"Give me any old text books, madam” – I looked at her on hearing these words. She is none other than our maid servant, who helps us in our daily household work.
This request on behalf of her children of higher secondary grade to enhance their knowledge. She complained that her children are playing at home all day, sticking to the TV with a deep sigh and an expression of the helplessness.
I, sitting in front of the computer saying the name of work from home, looked at our children of the same age group - one sitting in front of the computer attending classes through a Google Classroom and the other learning through free online class lessons on mobile. Then I started thinking about such children of the grassroots and rural areas for whom public schools were the only gateway with no equal opportunities. With this COVID 19 pandemic has further widened the gap for these students who are bright and keen in pursuing higher education through IITs from their sixth grade.
If the children are below the age of ten, this social condition is not an issue of concern, but what if they are youth? What are they doing? What impact would it create on their overall long term development? Is technology a thumb for these monoliths? Do we have the answers to these inequalities?