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Journalism of Courage
The ethnic violence that broke out in Manipur in May left their father dead and mother missing. Their ancestral house at Lairok village in the North Eastern state’s Kangpokpi district was burnt to ashes. As violence continued to rage, their grandmother managed to take them to a camp put up by the security forces.
Staring at a dark future, the first ray of hope emerged for the four siblings when their uncle, posted as Sepoy with the BSF in Punjab, reached out to them and arranged for them to reach Ferozepur, nearly 3,000 kms away from what used to be their home. Now, a school in Punjab — St Joseph’s Convent School in Ferozepur Cantt — has stepped up and adopted the children, including two boys and two girls, aged between 8 and 17 years old.
Their uncle said he had last visited Manipur in April. He returned to Punjab and joined duty on April 28. “During that visit, I had met my brother. He was a farmer. He was killed a couple of weeks later and then our ancestral house was set on fire. My brother’s wife went missing,” said the uncle.
He said his mother managed to reach a camp set up by the security forces. “They spent around 15 days at the camp. I later told them to reach Dimapur in Nagaland with the help of security forces. From there, I got them on a train and they reached here,” said the Sepoy, adding that a small house, which he had constructed in Imphal with all his savings, was also burnt down in the violence.
For over a month, he visited several schools for their admission, but alleged that in nearly all of them asked for steep admission fee — ranging from Rs 20,000 to 30,000 per student. “I am just a Sepoy. I cannot afford this kind of money,” he said.
Later, one of his superiors contacted the Diocese of Jalandhar, Father Michael Anikuzhikattil (Episcopal Vicar of the Malwa region) and Priest-in-charge of St Joseph Catholic Church at Ferozepur. They got three of the children admitted to St Joseph’s Convent School at Ferozepur Cantt, free of cost.
While one girl was admitted to Class 10, the other was admitted to Class 8 and the youngest boy in Class 4. The eldest boy, a student of Class 12 is still looking for a school as the St Jopsep’s School is only till Class 10.
“The school will bear the cost of the kids’ education. The school will also provide them with any other assistance they might require,” said Father Michael.
Principal Anila CMC mentioned that though the registration for Class 10 was over, they have sought special permission from the board. She said the teachers have been asked to keep special focus on the children as they need to study the Punjabi subject as well. The uncle said that now he is looking for a school for the the eldest boy. “Studies will divert the attention of the children. They miss their parents,” said the uncle.
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