IN COLLABORATION WITH PCGT:
The club collaborated with Public Concern Governance Trust for the visit to Anjuman Islam School. On October 12, 2023, at around 2:20 pm a group of pro bono associates along with the PCGT team visited a school, Anjuman Islam school and Junior College of Science and Commerce, located in Bandra West, Mumbai. It is an all-girls school. Just after we entered the school, we saw the students playing different kinds of games and some were in a queue to receive their food, which is provided to them every day under the government's Mid-day meal scheme.
After a while, all the students assembled in the hall and the session commenced. At the very beginning, to cheer up the students, we conducted a small game in which they had to act opposite to the given instructions (if we say hands up, they have to keep them down, and vice versa). This ensured their concentration and built up their interest in the session to be conducted. After this small fun game, we started the introduction to our preamble. The main objective of this visit was to educate the students about their fundamental rights and duties and the preamble of our Constitution. The Constitution of India gives various rights and duties which are very crucial for each and every citizen to be aware of. Unfortunately, some people remain unaware of the rights and duties they possess and the type of remedies they can seek in case of the infringement of their legal rights. Pro bono tries to enrich this part of society with their rights and duties where these things are not so common to know.
The first question asked by the team to the students was, what do you mean by constitution? Naturally, not many students knew, but a few answered. We tried to explain to them what a preamble is and to make it convenient for them, we compared the preamble to a manual, which is given with any product to instruct the way to use it. To make it more fun, we played a game in which the team members threw a ball towards the students and whoever caught the ball, had to answer the question. We also distributed some toffees to the students who actually answered, to appreciate and encourage their active involvement throughout the session. The team also familiarize the students with their right against exploitation, right to religion, right to life with dignity, right to education, and about constitutional remedies that they can seek in case of the infringement of their fundamental rights. Within the preamble, we attempted to make them aware of terms like sovereignty, socialist, secular, justice, equality, freedom of movement, limitations, exploitation, right to religion, right to life, right to education. Towards the end of the session, we conducted a quiz for the students, to follow up what they have learned till now, and also to make the session interesting. We divided them into groups, and asked one question to each team.
To check the progress they've made, when we conducted the questionnaire among the students, Surprisingly, no question remained unanswered, every team participated in the quiz very enthusiastically and actively with almost all correct answers. We got overwhelming responses. Our gesture to award them with a toffee for the every correct answer they gave, actually made them happy and it really encouraged them to participate more and listen to us more carefully. The children realized the importance of Preamble in the constitution and the contribution of our constitution in building the future India.
The legal education program was a success in teaching children and making them aware about their rights and responsibilities, empowering them to become active citizens. Children responded positively to the program and expressed a desire to learn more. At the end of the session, students asked some of their doubts and questions regarding the session and also asked some of the funny riddles or puzzles to the team members. The session came out to be very productive and also fun.
The team of pro bono associates included:
1. Anurag Shelke (2nd year)
2. Yash M (4th year)
3. Janhavi D. (3rd year)
4. Sanskar (2nd year)
5. Shreya K. (2nd year)
6. Divya (3rd year)
7. Sumedha K. (2nd year)
8. Rudula (1st year)
9. Kimaaya (1st year)
10. Gnanith K. (2nd year)
