Shillong: The Meghalaya and Greater Shillong Progressive Hawkers’ and Street Vendors’ Association (MGSPHSVA) felicitated 41 children of its members who passed their Class X, XII and Bachelor examinations with mementos and token cash rewards here on Monday.
The awards were distributed by Magistrate Martina Lyttan and and incident commander L Tariang at Hawkers Market in Polo Parking lot here.
A special message of encouragement from East Khasi Hills Deputy Commissioner, Isawanda Laloo was also read out on the occasion.
“After the first wave lockdown, the Association decided to create educationally enabling situation for the children of its members by starting an Education Clinic. Umsohsun Dorbar, led by its Rangbah Shnong (headman), Paul J Sawian, very graciously allowed the Association to hold tuition classes in its Dorbar hall. This unique education clinic was staffed by volunteer teachers including Lalnunsanga Ralte, the well known English poet, Jo Wahlang, a computer science graduate from Chennai Mathematical Institute and a mathematics graduate from IISER Kolkata, Riban War, a zoologist and Akash Sil, a past top ten student of MBOSE (Meghalaya Board of School Education) in the commerce stream. Two of the teachers are children of street vendors themselves,” said senior member of the Hawkers and Street Vendors Association.
“Results of this intervention have been quite heartening. Three students, namely, Celestine M Marak, Malveen Malngiang, Payal Paul scored more than 75 percent in their class X examinations. While in Higher Secondary examinations, Jasinta Sangma scored 77 percent and Merlin Pathaw scored 68 percent marks. Two students, Shumilin Rani and Khusina M Marak got first division in their final bachelor examinations in commerce and computers,” the spokesperson informed.
“The MGSPHSVA will continue its education clinic programme this year too. The association is working to ensure that educational excellence does not remain a domain of the rich and the powerful, and is looking to create a supplementary educational programme which gives creative linguistic skills and scientific temper to the students, so that they can break the barrier of the class divide in Meghalaya and work towards creating a truly egalitarian Meghalaya,” the spokesperson underscored.
