MP News: Hawkforce soldiers are teaching about 2400 children of 60 Naxal affected villages in Balaghat.

MP News: Yogesh Kumar Gautam, Balaghat. ‘Education’ is now becoming a powerful weapon to fight Naxalism in Balaghat district. Hawkforce soldiers, who are fighting against ‘red terror’ in Naxal-affected areas, are providing education to school children along with security. Balaghat Police has started this initiative under the ‘Jan Maitri’ campaign of the community policing program. The aim of this initiative is to make the new generation understand the importance of education and to increase their attachment towards administration and police. Additional classes are being held after school is over. These classes are being held in 16 camps of Hawkforce built in the district and under the shade of trees.

About 60 villages come under these camps built in heavily Naxal affected areas. More than 2400 children of the area are benefiting from this initiative. The special thing is that along with teaching the young children, they are also providing career counseling to them. They are giving information about the courses of their interest, job possibilities etc. after school education.

Additional classes are held in two shifts

Classes are held in two shifts in the morning and evening in the Hawkforce camps built in the highly Naxal affected areas of Balaghat district. These also include affected areas like Dabri, Garhi, Pathri. At some places, before school starts in the morning, and in some camps, after school ends in the evening, the soldiers take these two to three-hour extra classes to practice the material learned in school and clear their doubts.

Increasing inclination towards studies

The effect of this initiative started about two months ago is also visible. Children who used to shy away from studies are now going to school regularly. After this the soldiers join additional classes. Thanks to innovations like learning through games, rural children are getting attracted towards education. Additional Superintendent of Police (Naxal Operations) Devendra Yadav said that due to the traditional education system, there was very little interest in studies among the children, but due to the interesting and new way of studying, their enthusiasm for education has awakened.

Team spirit is also being awakened in children.

Along with education, Hawkforce is also teaching the young children about staying healthy and team spirit. Apart from extra classes and career counselling, from time to time events like sports are organized in the village grounds. This is developing both team spirit and the hunger for competition. It was told that Hawk Force personnel do their policing work around these Naxal affected villages. He has direct contact with the villagers and children. When children from remote villages were talked to, it was found that there is a difference in their knowledge and education according to their age.

This initiative has been started under the ‘Jan Maitri’ campaign of community policing. ‘Education’ is the strongest medium to create a better future. The aim of this initiative is to develop ‘pro-government’ sentiments among the young generation. The connection of villagers and children with government, administration and police is to be strengthened. Additional classes have definitely increased the interest in studies among children. – Sameer Saurabh, Superintendent of Police, Balaghat