An education postgrad and PhD of Calcutta University, Dr Bijli Mallik is director of the Institute of Psychological and Educational Research (IPER), a Kolkata-based voluntary organisation established for the promotion of education by Dr Arun Ghosh in 1971. A respected educationist and author, Ghosh founded IPER with the intention of combining the sciences of education and psychology to stimulate the holistic development of children. The institute started working in the early 1970s with a group of underprivileged children for whom an innovative pilot curriculum was designed. Dr Mallik joined IPER as a volunteer in 1971 and was appointed executive director in 2011.

Newspeg. This month IPER is set to launch its Computer-on-Wheels programme under which a mobile van equipped with computers and trainers will reach out to underprivileged youth groups to deliver vocational training in computer hardware maintenance, software development, animation etc. IPER already has a School-on-Wheels programme that offers education to poor children residing in its south Kolkata neighbourhood.

History. Promoted with the objective to “work for the wholesome upliftment and development of children and women who are denied the basic needs of education, sanitation and nutrition”, IPER runs 30 primary and upper primary education centres in the slums of south Kolkata providing direct education to 1,445 children including 763 girl children, who are given free-of-charge education, nutrition, sanitation and recreational facilities and protection against abuse and exploitation. IPER has also undertaken an anti-child labour project conforming to ILO objectives, operational in 24 Parganas and Kolkata districts for 350 children. The institute also works for the prevention of alcoholism and substance abuse. Its annual budget of Rs.60-70 lakh is funded by the Union and West Bengal governments and a few funding agencies and donors.

Direct talk. ”I believe that national development is impossible without education in the true sense of the term, and for that the involvement of local communities is essential. Children who are socio-economically deprived shouldn’t be denied the rights the nation and society has guaranteed them. So I will continue to work very closely with communities and children to ensure that their fundamental rights are duly respected and enforced,” says Mallik, who is also the founder-president of Soroptimist International of South Kolkata.

Future plans. Mallik believes that individuals and organisations need to evolve continuously. Therefore IPER has chalked plans to establish a multi-disciplinary training centre for marginalised youth from the south Kolkata community. Also on the drawing board are sponsoring shelter facilities for 25 high-risk girls who live in the streets and shanties in the area.

God speed!

Baishali Mukherjee (Kolkata)