RKM to open school for tribal children at Jangalmahal

The Ramakrishna Mission (RKM) will soon open a school for the tribal children of Jangalmahal in 2016.

It was Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who urged the monks of the Ramakrishna Mission to open a school to provide education to tribal children. 

Accordingly, a MoU was signed between the Ramakrishna Mission authorities and the state government.

The Ramakrishna Mission Vidyalaya will follow the Ekalavya Model Residential School (EMRS) format. It will be co educational institution for tribal children. 

The state Tribal development department is now preparing details of the project. 

It may be recalled that the mission’s aim was to provide education to tribals. In Narayanpur (Madhya Pradesh), there are special schools and projects for tribals. 

In Deoghar in Jharkhand, schemes have been taken for the development of the tribals. There are even non formal schools for tribals with minimum attendance.  

A senior state government official said that the details of the project were being worked out. 

Many of the students are first generation learners and so the project will have to be penned in such a way that it benefits all the students. 

As it will be a residential school, a foolproof plan is required as the experience of running such schools in rural belt is not always good.

It me be mentioned that during the Left Front regime, the children of Jangalmahal were the worst sufferers. The schools were closed and many children were used as the couriers by the Maoists. 

After coming to power, when the trouble in Jangalmahal was brought under control, Chief Minister’s aim was to provide education to tribal children and help them grow and become self-reliant.

It may be recalled that Swami Vivekannda while traveling in the country had discovered the potential of tribals, who were considered to be socially outcast in those days. 

He believed that new India will emerge from the houses of the farmers and cobblers thereby meaning the ordinary people who do not have formal education.

At Belur Math, Swamiji had once invited Santhals, who were working there over lunch and treated them with sweets.