Nagpur: a small group carrying a balloon, bouquets, a box of chocolate and swinging to a hard drum beat can be easily misinterpreted for the wedding procession in this narrow BYLANE of this remote Gadchiroli Village.
But this procession in Kangsanguda Village, in Bhamragarh Taluka, which was affected by Naxala, stopped outside the six-year-old Vasudeo Habka house to celebrate the ‘first day of school’.
Zilla Parishad School (Koyanguda) Principal Vinit Padmawar decided to visit all six new reception in the style of ‘band, Baaja & Baraat this unique because the physical reopening of the school was not permitted because of the covid pandemic.
“Well, if they can’t come to school, the school will go to them,” Padmawar said.
Habka stared in disbelief.
When the drum beat Tempo took, as well as applause and Habka found himself receiving several prizes from special welcome parties.
Padmawar said, “Children like gifts.
It’s a more intense human nature in children.
Apart from all goods, we also present academic books to students.” Bhamragarh Taluka has a unique topography and is a security sensitive area because of the presence of Naxalit.
During the rainy season, the entire taluka was cut off from civilization for days, if not weeks, because the only bridge that connects it to the outside world of sinking under the waters of Parlakota who rises.
Some of the deadliest meetings between Naxalit and security forces have occurred here.
Padmawar said, “That’s why education plays an important role, because children must remain involved in a constructive atmosphere that no other ideology affects them.
Closing down the physical classroom has hit us hard as in this remote area, online education does not Maybe.
In some places you don’t even get a cellular network.
Plus their socio-economic conditions are not conducive to pursuing academic interests.
“Even last year when urban students touched online classes, children in remote villages looked at the gloomy future.
That’s when many school teachers at Taluka took it themselves to start a home visit.
They will ride their bicycles once a week to the villages and teach students.
Sometimes, they climb a path that can be announced to ensure no students are left.