Hope in lanes: Slum kids rewrite their destiny through books and computers

In the heart of Ludhiana, a quiet revolution is taking place. Amid the crowded lanes and bustling markets, children who once labored alongside their mothers or sifted through garbage are discovering the transformative power of education.

With books and computers as their tools, these young learners are beginning to chart paths that promise more than survival, offering dignity, skills, and dreams for a brighter tomorrow.

Roshni, 16, came from Bihar with her mother, who works as a domestic help. School had never been an option for her until she joined an open schooling initiative.

“When I joined these classes, I knew nothing. Now I know what the Constitution is, what administration means, and I have cleared class three and Class 5 examinations through open school,” she said with pride.

For her, learning is no longer a dream; it is a doorway.

Afternoons bring a different kind of magic. Students sit before computers, discovering skills that connect them to a digital world once beyond reach.

Eleven-year-old Reshma, whose father works as a ragpicker, beams as she talks about typing and making presentations.

“Girls in our home never went to school. But now I come here with my sister. I can type on the computer and even learning how to make a presentation. I keep telling other children in our slum to join too,” she said.

This transformation traces back to 2014 when Hari Om Jindal started the program.

Over the years, thousands of children have walked through its doors, gaining not only literacy but knowledge about their rights and responsibilities.

“Instead of A for Apple, we teach them A for Administration and B for Ballot Box. Today, we have four teachers who take classes in batches, and the children appear for exams through open schooling,” he explained.

Punjab’s literacy rate may stand at 75.84% according to the 2011 census, and while government initiatives like the New India Literacy Programme aim to reach adults, it is these community-driven efforts that make a tangible difference in children’s lives.

Charanjeet Kaur Ahuja, principal of Government Senior Secondary School, Cemetery Road, observes, “Literacy is not just about reading and writing, it is the power that breaks the chains of poverty, awakens awareness and gives every child the courage to dream beyond their circumstances. It changes their outlook, makes them aware, and gives them a chance at a better life.”

In these small classrooms, hope is written not in textbooks alone but in the bright eyes of children who now believe they can rewrite their destiny.

For Roshni, Reshma, and thousands like them, literacy is more than letters on a page; it is the first step toward a life full of possibility.