August 5, 2014, Aurangabad: The first ASER National Workshop was held in Bhopal in October of 2005. It doesn’t seem that long ago, but here we are 10 years later for our 10th Workshop in Aurangabad.
In 2005, I remember that Pratham teams from all over the country came. There were about 50 people and of course, our office was not large enough to house everyone. We held the workshop on the premises of a university. Today we have an ASER Centre which has about 120 people of its own. We are all here together in Pratham’s own PACE centre in Aurangabad.
Lush green all around us, stunning views of the Daulatabad Fort, beautiful balmy weather. It seems fitting that we are planning our 10th ASER release here.
The place is hopping with young people. For some of them it is their first ASER and some have been with us for the entire journey. All superbly confident, all ready for the next 100 days ASER.
I’m sure the next few months will fly equally fast as the ASER juggernaut takes over our lives, but it is nice to stop and reminisce in this beautiful spot.
Wilima Wadhwa is Director, Statistics at ASER Centre in New Delhi.