Disappointed with the condition of government schools in Jharkhand, a former IPS officer of the 1992 batch, Punjab cadre, who took voluntary retirement in 2014, Mr. Arun Oraon, started teaching students at his home in Ranchi. This happened after one of the boys requested him to give them proper training and education so they could compete with children from big cities, in the near future. This request sparked an idea in the officer’s mind, which eventually led to 2000 students gaining free and high-quality education in Jharkhand.
Mr. Oraon shared the details and purpose of his initiative with Indian Masterminds.
EVENING SCHOOLS
He realized that evenings of young children usually went free. With nothing much to do, they would easily be able to attend evening classes that could give them the proper education which the government schools could not he reasoned.
Mr. Oraon then appointed college-going volunteers to teach these little students for two hours, every evening. “Our basic aim was to strengthen the children’s basics and erase superstitions and practices of witchcraft by providing education to the young minds so that they do not follow in the old and archaic footsteps,” he said.
ASSEMBLING PEOPLE
Previously, youngsters of the village used to assemble at a particular area for discussions or recreation and spent quality time sitting together. Slowly, this age-long tradition is coming to an end.
“Through these evening schools, I’m looking forward to bring that tradition back. While kids could study at the schools, their parents would at least sit there and reach out to others for conversation, thereby bringing the assembling authenticity back,” Mr. Oraon told Indian Masterminds.
Bringing people closer will sort out a lot of issues, which otherwise had to be sorted in police stations. “Now, they would be able to sit together and find a solution to their problem, instead of dragging each other to police stations,” he stated.
Since agriculture is the main source of income in the villages, the officer encouraged the farmers to discuss the promotion of agriculture and learn from the ones whose farms are flourishing to better their own farms.
A SUCCESSFUL PROJECT
Today, evening schools have been launched in 29 villages and according to Mr. Oraon, four more schools will be launched by the end of the week. The school consists of students from classes 1 to 10. The college students who teach them do not receive any kind of remuneration and do it solely out of their heart and responsibility so that those children do not have to face the same educational crisis that they did.
“The project is shaping into a beautiful wave and I am happy to see everyone come together through its medium,” he added.
Since the teachers are quite young too, they are in search of jobs or looking to crack competitive examinations. Mr. Oraon is providing his help to these youngsters too by preparing them for competitive exams and interview selections.
“I equip the teachers once a month and have formed WhatsApp groups through which we are all linked to one another and can discuss jobs or competitive exams that they wish to clear.”
SENSITIZING THE ELDERS
Jharkhand has regions where only women are earning for the entire family and bearing all the expenses while their husbands have fallen so deep into the pit of alcoholism that they are unable to do anything by themselves.
Since these women are uneducated minimizing their chances at a proper job and are not so physically strong that they could do farming throughout the day, they resort to manufacturing and selling illicit liquor. They ferment rice, produce beer and sell them illegally. This gets them income but does not provide them with a life of dignity and respect.
“To provide them with proper employment so that they don’t get into this business, we opened ‘Silai Kendras’ for them where they were given contracts to stitch uniform and clothes. They could drop their children in the evening schools and while they study there, these women could work in Silai Kendras and earn a proper and respectable income,” stated Mr. Oraon.
INVOLVING THE YOUNG AND OLD
To involve youngsters who have dropped out of school or are unemployed in participating in the villages’ activities, the officer organized football tournaments in the village, as they have a craze for the sport in the region.
“These football tournaments have been arranged for girls and boys so they could also come together through its medium and converse about their plans and preparations,” he said.
Tribals have an underlying passion for dance and music. They have their own folk music and dances which they enjoy doing. To involve the middle-aged and old villagers, the officer brought them together and gave them instruments along with the task of teaching their authentic folk music and dance to the little kids who are not aware of them.
“I asked them to teach tribal instruments and folk songs sung in celebrations, to these little ones so that they are also aware of their culture,” he said.
Mr. Oraon is looking forward to involving more people in the initiative and bring them together through these evening schools.
