Sunday Times 2
Book a smile
For thousands of Colombo’s poor children, he is their ‘poth maama’ or uncle who distributes exercise books and stationery. Yet he is an unsung hero and very little is known about his Pragna Pradeepa programme that seeks to help poor children’s education.
Dr. Jayantha de Silva proudly says the Pragna Pradeepa programme has reached 26 years of service with hundreds and thousands of children benefiting from it. It all started with his visit to Olcott Vidyalaya in Colombo in 1980 – a school that attracted children largely from low-income families
“I saw students in worn-out uniforms; their pencils were so short that they wrote with much difficulty. Some wore no shoes while others had come in rubber slippers with safety pins holding the straps and the sole. Most of them used one exercise book for all the subjects; I was shocked at what I saw. This was the reason I decided to work for the education of poor school children,” said Mr. de Silva, one of the longest serving Western Provincial councilors from the United National Party.
He then bought books and uniform material and distributed among the students of this school. The happiness that flashed across their faces bloomed as the Pragna Pradeepa concept in his mind, he said.
“Pragna Pradeepa was first confined to Borella and Narahenpita in Colombo and then following requests it was expanded to cover the Colombo district. We have had several programmes in Anuradhapura and Vavuniya and are planning to have in other areas too,” he said.
Dr. de Silva said politics and social service should go hand in hand.
“It is unfortunate that most politicians get involved in social work only to win votes. Even their development work is self-centred. When politician start development projects, many people think they are being launched for their benefit, but politicians also benefit as they gets commissions,” the veteran politician said.
He said he believed that politics was most suited for those who wished to remain single.
“Politics is best for bachelors. There will be less corruption and more commitment. That is why I decided to remain a bachelor,” he said with a laugh.
Dr. de Silva said politicians should give priority to improving education and providing education facilities to children.
He said his intention was to ensure that every child receives at least secondary education.
“If the Government wants to reduce the crime rate and save the youth from narcotic drugs, then it should ensure continuous education to the rural and urban poor,” he said adding that helping children to continue with their education and sports activities would definitely help build a better society. “That is why I initiated the Pragna Pradeepa programme. I have met a number graduates who have received Pragna Pradeepa assistance during their school years.”
Under Dr. de Silva’s programme, a poor child is given 12 exercise books, 2.5 metres of school uniform material, stationery and a gift voucher for a pair of shoes.
“I feel there is much more to be done for these poor students and their schools. They need better sports equipment and playgrounds, better toilets, nutritious meals and counselling,” Dr.de Silva said.
Excited voices of children shouting “Poth maama avilla (book uncle has come)”, he says makes him more determined to brighten the future of many more poor children.
- Nadia Fazlulhaq