The Gadchiroli police in Maharashtra has transformed the lives of tribals in the past few years. Kotgul village, once a hotbed of Naxalism, has now got a public library under the newly launched scheme of SP Gadchiroli, ‘Ek Gaon, Ek Vachanalay’. Nobody in Gadchiroli had ever imagined to have a public library in Kotgul and that too with joint effort of both police and locals.
IPS officer Neelotpal, currently serving as SP Gadchiroli, made this possible in just a couple of months after taking the new charge. Now this public library will provide educational support to more than 6000 tribals who live in and around Kotgul village.
THE VISION
Tribals living in the district could do wonders if given the right opportunity. Out of the 150 people selected for the physical training of police constable in September 2022, around 10 percent were among the tribals. While speaking to Indian Masterminds, Mr. Neelotpal said, “It’s a great number and coming from them who live in extreme areas, we thought of providing education support by building libraries in their areas.”
Earlier, these motivated tribal youths used to struggle by coming to the district headquarter for taking any help for competitive exams.
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION
This scheme kicked off with the first library in Pirimili outpost at a small scale. The officer said, “The first library received huge response from the locals as many students started enrolling. The initiative was started in the December last year and we opened around five libraries in the same month.”
Mr. Neelotpal himself donated Rs 21,000 and 200 books to the library. He was among the people who helped this library build up. Apart from him, an officer of the state Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) at Amravati, PI Umre, donated 200 books. Moreover, the State Reserve Police Force and Central Reserve Police Force too extended financial assistance to set up the library. The local MLA has also supported this noble act of the police.
Mr. Neelotpal said, “We were able to raise Rs 6.5 lakh and this beautiful library was built in a dilapidated anganwadi building.”
Entire control of the library has been given to the locals so that they can take its responsibility. A young girl preparing for competitive exams has been appointed as the librarian and a monthly allowance of Rs 3000 is also being paid to her. Around 49 students have already become member of the library.
The officer now aims at bringing one library in each outpost covering the entire district. Currently at eight, the target it to set up 60 by April this year.
