Students on the Mowgli School operated in Katarniaghat Sanctuary of Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh.
| Photo Credit: PTI
‘Mowgli Schools’, arrange deep in the Dudhwa-Katarniya forest space in Uttar Pradesh’s Bahraich, have change into an oasis of learning for children of forest dwellers.
The faculties — one positioned in Motipur and one other in Barda areas of the forest reserve — impart training collectively to round 350 children, most of them aged between seven and 10.
These children used to wander in the forest space to gather firewood which made them inclined prey for wild animals, earlier than the faculties had been arrange by the forest division officers.
Named after the principle character “Mowgli” of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘ The Jungle Book‘, the faculties function in the night from forest division buildings.
“The children are provided with colourful books, comics, sports items, and are also shown cartoons. The schools are run more like tuition centres where children from nearby areas come in the evening and study,” mentioned Akashdeep Badhawan, Divisional Forest Officer.
Forest division officers mentioned most of the children are from marginalised households.
They assist their dad and mom in farms in the course of the day and in the night come to high school, the officers mentioned.
Earlier, these children use to enterprise contained in the forest in the night to gather firewood or just play that made them inclined prey for wild animals particularly large cats like leopards.
Located alongside the Indo-Nepal border, the Dudhwa-Katarniya forest space is a hotspot of man-animal battle and plenty of circumstances have even been reported the place leopards killed locals, the officers mentioned.
The concept of ‘Mowgli Schools’ took start 5 years in the past.
“The idea is to prevent the children from venturing into the forest by providing them a safe place to play and learn. The number of students in schools has increased over the years. We want the children of the area to become an important part of the society rather than becoming a victim of man-animal conflict,” Mr. Badhawan mentioned.
The children are additionally taught in regards to the ecology of the realm and numerous animals residing in the reserve.
Though there’s a devoted trainer at each faculties, forest officers, veterinary consultants, Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) personnel and different authorities officers additionally volunteer and take lessons.
“The parents and other villagers after seeing the educational development of the children are supporting the initiative,” the DFO mentioned.
The forest division will get assist from the World Wildlife Fund (WFF) and different social organisations to run the faculties. These organisations donate educating tools, projectors, books and sports activities gadgets to the faculties on common foundation, he mentioned.
