Building entrepreneurship for a civil society
Lata Narayan
Associate Professor, Centre for Equity for Women, Children and Families, Tata Institute of Social Sciences
In Mumbai and other regions within the state of Maharashtra, India, there are vast numbers of families gripped by indebtedness. In light of this fact, Meljol’s innovative Aflatoun program is jumpstarting the development of highly motivated teachers who are learning how to communicate the important concepts of savings and fiscal responsibility to children, in hopes of dramatically changing their families’ futures.
Initiated in 1991 as a field action project of the Department of Family and Child Welfare at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Meljol focuses on fostering healthy attitudes among children, creating awareness of the different needs of children from varied backgrounds, and building the spirit of confidence and entrepreneurship in order to create a civil society based on the spirit of coexistence and achievement. Rooted firmly in the belief that children have rights and must participate in the creation of a child-friendly world, Meljol seeks to develop children’s citizenship skills by focusing on their rights and responsibilities and by providing them with opportunities to contribute positively to the environment.
All of Meljol’s activities are centered on “Aflatoun” (a traveler), who, on visiting various places on planet earth, attempts to learn more about its people and life. He does so by following the motto of “Separate Fiction from Fact, Explore, Think, Investigate and then Act”. The emphasis is that each and every child is an Aflatoun and consequently thinks, reasons, and only then acts. The child’s right to participation in decision-making is stressed on and children are encouraged to act in order to bring about a positive change in their environment.
“The Aflatoun Child Savings Program, which started in India in July of 2001, is an innovative initiative that is economical, sustainable and ensures a tangible transformation in the lives of the children going to school,” stated Dr. Lata Narayan, Associate Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Board Member of Meljol. “This program has been replicated in six districts of Maharashtra State and Aflatoun Banks are now being run in 895 schools with 94,913 children.”
This is quite an accomplishment, given that India is a nation that lives in its villages. Although migration to the cities has continued and even accelerated over the years, over 70 per cent of the Indian population still live largely rural lives. It is here that we encounter the tragedy of rural indebtedness.
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