The Hindu : `Education with pleasure' trips for school children

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 18, 2003

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`Education with pleasure' trips for school children

By Our Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI MAY 17 . It will be a trip down memory lane. The Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation (DTTDC) is planning to take school children on a sightseeing tour of protected historical monuments across the Capital in an effort to bring the present generation closer to the city's rich cultural heritage.

The children will also be given a ride on Metro Railway besides getting an insight into the political seat of power -- the Delhi Vidhan Sabha, which will be thrown open to the children for the first time.

Launching a planned expansion of activities for school children, the DTTDC has tied-up with leading schools -- both Government and public -- to take school children on a historical and educational trip. The programme will ensure that Delhi's school children get to see one protected monument each year and learn about the Capital's glorious past. In fact, the whole concept is to mix education with pleasure.

The DTTDC has also roped in the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation and the tour of the Capital would include a ride on the Metro rail. Apart from this, the historic Old Secretariat complex, which houses the Vidhan Sabha of Delhi, has also been included in the list of destinations where children would be taken. They would also be shown the House from inside. It has been decided to include the Humanyun Tomb as one of the major monuments where children would be taken during their daylong trip.

``Talks have been held with Vasant Valley School, various branches of Delhi Public School and several Government schools for this venture. A committee of Principals has also been constituted to look into the question of logistics and the Delhi Tourism Department intends to give a big thrust to this programme. Talks have also been held with the Union Tourism Ministry for help to implement this programme which could also have representation from the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). It is time generation X is taken back into history by actually taking them to the doorstep of what they have been reading in books,'' said DTTDC CEO, Rajiv Talwar.

In fact, concessional packages are being worked out for school children. The DMRC officials have shown keen interest in the whole concept and are ready to go out of the way to make this concept a big success. Apart from this, the Department is also contemplating setting up "tourism clubs'' in schools on the lines of eco-clubs to popularise tourism and various destinations among the up coming generation. The response has been overwhelming and with the summer vacation expected to be over by end of next month, the programme is expected to take off in a big way, Mr. Talwar added.

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`Education with pleasure' trips for school children