OVERCOMING countless obstacles and challenges, the villagers of Naxal-infested Bijapur has been able to open schools in their three villages after 17 years.

After the Salwa Judum campaign of 2005, these villages were cut-off from the mainstream and far away from the reach of the Government. The policy of taking Government schemes to the last man has once again succeeded in winning the hearts of the villagers in the Maoist-affected areas.

Bijapur district is the most vulnerable area of the country from the point of view of Maoist influence. Even today hundreds of villages here are far away from the Government and its schemes. In the year 2005, the anti-Naxal Salwa Judum created an atmosphere of panic and terror and forced hundreds of villages and civilians to face the brunt of displacement. During this, 350 schools in the district were closed and the future of thousands of children were in dark.

With the initiative of the Government and the efforts of the education department, more than 160 schools were opened in the district in the last three years, but challenges in Mosla, Kachilwar and Gundapur could not be overcome. The Education Department has been successful in confidence building by constantly contacting the villagers for the last three years and now the schools have been started again in the hut after the consent of the villagers. The village headman and priest offered prayers according to local customs and sang the National Anthem. BEO Mohammad Zakir Khan said that the 45 kilometer journey to Mosla, Kachilwar and Gundapur villages have to be covered by crossing many obstacles. Amidst all the challenges, efforts are being taken to connect the children with mainstream of education.

BEO Mohammad Zakir Khan further informed that 34 children have been enrolled in Mosla, 32 in Kachilwar and 34 in Gundapur. The place of their studies has been prepared by the villagers in the form of huts. The Government has provided copy pens, books and school dresses to the children here. In the schools opened after seventeen years, Gyandoots have been arranged for the education of the children. These Gyandoots are local educated unemployed of these areas, who will stay in the village and educate children. The District Administration has appointed them under the DMF head. Arrangements have been made to train them through DIET. After the rain, the government will give approval for the construction of sheds at these places. Collector Rajendra Kumar Katara informed that schools are being run in the huts through Gyandoots. First, one-week training will be given to these Gyandoots. Then they will be given training on 2 days of the month. Regular teachers will be posted after necessary arrangements would be made by the Government. Children will also be given mid-day meal, copy, book, school dress and sports goods. He said that the administration is making efforts for better education. Along with this, there will be benefits in delivering the schemes of the government at the field level.