Context
This section provides insight into the location, school setting, and socio-demographic realities that shaped the Mera Aas Padose project. Understanding the context is essential to appreciating why this project was necessary and how it impacted its participants.
1. About BND Public School
BND Public School is a low-cost private primary school located in the Lal Dora area of Katwaria Sarai, South Delhi. Established in 2000 by a retired Delhi government school teacher, the school serves children from kindergarten through fifth grade. With a small but committed team of 10 teachers and a head teacher, the school aims to provide foundational education to children from underserved backgrounds, particularly those from migrant families.
2. Mission and Vision
Mission: To address the educational challenges faced by primary schools under the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) by fostering academic excellence, critical thinking, and creativity in a safe and inclusive environment.
Vision: To create a community where every child, regardless of socio-economic status, has access to quality primary education that is culturally rooted, imaginative, and empowering.
3. Neighborhood Profile: Katwaria Sarai
Katwaria Sarai is an urban village in South Delhi, officially classified as a “Lal Dora” area—meaning it falls outside of standard development regulations. This contributes to infrastructure challenges such as poor roads, limited sanitation, and intermittent access to utilities.
Despite these hardships, the area’s affordability attracts a diverse mix of low- to middle-income families, students, and migrant workers. Its proximity to major universities like JNU and IIT Delhi adds a unique socio-cultural vibrancy to the neighborhood.
4. Social and Economic Realities
Most students attending BND Public School come from families engaged in informal labor, street vending, domestic work, or small-scale services. Many live in shared rental housing with minimal space and resources.
In this environment, creative expression is often seen as a luxury. The Mera Aas Padose project reintroduced art not only as a tool for learning, but also as a means of reclaiming cultural identity, community voice, and emotional well-being.