A US High School Student Receives a Government Honor for His Unique Contribution to Indian NGO System Aimed at Adult Literacy

    CLEVELAND, OH, June 05, 2014 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Still in High School, but an ardent musician belonging to his school orchestra followed his first passion, Music, to achieve a significant honor. He has been honored by the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, for helping incorporate Music in the adult education curriculum in Rural India. "Music is therapeutic, and I learnt that early from a science project in middle school. Music helped normalize the blood pressure of subjects who were a part of that experiment," said Kaustav Malik, a high school student from Ohio. Kaustav volunteered at Jan Shikshan Sansthan, an Institute of People's Education in India.

Kaustav, who belongs to a band for which he played Guitar and Drums, is also a composer having performed at locations including House of Blues. He also played for his School Orchestra in United States for 7 years. In a request to the Director of People's Education Institute, he wanted to familiarize adults to music at the institute. "We had no instruments and nor the budget in that fiscal year for them, so Kaustav brought his own Guitar to the class". The class, mainly adults, received him with great enthusiasm. Subsequently the Institute engaged some local performers to come to classes, said Sudha Singh, Director of the Institute in State of UP in India. We saw an overall positive impact from this inclusion on our groups of students. Kaustav recently wrote an essay for us titled "Music a part of Adult Education for reasons for therapeutic value and enhanced learning," said Ms. Singh. This was later presented and recommendation from it adopted by our Board, she added.

In recognition of his contribution, Kaustav Malik, has been extended an invitation by the Institute on behalf of Government of India to be a part of the Republic Day parade on January 26, 2015 in India. During this event he will have the opportunity to be seated with other accomplished students from all over India and adjacent to high level dignitaries from Government of India. This parade is Chaired by President of India. "I was just following my passion and instincts and this is a huge honor for me. I want to thank my school, my teachers and my parents for helping and guiding me. Above all I want to thank the students of the People's Education Institute who appreciated my talent in music. It means a lot to me and I want to reach out to other NGO's and Social Organizations where Music inclusion, however small, can really help raise spirits of the groups they are trying to help," added Kaustav.

About JSS, Peoples Education Institute

Jan Shikshan Sansthan (Institute of Peoples Education) have a challenging mandate of providing vocational skills to non-literate, neo-literates as well as school drop-outs by identifying skills that have a market in the region of their establishment. JSS, formed under the National Literacy Mission Authority, falls under the Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India, and is a Not for Profit Institute.

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