Getting an opportunity to study in an English-medium school was a dream come true for most the students from the economically-backward sections of society of the first batch of Bhilai Ispat Vikas Vidyalaya (BIVV).
Supportive teachers, exposure to co-curricular activities, feeling loved and cared for without being sidelined as students from economically backward sections of society, commonly referred to as BPL families, getting a chance to train in sports and getting scholarships and most important of all—studying in an English medium school to cherish dreams.
BIVV that does not charge any tuition fee from students run under the auspices of CSR department of SAIL-Bhilai Steel Plant. It also provides mid day meals, uniforms, books etc. free of cost.
Praneet Ghosh and Payal Ghosh, siblings who passed out from BIVV are doing extremely well. A graduate in Hospitality and Hotel administration from IHM, Guhawati, Praneet works in the hospitality sector while his sister Ms. Payal Ghosh is pursuing M.Com.
Ms. Payal is grateful to the teachers at BIVV who supported them in all spheres – be it our education, going to events and exhibitions, participating in dance programmes, going to Maitri Baag on Children’s Day or visiting Bhilai Steel Plant. Payal’s mother works in Civic Centre’s Super Bazaar in the packaging area while his dad works as a machinist in the Industrial area.
Praneet was a student of Hindi-medium BSP school in Sector-07 from Class 1-4. Getting a chance to study from Class 5 onwards in an English-medium school in BIVV was a dream come true, he says. “Learning English is very important in today’s times and I’m glad I got a chance to study in BIVV,” he says.
Teachers at BIVV are very experienced and groomed them well to participate and win competitions. The mid-day meal provided in the school has been sumptuous and nice. The teachers and Principal of BIVV never made them feel out of place though they belonged to the BPL families, he adds.
“Everything which I had learnt in BIVV from my respected teachers will always be the torch bearer for my lifetime,” says Siddhant Samal, who pursued BA (Economics) from Banaras Hindu University after passing out from school and is currently studying at Azim Premji University. Recollecting his school days, he shares that the teachers had taught him, guided to face not only textbook solutions but also different situations in real life.
“Each and every moment is still fresh in my mind and alive like it happened yesterday including the football matches with bottles, kabbadi and all the fun during recess time. What a wonderful time that was! BIVV is not only a school for us, it is, and will always remain a grand tree of which we are branches spreading in different directions but with a common root,” he adds.
School life has always been the most important and memorable part of any student’s life but he must say he really learnt to LIVE at my school, BIVV. Surely from the core of his heart would like to thank Bhilai Steel Plant for giving him a life in the form of a school, he says.
SAIL’s tagline – there’s a little bit of SAIL, in everybody’s life is a phrase that has made true sense in my life. But in my life it’s a very large bit, he shares.
Ms. Tanu Jaal, who studied from BIVV, Sr. Secondary School, Sec-07 and SSS, Sector-10 did her graduation in Home Science from Bhilai Mahila Mahavidyalaya. She did her Post Graduation in Food Science and Nutrition from Girls PG College, Durg and currently wants to complete her B.Ed so that she can become a Professor.
She is grateful to the BSP management for rendering support and help like getting mid-day meals, waiver in school fees and getting a cycle to commute to school. “We have a strong bonding with teachers at BIVV and can share anything with them. We got ample opportunity to pursue arts, dance, singing, drama, sports etc. along with academics,” she says.
Ms. Sagarika Sagar, whose father has an ice-cream vending business, completed her education from BIVV and Sr. Secondary school, Sec-07 and then did BA (Journalism) from St. Thomas College and worked briefly with Dainik Bhaskar. Currently, she is a Freelance journalist.
Reminiscing about days at BIVV, she shares: “We have had a parent-teacher relationship with teachers. We still keep in touch with our teachers. The financial help we got from BSP through BIVV has been a big help for us. We are indeed very lucky to get a chance to study in such a good school.”
Teachers motivated them to perform to the potential and the education standard of the school is at par with other schools. “I wanted to pursue Journalism and my parents supported my decision,” she says.
BIVV has served as a boon for students from the BPL category families over the years. The dedicated team of teachers and administrators backed by the BSP management are offering top-notch English-medium education to numerous students in BIVV who do not have access to education due to financial constraints and lower economic standards.
What started as a CSR initiative for enabling families in economically backward sections of society to send their children to a good school has proven to be a pathway to a brighter future and career ahead for such students, enabling them climb up the ladder in society and give shape to their dreams!
