In New Delhi, a small shopkeeper has been selflessly teaching slum children under a bridge. The school that is a makeshift one gives education to 60 students; and the man behind it does so without any fees. Our correspondent tells us about this story from India.

This metro station railway line has given shelter to a cause that stands out. This bridge house a make-shift school that teaches children from the neighbouring slum.

In the last 3 years the number of children who come here has increased from just 2 to 60.

It was 3 years back when Rajesh Kumar Sharma decided to set up a school here to teach poor children. In the last 3 years the number of children who come here has increased from just 2 to 60.

It's a story that made Rajesh a hero. Rajesh, who runs a general store in a neighboring locality, dedicates 2 hours 5 days a week, to give these children education, which his brother tends to the shop.

Rajesh had to drop out of college in his final year due to financial difficulty; he says he doesn't want any child to let go of education for lack of money.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma, School Founder, said "I told the people living in slums that you have all come from different parts of India, so would you like your children to be like you or would you like your children to do better. Then they said that they want change but there is no school around. Then I just said that I will teach these children."

Rajesh had to force laborers and farmers that lived in the neighbouring slums to send their children to study. Most were reluctant as these children added to the meager family incomes.

Shweta Bajaj said, "Rakesh Kumar Sharma is a hero in a city where many children go without any education. He had to literally force parents to send their children to school to get basic education and he does this selflessly and without any fees."

The school has children between the age group of 3 and 16 years, and its interesting to notice that girls form less than 10 per cent of the strength.

Many of the children are later enrolled in government schools…Only last year the strength of the school had reached 140 students, out of which 80 were enrolled in government schools.

Laxmi Chandra also recently joined Rajesh. He is a postgraduate and helps at the school. Chandra who was a teacher in a college, decided to join Rajesh after hearing about him. He says nothing gives him more satisfaction than imparting education.

Laxmi Chandra, Volunteer Teacher, said, "I teach children with complete purity. The aim is to make them independent, curious and confident so that they can change the course of the future."

Recently the school moved under this bridge and this helps them shield from Delhi‘s humid summers, harsh winters and monsoons.

Under the right to education act, which was passed in 2009, free and compulsory education is guaranteed for all children between the age of 6 and 14. but the quality of education in government schools is still poor. Many children in villages don't go to school at all and that's true for cities like New Delhi too.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma says his biggest achievement is that these children come to school now willingly. He says he has managed to light the fire of knowledge in them.

Rajesh Kumar Sharma, School Founder, said, "I am hoping future generations learn something from me and give 2 hours of their precious time for our society."

In a country of over 1 billion people, the effort might seem a drop in the ocean but Rajesh is igniting these young minds for a better future.

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