Maharashtra government's initiative carving tribals future

government initiative carving tribals' future

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Worse condition of tribal education is the matter of serious concern for many, but there are some fortunate children also who are taking quality education and changing their lives at a residential public school at Panchagani. Traibal department of Amravati has initiated in offering this helping hand to these children to erase off their stressful past.
Due to the keen interest shown by Additional tribal Commissioner of Amravati Division Sunil Limaye, 120 tribal children in the division has been sent to one of the best places of residential public schools in the country. Under the Central government's Integrated Tribal Development Project, there is the scheme of sending tribal students to public schools in order to avail them better education and to improve their condition. State government has sanctioned Rs.90 lakh for this scheme and students can be sent to public schools after passing IVth standard. Amravati department checked various famous public schools in the state and selected a public school of Sanjivan Vidyalaya Trust, Panchagani. In normal course, the school charges Rs.90,000 to 1 lakh annualy per student. But Limaye and his associates appealed schools to reduce the amount from the viewpoint of social responsibility and the school also responded it by cahrging Rs.70,000 annualy for thesew tribal students. " It was a difficult situation for the school that it was giving admissions to tribal children from a completely different background than public school culture. Accomodating 120 students was not an easy task and that too without taking entrance tests. We conducted some tests at our own and sent 76 boys and 44 girls from Dharani, Pandharkawada, Kinwat, Aurangabad and Akola by selecting them on the merit," informed Limaye while talking to The Hitavada today. 
Taking consent from parents of tribal children was also a difficult task as they were not ready to send their wards in a completely unknown world. After repeated efforts at last parents agreed and students were admitted in the Sanjivan Public school. The school was established in 1922  and is spread over 24 acres. These tribal students were admitted in the Vth class from the session of 2006-07 and will get education upto standard Xth. The school built additional classrooms for these students, increased sections, appointed additional teachers and employees for them. A tribal teacher was made the the incharge of these students. At the start, special arrangement for the residence was made for all 120 students to remove their fear and then they were sent to live along with other students. Now their day starts with Indian classical music followed by English Communication classes, gardening, sports and other things. Students are learning Mathematics, Science, Marathi, English, Hindi, Social Sciences, arts and crafts, Work Exeprience and Physical Education. Tribal department officials give regular visits to the school to keep an eye on the performance of children. Limaye himself goes there at least once in two months, told Rajesh Lande, Deputy Commissioner of Accounts in the department.
The school recently has sent a report on performace of tribals students in which it has said that all are responding fully and accomodating themselves with conditions there. School is doing their constant evaluation and doing need based modification. Many of them have given excellent performance in academics as well as sports and arts. Within only 3 and half months 17 boys and three girls have been shifted to English medium classes. Many of them have represented in various sporta at different levels including Junior national Archery championship held at Amravati recently. School has expressed the confidence that those who are comparatively lagging behind still that other regular students will make up in coming days and has expressed interest in conducting this project. Talking about this Limaye said that this is the lifetime opprtunity for children. "After taking education their, they will know about taking benefits of schemes for tribals and will compete with others. Their life is bound to change compeltely now," he expressed.