Even when the COVID-19 pandemic left Gondo Tribals in Aurangabad, Maharashtra Unemployed in the district, their children learned to read and write during a challenging phase, all thanks to a group of retired teachers. Despite the initial language barrier, more than 50 of these Aboriginal children are now able to not only read and write as part of the ‘Make Them Smile’ project initiated by a group of professionals including doctors and teachers.
Project members told PTI that children are now taking care of personal hygiene and discipline along with sports activities.
An official of the Education Department said that this project is a good initiative to bring these Adivasi (Adivasi) children into the mainstream and identify their qualities and groom them accordingly.
gond tribal For a few decades, he has been living in a hamlet in Maliwada area near Devgiri Fort in Aurangabad.
The settlement comprises about 150 people, who made their living through the traditional business of selling tree roots and herbs.
When the business failed, many of them decided to work as labourers. But, they became jobless during the pandemic, said Dr Srirang Deshpande, a local ophthalmologist working for the project.
He said, “We used to serve food packets during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and reached Maliwada. These tribals were so honest that they refused ration and food packets as they got it a few days back.”
Deshpande said he also came to know that the children of these tribals, who were enrolled in schools, could not even read and write and could not understand Marathi.
“We deputed three retired teachers working with us to teach these children twice a week in their locality itself,” he said.
Ujjwala Nikalje, who retired as the headmistress of a school here, said these children were initially unfamiliar with the basic activities carried out in a school and could not even stand in a line.
“We had to work on their basics, from teaching them self-cleanliness. It took two months to bring them closer to books,” he said.
A girl enrolled in class 6 could not even read. But, the teachers helped her, she said.
“Now they can understand Marathi and we can teach them well,” Nikalje said.
Lata Musale, another retired teacher who worked on the project, said language was a barrier when communicating with children.
“They were attracted by the food packets given to us. We formed a good bond with him and then gradually introduced books and stationery to the children,” he said.
“After teaching them for about an hour, we let them indulge in other creative activities. Some of them can now play kho-kho and volleyball. We have also made playgrounds for them,” he said.
B B Chavan, Deputy Director of Education in Nashik, who was earlier posted in Aurangabad, said that the project is a good initiative to bring these tribal children into the mainstream by understanding their needs and background.
He said that under the initiative not only these children are being educated but their qualities are being identified and they are being groomed accordingly.
Project members told PTI that children are now taking care of personal hygiene and discipline along with sports activities.
An official of the Education Department said that this project is a good initiative to bring these Adivasi (Adivasi) children into the mainstream and identify their qualities and groom them accordingly.
gond tribal For a few decades, he has been living in a hamlet in Maliwada area near Devgiri Fort in Aurangabad.
The settlement comprises about 150 people, who made their living through the traditional business of selling tree roots and herbs.
When the business failed, many of them decided to work as labourers. But, they became jobless during the pandemic, said Dr Srirang Deshpande, a local ophthalmologist working for the project.
He said, “We used to serve food packets during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic and reached Maliwada. These tribals were so honest that they refused ration and food packets as they got it a few days back.”
Deshpande said he also came to know that the children of these tribals, who were enrolled in schools, could not even read and write and could not understand Marathi.
“We deputed three retired teachers working with us to teach these children twice a week in their locality itself,” he said.
Ujjwala Nikalje, who retired as the headmistress of a school here, said these children were initially unfamiliar with the basic activities carried out in a school and could not even stand in a line.
“We had to work on their basics, from teaching them self-cleanliness. It took two months to bring them closer to books,” he said.
A girl enrolled in class 6 could not even read. But, the teachers helped her, she said.
“Now they can understand Marathi and we can teach them well,” Nikalje said.
Lata Musale, another retired teacher who worked on the project, said language was a barrier when communicating with children.
“They were attracted by the food packets given to us. We formed a good bond with him and then gradually introduced books and stationery to the children,” he said.
“After teaching them for about an hour, we let them indulge in other creative activities. Some of them can now play kho-kho and volleyball. We have also made playgrounds for them,” he said.
B B Chavan, Deputy Director of Education in Nashik, who was earlier posted in Aurangabad, said that the project is a good initiative to bring these tribal children into the mainstream by understanding their needs and background.
He said that under the initiative not only these children are being educated but their qualities are being identified and they are being groomed accordingly.