https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

In This New District of Chhattisgarh, Child Rag Pickers are Being Packed Off to School

District Collector and 2013-batch IAS officer PS Dhruv has started the Bal Jatan Abhiyan programme to educate underprivileged children. He wants to pave the way for a bright future for destitute and orphan children who are nomads and rag pickers. They also give small financial help to their family to motivate them for the child's education.
Indian Masterminds Stories

Till some time ago, 10-year-old Tanisha, who lives in Chhattisgarh’s newly created district, Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur, was a rag picker, who had left her studies long back. But, now, she has been admitted in a school in class 4 and is all set to study once again. Like her, 8-year-old Prince Preet Panika also goes to school instead of picking up garbage, and dreams of becoming an officer.

This has been possible because of Bal Jatan Abhiyan, an initiative of District Collector and 2013-batch IAS officer, PS Dhruv. He has started this programme to pave the way for a bright future for children like Tanisha and Prince, and many other destitute and orphan children who are nomads and engaged in rag picking. Under this initiative, the administration is conducting a survey of such children, and till now, 12 of them have been identified, and four have already been admitted to schools. 

Indian Masterminds interacted with IAS officer PS Dhruv, Collector of Manendragarh-Chirmiri-Bharatpur district, to get more details.

IAS PS Dhruv (in full black attire) with CM Bhupesh Baghel

BAL JATAN ABHIYAN

In its first phase, this campaign will be conducted in all urban areas of the district and, currently, the survey is going on. Urban bodies and education department officials will jointly identify nomads, rag pickers, orphans and destitute children and enroll them in schools. Many facilities, including educational materials, will be made available to these children through government schemes and non-governmental organizations. Along with this, financial assistance of Rs 300 will also be given every month to motivate the parents of the children to send them to school.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. Dhruv said, “By freeing these children from such work, we are motivating them to take up education, instead. We are also giving Rs 300 a month to their families by opening an account, to motivate the parents. Till now we have identified 12 such children, out of which, we have already admitted four in schools, and the process is going on for the remaining ones.”

IAS Dhruv interacting with rag picker children Prince

The administration also provides new dress, book, copy, and bag to the children to go to school. All school materials and other facilities will be made available through government schemes. The officials of Municipal Corporation will also monitor whether the children who got admitted are going to school regularly or not.

SURVEY

The survey to identify such children is being carried out in all the urban areas and a joint team has been formed for this, that includes the Chief Municipal Officer, Municipal Commissioner and Women Child Development Officer and Development Block Education Officer.

“We have also added the employees working under the Swachh Bharat Mission. They have been asked to inform us if they see children picking garbage anywhere. Once the survey is completed , we connect the children to the Bal Jatan Abhiyan. We are determined to provide education to all such children below the age of 18 years,” Mr. Dhruv said.

COLLECTOR’S SUDDEN VISITS

The officer himself monitors the survey and keeps an ear on the ground. Once, he suddenly reached Chirmiri Nagar and took stock of the arrangements for cleanliness by walking in various square intersections and wards. Near Podi Bazar, he saw an 8-year-old boy Prince, who was collecting garbage. He approached the boy, asked about his name, address and education. When he came to know that he is a rag picker, he gently encouraged and persuaded Prince to start going to school and study.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
epfo
ICAS Sanjay Pandey Elevated to Additional Secretary Rank in EPFO
ECI Sadan_ Election
IIS Ashish Goyal Appointed as Director General (Media), Election Commission of India - Know More About Him
Jamia_RCA_resized
32 Candidates from Jamia RCA Clear UPSC CSE 2024, 12 Among Them Women
Eastern Coalfields Limited MoA
CMPDIL and Eastern Coalfields Limited Sign MoA for Implementation of Solar Power Project
REC Limited
IAS Jitendra Srivastava Assumes Charge as CMD, REC Limited - Know More About Him
Uttar Pradesh Police (UP)_resized
3 Senior IPS Officers Reshuffled in Uttar Pradesh, DK Thakur Made ADGP, SSF
IPS logo resized
IPS Officer Satendra Kumar Repatriated to Uttar Pradesh Cadre from NCRB
Satyabrata Sahu IAS
Senior IAS Officer Satyabrata Sahu Empanelled for Secretary Equivalent Post at the Centre
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
E-Rickshaw Chaos, Waterlogging, Traffic Mess — Can Noida Fix Its Daily Chaos? | Exclusive with Dr Lokesh M, IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
IRS Padmapani Bora’s 16-Year-Long Journey in Governance
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
This Collector Finds Happiness In Squeaks Of Children With Hearing Impairment Who Start Hearing After Surgery
UPSC Stories
Shah margi chirag
Fifth Attempt, AIR 4: Shah Margi Chirag’s Steady Climb to Success | Exclusive
After five attempts, Margi Chirag Shah secured AIR 4 in UPSC CSE 2024. Her journey reflects focus, simplicity,...
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-22 at 16.36
How CA Harshita Goyal Carved Her Path to UPSC AIR 2
Haryana-born, Gujarat-raised — meet UPSC star, Harshita Goyal, a CA who's now a national name, as she...
UPSC CSE 2024 Results
UPSC CSE 2024 Results: Women Dominate with 3 Out Of Top 5 Ranks - Know More About the Toppers
In UPSC CSE 2024, three women secured top 5 ranks, highlighting gender progress in India’s civil services....
Social Media
GozJlgrXYAAHoKv
Murals for Cleanliness: Thoothukudi District Launches Art-Inspired Sanitation Drive in Panchayats
Local artists add colour and messages to village walls, promoting hygiene and community pride
Himanshu Nagpal IAS
Varanasi's Beggar Rehabilitation Initiative Recognised by UIDAI, CDO Himanshu Nagpal Shares the News
Mr. Himanshu Nagpal is a 2019-batch IAS officer
IAS Vaishali Chopra
Young IAS Vaishali Chopra Takes a Stand Against Caste Bias During Field Training in Uttar Pradesh
While the issue itself may seem small, the post is resonating widely online for its honest reflection...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
epfo
ICAS Sanjay Pandey Elevated to Additional Secretary Rank in EPFO
ECI Sadan_ Election
IIS Ashish Goyal Appointed as Director General (Media), Election Commission of India - Know More About Him
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr Lokesh M IAS
IRS Padmapani Bora UPSC
WhatsApp Image 2025-04-13 at 1.46
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT