Step by Step

Everyone knows that the Dantewada district of Chattisgarh is a Naxal-affected area.

Everyone knows that the Dantewada district of Chattisgarh is a Naxal-affected area. But not many know that despite the number of pull-down elements,the district is taking many efforts to stand on its feet. One such effort is Pota Cabin Schools,residential schools for the students of the area. Equipped with necessary facilities,each school can house around 500 students. However,the noble idea met with a roadblock a lack of qualified teachers. This led to the inception of another project Bachpan Banao in August this year,under which the local teachers are trained and provided teaching resources training. And this is where Disha,a students initiative of IISE,Pune,played a role,by contributing towards fellow/volunteer management.

Currently,Bachpan Banao is being implemented in two Pota cabin schools of Dantewada,as a pilot project. It is planned to expand the program to all schools in the district, says Kaustubh Deshpande,general coordinator of DISHA,a 5th year BS-MS student. Deshpande was the first volunteer for Bachpan Banao. He had been in the schools of Dantewada from August 15 to September 2,to kick off the program. There are also plans of other DISHA volunteers to go as fellows/volunteers in the coming months, he adds. With the help of IISER faculty,Disha is also planning a science camp for selected students of Dantewada,which is expected to take place in Pune in the month of December.

Currently,Pranith Simha,Project Coordinator of Bachpan Banao,a former IISER Pune student,is staying in Dantewada full time and coordinating the whole program. He is one of the key volunteers associated with DISHA for the past few years. Very recently,two more fellows from Disha have reached Dantewada. Besides Disha,other organisations and individuals working for Bachpan Banao include Shankhini Mahila Utthan Kendra (MSMUK),which is a social organization working in Heeranar,Dantewada; Sri Budhari Tati,started by a tribal woman; Dr Ram Godbole,a doctor currently working in the Ashram of MSMUK and who has previously worked in various tribal regions of Maharashtra and Bastar; his wife Suneeta Godbole and other tribal women of the Ashram.

Sharing his experiences of staying and working as a fell ow at Dantewada,says Deshpande,The teachers out there are very young,in their early 20s,but are very passionate about their work. They are appointed on temporary basis and are called Anudeshak. They have deep ambitions to do good for themselves,their family,the students and also the society in general. Despite lacking good academic backgrounds,experience or expertise,they are very much capable of bring change in the society.

Deshpande is all praise for the district administration and their positive efforts. Unfortunately,these efforts go unnoticed. In the field of education,a lot of new schools and colleges are being set up. Even a new education city is being constructed at Geedam near Dantewada, he adds.

Bachpan Banao will be implemented in the third school from October 1. In the first phase,the program will be implemented at the three schools for the current academic year. There are also plans for a scale-up of the program,ultimately expected to be working at all schools in the entire district.

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