Educate Girls Launches ‘Vidya Kumbh’ to Provide Education for Migrant Children at Maha Kumbh Mela

Uttar Pradesh, January 22, 2025: In an effort to provide uninterrupted education to migrant children during the ongoing Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, the non-profit organisation Educate Girls, in collaboration with the Uttar Pradesh Basic Education Department, has launched a special make-shift primary school called ‘Vidya Kumbh’. This unique initiative aims to ensure that children of migrant labourers accompanying their families to the event have access to education. The initiative was inaugurated by Ms. Akanksha Rana, Special Officer, Maha Kumbh Mela Authority.

“Vidya Kumbh is a commendable initiative that will inspire children from labourer families towards education and secure their future. This effort to prioritise education amidst a grand event like the Maha Kumbh Mela will bring a significant change in the lives of these children,” said Ms. Akanksha Rana at the inauguration.

The Maha Kumbh Mela, India's largest religious and cultural gathering, attracts millions of devotees, pilgrims, and tourists, and generates significant economic activity, involving over 90,000 workers. Many of these workers travel from across India and bring their families, including children whose education is often disrupted. Vidya Kumbh is a direct response to this challenge, providing these children with learning opportunities during the event. The school will operate for four months, offering foundational learning, quality education materials, and life skills-building activities.

“Educate Girls, in collaboration with the Basic Education Department, has launched the ‘Vidya Kumbh’ initiative to ensure that the children of labourers attending the Maha Kumbh Mela don’t miss out on their education. This transformative step towards ensuring no child’s education is disrupted due to socio-economic circumstances underscores the importance of taking education to where children are, rather than waiting for them to come to us,” said Vikram Solanki, Director of Operations, Educate Girls.

The program has also highlighted the importance of ongoing educational outreach. Many girls who were previously identified by Educate Girls as ‘out-of-school’ in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan have been found at the camps, further emphasizing the need for continued educational support for these children.

“Through this camp, we are striving to promote education and connect children to foundational learning for a better future. I am confident that this initiative will be a success at the Kumbh Mela. My gratitude goes to all the organisations contributing to this effort,” added Praveen Kumar Tiwari, Basic Education Officer, Prayagraj.

Vidya Kumbh, located in Sanitation Colony-2, was inaugurated in December 2024. The event was also attended by Dr. Anand Singh, Additional Chief Medical Officer, Mr. Rajeev Tripathi, Deputy Commissioner, Basic Education Department, and representatives from Educate Girls. During the inauguration, Educate Girls distributed their supplementary, remedial learning curriculum kits called ‘Gyan Ka Pitara’, which focus on Foundational Learning and Numeracy for Grades 3-5.