Children studying in the government schools in Lucknow are now learning banking skills. Students of classes 2 and 3 are learning banking transactions with specially printed currency notes in denomination of up to Rs 10,000.

An NGO called Pratham Education Foundation is teaching students to learn how to make bank transactions. The students are taught to discharge the duties of a cashier, how to maintain the records and how to deal with customers. The children also play the role of security guards in the 'banking' class.

The foundation state chief Nuzhat Malik said that the idea behind this concept was to encourage children to use their argumentative skills and move towards systematic learning. "We want to give practical knowledge of life to the children so that they can grow up with an all-round personality development. We teach them the importance of banking and then tell them how to go about it," she said.

The children work in groups and help the other children open their bank accounts.