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Transformation of a Naxalite Tribal Village - Inspiring story from AP

11/04/2008 10:06:20 Courtesy:Samachara Bharathi, VSK-AP

 

 

By Anil Kumar

 

 

ALLAMPALLY (AP): Five years back, Allampally and nearby tribal

hamlets used to reverberate with the staccato sound of gunfire

emanating from both police and Naxalites. Today, this Tribal

village is echoing with the chanting of slokas and religious hymns

by the Tribal children.

 

 

This transformation owe to the credit of the initiatives and the

innovative ideas of the Hyderabad-based Jeeyar Education Trust,

which started three ` Gurukulams ' one each at Allampally ( Kadem

mandal ) and Beersapet ( Utnoor mandal ) in the district and the

third at Ongole .The tribal students are now finding their place in

the social mainstream. And JET is planning to open another half a

dozen gurukulams in districts like Khammam and Karimnagar.

 

 

Besides traditional education, the Gurukulam (residential school),

which was started on 26 January 2004 at Allampally also teaches

regular curricula to 378 students, including girls from 11 nearby

tribal hamlets. Of the 350 students, 150 are provided with boarding

and accommodation in JET's hostel free of cost. The Gurukulam , is

in fact, now the hub of all developmental activities in the village.

The locals are being sent to Bangalore for training in vocational

and other skills.

 

 

JET has also taken the initiative to improve transportation by

laying a 13-km road from the interior forest area to the main road

and has succeeded in training underprivileged tribal children in

performing daily rituals like ` Sandhyavandanam - '

and `Aradhana 'on a par with other Hindus.

 

 

The change is so marked that the children who once were hard put to

it to articulate themselves now field questions with ease. ``My

father died when I was young and none took care of our family.

During that time, my mother found a holy place ( Jeeyar Gurukulam )

and immediately got me and my brother admitted there,'' Madhusudan ,

a Class V student told. He has been studying in the Gurukulam since

2004 (his sibling is in Class VI) and has won appreciation for

his `` petro gas'' model at a science exhibition on the school

premises.

 

 

``Our hamlets were in the grip of fear till 2003. But since JET

opened the Gurukulam the fear has vanished,'' a visibly happy

Parbhi Bai of Mangal Singh tanda said. With the Gurukulam

surpassing all expectations, the State Government has accorded

permission to upgrade the school from Class VII to X ``Princes used

to go to seers in the forests and live with them for education and

enlightenment- But with changing times, education is available in

the cities. Today, we have decided to take it to the forests,'' Sri

Sri Sri Chinna Jeeyar Swamy told.

 

To Know More about Jeeyar Education Trust -

http://www.chinnajeeyar.org/Index.asp