In Bihar, cops herding kids to school
Radhika D Srivastava
[ 7 Mar, 2007 0138hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]


RSS Feeds| SMS NEWS to 8888 for latest updates


PATNA: With National Democratic Alliance in the saddle in Bihar, times
are changing in the state. And for a change, the men-in-khaki have
picked up slates and chalks. Not for studying themselves, but for
herding all out-of-school children to school.

The state is home to around 24 lakh children between six and 14 years
who do not go to school. In its effort to increase school enrolment,
the state government has hit upon a novel idea to use the police for
spreading the importance of education.

Local police constables now move around in neighbourhood villages
looking for children who should be in school. They also visit homes
and check out commercial establishments to locate child labourers.

The campaign has been on for about a month now and 20,000-odd new
students have already been added to the rolls of government primary
schools.

Preliminary reports say children feel very important to have policemen
requesting them to attend school. Policemen, on the other hand, are
enjoying their new role which allows them to break out of their
stereotypical "tough" image. Additional DG (HQ) Abhayanand said the
campaign has evoked good results.

"In the past one month, the task has not been very difficult. But now
our people will have to exert even more to keep the new enrolments
going," he said.

Among the families that do not send their children to school, a large
number are averse to school education. These are the people who need
counselling and coaxing the most. "We do not have a set method. We
have asked our district forces to innovate. They are using their own
ways to convince such families," the ADG said.

But there is no use of force. No threat.

The policemen have been asked to motivate both children and parents.
More than half of the children who do not study are believed to be
working as child labourers. "Our men visit shops and dhabas to see if
children have been employed there. These children are then enrolled in
schools," he said.

Abhayanand admitted the bigger challenge will be to ensure the newly-
enrolled children do not drop out. "We will tackle the qualitative
issues at a later stage. As of now, we want full enrolment," he said,
adding the education department would later have to step in to ensure
the schools function properly.