Hyderabad Residents Pool Money To Buy Smartphones, Help Underprivileged Kids With Online Classes

In the aftermath of coronavirus pandemic, schools and colleges across the country were forced to step up their education strategies with many switching the online mode of learning.

Image For Representation/BCCL

However, in a country where a large section of society is still deprived of technology, this online teaching method alienated quite a few kids.

While children of the well-to-do families attended the e-classes held through online meeting platforms with their laptops and smartphones, those from the poorer backgrounds struggled to gain access.

In a bid to help the underprivileged students, residents of Hyderabad pooled money to buy smartphones for them, that would enable them to take online classes.

According to a report in Times of India, the local residents said the aim of collecting the money was to help students whose parents couldn't afford to buy phones.

Also Read: How Teachers Are Conducting Online Classes For Students, With Schools Shut From COVID-19

"I always wanted my child to go to a private school to get a good education. I and my wife have struggled to pay the school fees of my child. Now the school has told us that some classes will be conducted online. I can't afford to buy smartphones for my daughter and son who are studying in classes 8 and 6 respectively," the report quoted Raju M, a driver by profession beloning to Domalguda locality in Hyderabad.

Image For Representation/globalgiving.org

Virtual learning/teaching comes as a huge challenge for the underprivileged and the pandemic has further complicated the situation. Many parents have lost their source of income and buying smartphones and laptops is way beyond their financial capacities.

"A domestic worker wanted a phone for his children. He is already under debt and struggled through the lockdown. I then decided to help him in raising the money for the same," said Madhu Shrinagesh, a resident of Sainikpuri, northeastern part of Hyderabad.

Reuters

Lakshmi Jayakumar, a resident of Vayupuri in Hyderabad, donated her late husband's phone to her domestic help. "My household asked me for a phone for her brother. Then I gave her the phone of my husband, who recently passed away. I thought there could be no better way his phone could be put to use by a person who really needs it," Lakshmi said.

In a similar gesture, a 11-year-old boy from Kerala gave up his long-desired birthday gift of a PlayStation, to buy television sets for underprivileged kids in order to help them access online classes. The boy named, Ali, donated two TVs and one tablet on his birthday on June 9.