Empowering slum children: One Sunday at a time | Bhubaneswar News
In the industrial city of Rourkela, Purnima Mohanty is transforming lives through education. The 50-year-old founder of Ekta Foundation has been spearheading “Sunday Ka Pathsala”, a unique initiative that provides free education to 80 underprivileged children across three slum areas every Sunday.“Education can change lives. Our aim is not just to make them literate but to shape them into good human beings,” says Mohanty, who started the foundation in 2022. Every Sunday, from 4 pm to 6 pm, Mohanty and her team of 25 dedicated women volunteers fan out across Biswakarma basti, Tungri basti, and Gopaltola to conduct classes for students from Classes I to VIII. The makeshift classrooms — a club house verandah, space under a tree, and a private school porch — come alive with the enthusiasm of both teachers and students.The impact of “Sunday Ka Pathsala” extends beyond academics. After each session, the children are treated to snacks and informal interactions, thus building a strong bond between the educators and their young pupils.“Teaching these children gives me immense happiness,” shares Priyadarshini Dash, a professional teacher and foundation member. Her sentiment is echoed by Suprabha Mishra, another volunteer teacher, who finds fulfillment in this social service.Under Mohanty’s leadership, Ekta Foundation has grown to 50 members, all married women who contribute both time and money to various social causes. The organization’s work spans beyond education, including organizing health camps, providing food to the needy, supporting the elderly, and helping with the cremation of unclaimed bodies.“The success of Sunday Ka Pathsala and our other initiatives is possible only because of the collective effort of our members,” Mohanty emphasizes, highlighting the power of community service and women’s leadership in social transformation.Through their unwavering commitment, Mohanty and her team are not just teaching lessons from textbooks but writing a new chapter in community service and educational empowerment in Rourkela.
