In an innovative program, NTPC retired Neerja Saxena opened a school as part of her social work. The idea is such that the students must bring something to deposit to receive education and food. And that ‘something’ is plastic or any other waste material. 

Making of this school

During the lockdown, Neerja started buying groceries from local vendors to support their livelihood and observed that the pandemic had proven to be the cruellest for them. They could not provide food to their children and could not send them to schools anymore. 

Neerja made a decision to open a school for these children to give them proper education so that they won’t miss out on anything because of their social background. 

She opened a school under the name ‘Neerja Footpath Shala’ and provided poor children with free books and other resources. 

Depositing plastic and other waste materials

Neerja started teaching these children free of cost. The idea of asking them to bring plastic and waste materials occurred to her later as she wanted to make them responsible about their environment. She further organized various plantation programs and taught her students to use non-biodegradable items wisely. 

She also collects ecobricks from children. With this initiative, she has been able to recycle hundreds of kilograms of plastic. 

Neerja’s past

Neerja is from Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh. She completed her studies from Rohilkhand University. She was married off in the year 1997. Her husband’s company pressed charges against him for embezzlement; he had committed a fraud of one crore. Soon after that Neerja took divorce from her husband. 

She suffered from depression for five years and when the circumstances improved, she went back to work. 

Appreciation for Neerja’s school

Neerja does not have enough funds to lay the foundation of a proper school; she teaches these children on the footpath. Her efforts are praised by the passersby. 

She runs this school with her retirement pension and the donations she receives from other people. Her primary goal is to give these children a bright future with better opportunities.