കേരളത്തിലെ sixth ക്ലാസിൽോഗുവിൽ ബിഹാറിന്റെ കുടിയേറ്റക്കാരിയുടെ മഗ്രി пись്കവ്ജഭത് – മലയാളത്തിൽ!

In 2022, Dharaksha Parveen, a 19-year-old daughter of a Bihar migrant worker, penned a letter to an old schoolmate. Written in Malayalam, the letter was addressed to Pushpa, the daughter of a migrant worker from Uttar Pradesh who had studied alongside Parveen in Kerala. It recounts how a teacher in Ernakulam gifted her a sewing machine, igniting her passion for tailoring.

“From that day, I started tailoring work by cutting up old clothes and sewing them,” Parveen shared in her letter. She noted her parents wanted her to pursue higher secondary education after Class 10, but she had other plans. “I wanted to get trained in a job and assist my father,” she explained, deciding to enroll in a fashion designing course at a polytechnic instead. Following that, she undertook a degree through the Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU).

Now, this letter will become part of the Class 6 Malayalam textbook in Kerala, featured in a chapter titled ‘Taste of Work, Language’. It illustrates how the ROSHNI initiative—designed to assist migrant children in overcoming language barriers—enabled her academic success.

R K Jayaprakash, Director of the State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT Kerala), remarked that the education department aims to promote inclusive education through this endeavor. Parveen’s ability to learn Malayalam and write stories in the language exemplifies the success of their inclusive approach, marking the first time a school textbook in Kerala will feature a migrant student’s writing.

Parveen’s father, Muhammed Ameer, originally from Bihar’s Darbhanga district, moved to Kerala 25 years ago as a migrant worker, securing a job at a footwear manufacturing unit in Aluva. Twelve years later, he brought his family, including his wife Rajiya Khatoon, Parveen, and two sons, Muhammed Sameer and Muhammed Aadil.

Now 22, Parveen completed her schooling at Binanipuram’s government high school with an 85 percent in her Class 10 exams in 2019. She later earned a diploma in fashion designing before pursuing her degree at IGNOU.

Reflecting on her childhood friendship, she mentioned Pushpa, who studied with her from Classes 5 to 7 before returning to UP. Parveen wrote, “A few years ago, I wrote to her about our childhood days, but lost touch after she got married.” Authorities aware of her Malayalam writing approached her and decided to include it in the textbook.

As one of the earliest beneficiaries of the ROSHNI project, Parveen has been involved in the initiative since it began in 2017, when it was launched as a pilot in four schools. The program has since expanded to 40 government and aided schools.

Now a volunteer, Parveen teaches art and craft to migrant children in 10 schools, impacting about 2,500 migrant students in the Ernakulam district. Kerala hosts approximately 24,000 students from migrant families, and SCERT is launching a new scheme called Jyoti to increase enrollment among migrant workers and address student dropouts when families relocate.

Despite the busy schedule, Parveen has been active in teacher refresher programs ahead of Kerala’s new academic year, sharing her experiences and insights with educators on handling migrant children.

Parveen’s passion for fashion remains strong. She works on tailoring jobs in her family’s home while studying at IGNOU. “I want to settle in Kerala. My dream is to launch a tailoring or fashion designing unit and own a house,” she expressed.

Original Source: https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/thiruvananthapuram/a-bihar-migrants-letter-to-her-friend-in-malayalam-will-now-be-part-of-keralas-class-6-curriculum-10013056/
Category: Cities,Thiruvananthapuram
Tags:
Publish Date: 2025-05-18 07:10:00