardly have to touch anything. It is impossible to empty out a flat-bottomed bin with moist content in this way. Even the top surface of each bin is has a slope so rain water cannot accumulate and corrode it. People also cannot leave bags of trash on it. “The opening through which garbage is pushed inside by the users will allow the material to fall downward in a heap. Cubic bins can never fill up all the way to the top anyway,” says Mr. Ghosh.
Emptying waste from it is very easy. One just has to place the handcart underneath and turn the bin on its swivel for the entire content to slide out. Once released, the bin springs back to its original upright position. These can be used at bus stops, railway stations, parks, and footpaths.
The base stands are firmly set in the ground to prevent theft. The handcart, too, is unique because the container is detachable from the wheel-base. This makes it possible for garbage handlers to lift it to a truck and flip it empty.
With a slope at the bottom, the contents can easily slide in open trucks. We are still practising the conventional ways of garbage collection in India -- cartloads of trash are brought to a truck, the waste is turned over on the road and then shovelled into cane baskets to be carried up to the truck. This method needs to be stopped for the sake of efficiency as well as to protect the health of garbage handlers. These large-size bins are ideal for large markets or big housing complexes of about 300 families.
All bins are made of steel to keep the price competitive. The swivel-emptying bin on a stand-alone pole cost only Rs. 1,200 - Rs. 1,500. The estimated price for the mid-sized bin is a reasonable Rs. 10,000 - Rs. 12,000. The large bins cost about Rs. 50,000 - Rs. 55,000. The hand-cart with removable basket costs Rs. 3,000 - Rs. 4,000. Originally, all of these items were fabricated under Mr. Ghosh’s supervision and training manuals by a group of trainee welders at the Ramakrishna Vivekananda Mission in Barrackpore. However, this training unit is no longer functional.
Currently, the mid-sized bins are being manufactured on demand by Triveni Industries in Mumbai. Owner Manohar Panchal can be contacted through Mr. Keith Mascarhenas at 
Mr. Ghosh with his previous model of the midsize bin. It is made of fibre glass and is still used at Ramakrishna Belur Math, West Bengal.[/caption]
Mr. Ganga Ghosh is also designing toilets for rural and semi-urban areas. He is highly concerned about this hurried toilet construction all over India. “Simply installing toilets is not going to be a long-term solution. Installing toilets without adequate septic tanks or a plan for the responsible disposal of their contents will lead to serious groundwater contamination,” he says.
- Balaka Ghosal
During my UF days, I was curious about many subjects and thus would take courses in various departments to maximize my knowledge. Though I was doing mechanical engineering, I took courses in chemistry, electrical engineering, materials science and even courses in sleep and dreams and film appreciation. All these helped me to get a well-rounded education. Besides, one learns a lot by taking courses and is much better than only focusing on research.
The US university environment in those days – just like now, had a great atmosphere for scholarship and offered excellent opportunity to get knowledge in various areas at one location. Thus I started attending seminars in different departments to learn about various subjects. These seminars on various topics like quantum physics, UFOs, out of body experiences, theory of chaos, etc. given by outstanding authorities, further added to the knowledge. So the biggest lesson for students going to US or European countries is to have tremendous curiosity because it fuels learning. Since most students nowadays fund their own studies abroad, their focus should be on maximizing the learning process.
I have spoken to many fellow Indians who tell me that our government should support and provide more facilities to our sports persons. By the term India we not only mean the land mass extending from the Himalayas to Kanyakumari and by the term government we not only mean the honourable leaders and learned bureaucrats of this great country. It represents the 1.252 billion citizens of this country and I am one among them. In my opinion, there is much more to be done than just the government backing elite Indian athletes.
After Rio, I began introspecting, “Why am I so saddened about Rio Olympics? What have I done for sports in India? I have done nothing for those sports persons who have worked so hard achieve this glory and represent our country on the global stage." I want our sports persons to feel the same sense of pride and delight that I feel when hoisting our flag after winning an international award in a global arena. I want them to feel this during the Tokyo Olympics of 2020.
Former Honourable President Dr. Abdul Kalam and our Honourable President of India Dr. Pranab Mukherjee, both legendary personalities, have told me, “Our country needs you, young man.” I had been feeling the same until now, and will continue to do so in the future.
As a youngster, from my own knowledge and experience, I state the truth that support for talent in India at the grassroots is heart-breaking and the exposure to sports at schools and colleges is dismal. Our country’s youth, including me, notice India’s sports performance only during the Olympics or Commonwealth games.
I started my journey in science when I was eight; the ignition has to occur at a young age. Starting preparation a year or two before the Olympic Games is insufficient. We have to understand the reality at the ground level. To perform better at sports, we must start from the very beginning. Our country should definitely help in identifying and sustaining talent. A lot of resources have to be invested in identifying hidden talent across the country, not just for the 2020 Olympics, but also for the way beyond.
We should initiate an incubation program called “India towards Olympics hunt” for sports on a wider scale that would enable youngsters to discover their talents. Under this initiative we can organise camps, training programs and contests across the nation to identify and nurture the right talent at a young age.
· Grassroots level selection and development
· Qualified infrastructure & strategic support system
· Comprehensive planning & selection of sports
· Youthful talent identification & sustainment
· Sports prospects in education
· Athletes’ economical protection
· More efficient sports administration & accountability
· Public contribution towards sports
I am hereby donating “Rs. 5,000/- (Rupees Five Thousand Only”) which is the cash award I bagged in the International Engineering Expo held at Malaysia. I had saved this money to capitalize on my forthcoming world record attempt. Now I feel that I can secure that later, but my country is my priority.
Every citizen is contributing to our country by paying taxes; I also do that. I am not expecting everyone in our country to contribute towards this initiative. The citizenry of this country is around 1.252 billion. With a humongous population, we have humongous abilities and infinite possibilities. We would need just Rs.100/- from every Indian to spend Rs. 100 crores on every athlete, which would amount to 5 times UK’s expenditure on an athlete.
I am not expecting this from people who are incapacitated to make their ends meet. Being a student, I bear the contribution of about 50 citizens in this initiative.
As the saying goes "As we sow, so shall we reap", we may harvest in Tokyo, a brighter future for sure in the long term.
I am not sure where I should send my money, so I thought the prime minister would be the right person to make this a productive initiative. I hope this won’t go in vain as another funding vector or just a letter by a geeky teen. By this initiative, I am certain that our contribution will bear its fruits when our country marks the Olympic centenary participation. I hereby express my spirit of gratitude for patiently reading this long letter and spending your invaluable time.
You can contact Tenith by writing to him at 
BAF is a nonprofit education startup, and till date it has helped in the admissions of over 20,000 underprivileged children across 3,000 private schools in 50 districts of Uttar Pradesh. Samina has been able to achieve this feat with the support of co-founder Vinod Yadav, the government of UP, and senior bureaucrats such as Mr. Partha Sarthi Sen Sharma, Mr. Amod Kumar and Mr Rigzin Samphel from the Chief Minister's office.
When Samina started working on RTE Section 12(1) (c), she not only saw several loopholes in the policy but also highlighted dismal figures in admission. After a thorough study through primary and secondary research she found that in last four years since the inception of this act, only 108 admissions were made across UP where six lakh seats were available annually. This was basically due to reluctance on government’s part and also because of the unwillingness of certain big private schools that had least interest in the implementation of this Act. With BAF’s persistent efforts in advocacy impacting policy, capacity building within government, and groundbreaking innovations, the number of admissions increased to a historical 4,400 in 2015 and 15,646 in the year 2016.
Samina used her sharp management skills to create a sense of urgency. The RTE round table deliberations resulted in key next steps in implementing the scheme. As a result of all the above advocacy efforts, nine new major government notifications were issued in the last two years to amend state policies to actively implement RTE Sec 12 with clear timelines. The government of UP and BAF built a unique partnership where they leveraged their individual strengths in effectively reaching out to a scale that was individually not achievable by both.
Holding the Ashoka fellowship and many such awards and recognitions, Samina has already started taking her next steps towards making the process seamless with the help of technology and training teachers for social inclusion in partnership with UNICEF and the state government.
Samina, belonging to an orthodox Muslim family, suffers from locomotor disability in her left leg due to an accident that she met with when she was a child. It however didn’t deter her from walking on the path that was strewn with difficulties. Working in a religiously divided state where women are often given a second-hand treatment, making her voice heard is a feat in itself. With perseverance, dedication and strength in her resolve, Samina has become one of the most trusted voices on inclusive education in the state.
Impossible as it seemed, Samina has set the government machinery in motion and the RTE ball rolling in the state.
BAF is looking for volunteers, supporters, and partners. You can contact them 
She spends most of her time in Kerala, which has India’s only space for fencing practices. As the sport is not so popular here, it requires her to travel to training centres in France and Germany to sharpen her skills. While she manages to fund her training equipment and gets occasional sponsors for her trips, she needs her coach to be with her during the games and while training. To travel alone and face an opponent without moral or technical support is an added pressure she has to handle. But taking her coach along while for on-spot motivation and technical advice is a luxury she cannot afford. “I see other 180 fencers with their coaches and family. Because of the lack of funds, I just go and stand there on my own,” she says in a video. She has stories of missing out on opportunities as small as not being able to defend a penalty because she didn’t have a coach beside her.