Once shut due to Naxal violence, Schools of Konta block are now buzzing again
Pucca school buildings constructed for 45 schools, Construction work in progress for 49 school buildings
Raipur 02 March 2022/ Against all odds, the schools of Konta block in one of the worst Maoist-affected Sukma district of Chhattisgarh have reopened after a long wait of over 15 years.
On the special initiative of Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, efforts made by the Chhattisgarh Government to reopen schools in Naxal-affected areas of the state for the last three years proved to be a great success. The local administration has taken up the initiative of reopening schools with the help of villagers to connect extremely sensitive areas with the mainstream through education.
These 123 schools were shut in the development block 15 years back, amid surge in Naxal activities. This includes 100 primary schools, 22 middle schools and 01 high school. A dozen of school buildings in the interiors were demolished by the Maoists to prevent the security forces from taking cover. Now, huts have been constructed by the district administration with the help of villagers for running these schools. A provision of Rs 40 thousand has been made for the construction of temporary shelters for each school.
Besides, constant efforts are being made by the local administration to ensure that there is no shortage of educational facilities for all such children who were deprived of education for more than 15 years. Meanwhile, the work of construction of ‘pucca’ school buildings has also been started by the administration to ensure smooth functioning of these schools. As a part of this, over 45 school buildings have been constructed in the first phase and construction work is in progress of the remaining 49 school buildings.
The revival of schools has opened doors to a bright future for kids here. As the Maoist violence has waned, schools are being run again successfully in the sensitive areas of Chintalnar and Jagargunda. There is great enthusiasm among students to attend school after a long wait.
Revival of schools opens new doors of employment for local youth
The local educated unemployed youth were identified and offered teaching jobs. Training was also given to prepare them to educate children. A total of 97 youth have been appointed as ‘Shiksha Doots’ (teachers) at the Panchayat level and are being given an honorarium of Rs 11 thousand per month by the district administration. These youth have identified more than 4000 school dropouts so far.
Once shut due to Naxal violence, Schools of Konta block are now buzzing again
After the reopening of High School Chintalnar in the academic session 2021-22, now the children here do not have to wander anywhere. The Higher Secondary School, Middle School, Girls/Boys Hostel of Jagargunda—a highly sensitive and worst Maoist-affected village of this area—which was being operated in Dornapal in the past years, are now being operated in Jagargunda itself with all facilities. Similarly, the educational and residential institutions of village Bheji, Kistaram, Golapalli, and Samsatti, which were being operated in Konta, Maraiguda, and Dornapal headquarter, are now being operated in their native villages with full facilities.
