A child and his play are inseparable. As a child, I remember getting lost in my own world role-playing with my favorite figurines, engaged in games of business and words or just the very basic yet joyful ball passing. There is no doubt that a child’s play is his best form of learning. Role-play feeds to the creative human, educational games hone his brain skills and outdoor games cater to his physical growth. All said, toys and playing plays a very vital role in shaping up all facets of a child’s development into an adult. For a child, play is the instrument for discovering and learning, evolving new skills, and attaching with others. Through self-directed play, children can follow their curiosities, process outcomes with choices, defeat their doubts, and make friends. Play also has important links to developing key skills that serve as a foundation for life-long success, including critical thinking, communication, problem solving and collaboration. Often referred to as 21st century skills, these capabilities complement core subject matter knowledge and are highly valued in a world that is increasingly complex, competitive, and interconnected.
In a heart warming initiative, Ajmer and Nagaur district administration is making efforts to provide access of a playful environment that stimulates children’s natural curiosity and creativity through means of a toy bank, specially for kids who cannot afford it. Working towards the vision of increasing Khushhali Index in Rajasthan as outlined by Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje, district administrations in Rajasthan started working on various projects and initiatives across various sectors. ‘Toy Bank’, one such initiative, aims to bring together several sections of the society whole heartedly and generate synergy and maximize happiness.
Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje launched the State’s first Toy Bank through an e-conference over to Ajmer and Nagaur. Both district administrations were present along with partners and happy, smiling children on the occasion. Ajmer has partnered with Social Cops for aid in developing the mobile app that shall operate and track all donation transactions and respond with receipts in real time. One of its kind, the app shall greatly help the administration in keeping track of the toys as well as the donators. One can simply drop off the toys to be donated over 50 centers across the state including private banks and education institutes, get their details recorded, sign on the app and hand over. The toys hence received shall be distributed in primary schools, pediatric wards, aangandbadi kendras, child homes and community centers.
Happy with the initiative, Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje not only issued instructions for toy banks to be opened in all other districts, but also directed that similar banks be opened for clothes and books. While interacting with the children in Ajmer over e-conference, Raje asked the kids how they liked their new toys, to be received with a big thank you from all of them. Raje pointed out that these toy banks should aim at distribution of educational toys, that leads to combination of fun and learning. CM Vasundhara Raje also donated 101 educational toys to the Ajmer bank, which were distributed among the children of the district and for which she received a certificate meant for the donors.
Launched the ‘Gift a Toy’ campaign & smart monitoring app for Toy Bank Initiative. #SpreadingSmiles #HappinessIndex pic.twitter.com/jfQ8bcXohf
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) June 16, 2016
Playing is the right of every child – learning in leisure plays a very vital role in optimal child development.
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) June 16, 2016
Gifted 101 educational toys as my contribution to Toy Bank—received roses from the kids as a return gift—spreading happiness is that easy!
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) June 16, 2016
Gifted 101 educational toys as my contribution to Toy Bank—received roses from the kids as a return gift—spreading happiness is that easy!
— Vasundhara Raje (@VasundharaBJP) June 16, 2016
The initiative has received encouragement from a lot of organizations since it is perhaps for the first time this sort of initiative has happened at the level of the Government which makes it easier to umbrella and expand all benefits. While 5000 toys had already been donated in Ajmer on the day of launch, another 50000 toys shall be collected this month.
The initiative is a rare example of how technology, goodwill and governance can together combine to maximize benefits for the society at large. We appeal you all to step forward and join Vasundhara Raje’s government in this initiative – let’s all help bring smiles on innocent faces.
