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.

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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.”

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.