The children at the hospital who want to pursue full time education are sent to Canshala, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation school recognized by the government.
In a first, Mumbai's Tata Memorial Hospital has started a school programme for children battling cancer.
The programme has been started within the premises of the hospital for children undergoing treatment as it's very difficult for them to keep up with their studies during and after the treatment as they are under continuous medication.
The children at the hospital who want to pursue full time education are sent to Canshala, a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation school recognized by the government.
"I had passed 7th standard exams... and after that I did not go to school as I was undergoing my treatment. I come here and attend these sessions for two hours regularly which doesn't make me feel that I do not go to school," said Bhavesh Kamble, who dropped out of school in 2012.
Around 2,000 children register with Tata Memorial Hospital every year for cancer treatment of which 70 per cent come from a humble background. Due to their extended stay at the hospital at least half of these kids drop out of school.
"80% of these children are going to be cured. When they are cured, they should come and give back to the society, and the best way to do that is if they can continue their education and become professionals," says Dr. Shripad Banavali, the head of the hospital's Pediatric Oncology Department.
Children who come for treatment at the hospital are told about the school programs and allowed to choose subjects according to their interest.
"We have a group of highly qualified teachers, who are coming here and teaching them various subjects," said Shalini Jatia in charge of the programme.
"It is just to keep children engaged with us so that at least for those few minutes their mind is stimulated into academics and its away from the pain they are going through," said Jyoti, a representative from Mindsprings Enrichment Centre, an organisation working in association with the hospital to promote the programme.