With December comes the season of annual day rehearsals in schools across Mumbai. But in a bold departure from tradition, Lion MP Bhuta School in Sion has replaced the usual dance and drama programmes with something far more practical, an event that teaches its students real-world skills.
Located inside a Jain housing society, the school draws most of its students from the slums of Dharavi and Matunga Labour Camp. Many are first-generation learners whose parents work as domestic workers, drivers, potters, steelware sellers, restaurant staff and hawkers.
Students practise archery for their Umang stall. Pics/Aditi Arulkar
Three years ago, as these families struggled after the pandemic, principal Jagdish Indalkar decided to try something new. Instead of a costly annual day, he organised an exhibition where students could learn simple trades. Some made incense sticks, lip balms, soaps, perfumes, bracelets and other handmade items. Others set up food and game stalls. The initiative generated extra income for their households and give birth to the annual event, Umang.
Students fine-tune their game stall for Umang. Pic/Aditi Arulkar
Now in its fourth edition, Umang will be held on December 23 and 24. Students take over the two-storey school, turning corridors and classrooms into buzzing marketplaces. Food and gaming stalls pack the school hall. “This allows every child to participate while learning a fallback skill. We want them to stay in school, but even if they don’t, they’ll never leave empty-handed; they will always know a skill,” Indalkar said.
The idea behind Umang… What’s the event?
Students from Std IV to Std X set up food, game and accessory stalls. They learn to create products, calculate profits and losses, and maintain balance sheets with help from the school clerk. Some give a share of earnings as ‘rent’, while others hand profits to their parents.
Students Speak
Students from the robotics team making 3D pen keychains
Rajan Prajapati, Mohammed Ansari,
Omkar Satarkar and Vignesh Bokki
Stall: Keychains made using 3D pens from the school’s robotics lab.
The Dharavi-based group wanted to produce items that merged creativity with modern technology
Vishal and Ranveer rehearse their Gujarati word game
Ranveer Dantani and Vishal Vaghela
Stall: A Gujarati word game where participants create 50 words in under a minute.
Last year, Ranveer earned Rs 1100 from his food stall, paid part of his school fees and gave the rest to his parents.
Aarohi and Aradhya preparing incense sticks for their stall
Aarohi Satve and Araadhya Shirke
Stall: Incense sticks made from dried festive flowers, scented with oils.
Both sixth graders chose incense making to explore craft and earn some money.
What does it teach?
Marketing, advertising, crowd management, teamwork, business basics and hands-on skills like mehendi, beading and handicrafts.
Participation
Stalls: 125+
Volunteers: 350+
Visitors: parents, nearby residents, students from other schools
Last year’s footfall:
Approx 20,000
Other attractions
Archery, rifle shooting, puzzles, word games, food stalls, accessories
