Our Reporter
Dimapur, June 21 (EMN): It’s been more than three months since the Nagaland government issued an order, on March 17, to close educational institutions in the state due to the coronavirus pandemic.
As the weeks of lockdown continued, and worries about the possibility of a prolonged closure of schools increased, the education authorities made a pitch for distance education — engaging internet and data technology to connect the teacher to the student. The urgency to complete syllabus began to flex its presence even more as the weeks of school closure increased.
Digitally delivered modes of instruction and conferencing technologies in education are common in establishments outside Nagaland. However, for this small tribal state in India’s north-eastern region, digital learning is still a comparatively novel concept that also has with it a long list of issues. The problems range from poor internet data facilities (generally underdeveloped even in the urban areas) to lack of knowledge about how to use virtual connective technologies.
One of the issues among it, is the need for mobile devices — a consumer device as ubiquitous as it is equally not affordable for most people by standards of even the average salaried individual in Nagaland, let alone for several smart phones in one family.
A spot of goodness
This was where a Good Samaritan passed by and saw a little spot that needed a balm. Her name is Sentikala Lemtur, a resident of Dimapur who felt she had to do something, no matter how small.
Lemtur works in an educational institution called The Builders, which partners with schools, encouraging inclusivity in education, life skills, social skills, and character education, besides counselling for children. She is currently working as a mentor at the El Shaddai Academy in Dimapur.
Lemtur has been mobilising funds to buy mobile phones for students who are unable to attend online classes due to lack of phones with which to access lessons.
Eastern Mirror spoke to Lemtur about her work and the progress of her charity. She said that on May 11, she learned through her friends and people that children were having a hard time accessing online classes. Most had no devices that could help them access digital platforms from which to learn lessons. Many were even borrowing their neighbours’ phones just for it; some families did not even own a smart phone.
Being an educator herself, she felt restlessness that prompted her to do something, considering the children were facing many problems with having to keep a tab on their studies.
Lemtur, a member of Lighthouse Church in Dimapur, felt she was pushed forward to doing something about it, and believed that it was God who gave her the strength to do it.
Lemtur started reaching out to people though social media calling to action people who may want to donate extra smart phones to children to attend classes online. It was an endeavour that appealed to the promise of helping the little ones today so that they can live a better life tomorrow.
Lemtur had her moments of doubt though. For the first few hours since launching her personal charity work, no one responded. But to her surprise, she received about INR 15,000 in donations from well wishers the same night. Interestingly, she had not mentioned anything about help in cash.
Big hearts for the little ones
Till date, Lemtur said, she has raised approximately INR 68,800 through 60 donors, and two donors offering used smart phones. The charity work is still on as there are other children who need the device. She will try to help them as much as possible. Approximately 17 smart phones have been delivered so far, it was informed.
When queried about the process of selecting the students who would receive the phones, she said school administrations are contacted and asked about children who may be facing problems in accessing online lessons due to lack of smart phones.
Another way is to request the school administrations to offer a background of the student’s family; this is to ensure that genuine need is met. People were contributing their hard-earned money, which makes background assessment imperative that the phones go to the right students.
The main objective was to help daily wagers, carpenters and those who were financially weak. Besides donors who stepped forward with their generosity, a business group called Jangoz delivery services also came forward to help deliver the phones for free.
One incident she recalls is about a parent who had received the phone through her. They called her and said ‘You are like a good dream to us’ and thanked her. That was the reward and joy from her work.
Lemtur however gave all the credit to the donors as they were the real ‘good dreamer’ for the children. She believes it is all due to teamwork. She may have started the initiative but without the kind and generous people stepping forward, she alone couldn’t have helped the children, Lemtur said.
Sentikala Lemtur believes that God always partners with people in helping others; she is just an instrument that God is using to help the needy. In the future, she said, she wants to work for the betterment of children.
Friends of the same feather
Lemtur’s friends assisted her in the work too. One of them is an assistant professor at a private college in Dimapur. ‘This completely Senti’s initiative,’ the friend, who requested anonymity, told Eastern Mirror. She saw the teacher’s appeal on social media and stepped in to help.
The source said she also saw children going to their neighbours to borrow smart phones to access lessons online.
Using phones to learn in virtual classrooms or accessing lessons may not be as effective as learning in an actual classroom but the charity fills a spot of need especially during a time when institutions are closed, the friend said.
‘It is not as effective as offline classes, but it (mobile access) is helping much. It is really helping,’ she said. She cited an instance about a parent who was trying to borrow money from people to buy their children smart phones.
‘I think the one word would be “happy” and “fulfilment”,’ the friend said when queried about her biggest reward from helping with her friend Lemtur’s initiative. She is appreciative of the donors, saying ‘People can be so selfless; there is humanity.’
One can contribute or support Lemtur’s charity work by contacting her on Facebook at Sentikala M Lemtur, or on Instagram @sentiaka_lemtur.