Students at the Mowgli School run at the Katarniaghat Sanctuary in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh. , Photo Credit: PTI
The ‘Mowgli School’ established in the Dudhwa-Katarnia forest area in Bahraich, Uttar Pradesh has become an oasis of learning for the children of the forest dwellers.
The schools – one located in Motipur and the other in Barda areas of the forest reserve – provide simultaneous education to around 350 children, most of whom are between the ages of seven and 10.
Before the establishment of schools by the Forest Department officials, these children used to wander in the forest area to collect firewood, which made them prey to wild animals.
Named after the main character of Rudyard Kipling’s ‘Mowgli’ the jungle Book‘, the schools operate in the evenings from the buildings of the Forest Department.
“Children are given coloring books, comics, sports items and cartoons are also shown. The schools are run like tuition centers where children from nearby areas come and study in the evening,” said Akashdeep Badhawan, divisional forest officer.
Forest department officials said most of the children are from underprivileged families.
Officials said they help their parents in the fields during the day and come to school in the evening.
Earlier, these children would venture inside the forest in the evening to collect firewood or simply play which made them susceptible prey to wild animals, especially big cats like leopards.
Officials said that located along the India-Nepal border, the Dudhwa-Katraniya forest area is a hotspot of man-animal conflict and there have been several cases where leopards have killed locals.
The idea of ’Mowgli School’ was born five years ago.
“The idea is to prevent children from venturing into the woods by providing them with a safe place to play and learn. Year by year the number of students in the schools has increased. We want the children of the area to become an important part of the society instead of becoming victims of man-animal conflict,” said Mr. Badhawan.
Children are also taught about the ecology of the area and the various animals that live in the reserve.
While both the schools have a dedicated teacher, forest officials, veterinary experts, Special Tiger Protection Force (STPF) personnel and other government officials also volunteer and take classes.
The DFO said, “Parents and other villagers are supporting this initiative after seeing the educational growth of the children.”
The Forest Department gets support from the World Wildlife Fund (WFF) and other social organizations to run the schools. He said that these organizations donate teaching aids, projectors, books and sports material to the schools on a regular basis.