Highlights:
• On June 16 Chhattisgarh CM will announce the reopening of schools’
• Initiative taken and reopened dilapidated school building after renovation
The state government of Chhattisgarh has decided to reopen at least 260 government schools in the Dantewada, Sukma, Narayanpur, and Bijapur districts that were closed 15 years ago due to Maoist violence, a move that demonstrates the central and state governments’ commitment to fighting Naxalism through education.
According to a statement released by the state government on Monday, chief minister Bhupesh Baghel will make the formal announcement of the schools’ reopening on June 16 during the ‘Shala Pravesh Utsav’ (school admission fest).
According to the government statement, the Naxal insurgency in Bastar forced the closure of nearly 400 government schools around 15 years ago.
Schools were shuttered due to one or more Maoist-related issues
“These schools were shuttered due to one or more Maoist-related issues. We intend to reopen them now that the government has dealt with the Maoist problem in these areas. These schools have teachers assigned to them. The exact number of students will not be known until schools reopen, but it is expected to be between 20 and 50.
District collectors have been ordered, according to officials, to ensure full admission and attendance of children in primary and pre-primary classes.
The authorities have also been asked to ensure that teachers are available from the first day of classes.
Government has taken the initiative and reopened dilapidated school
Several schools in the interiors of Bastar division were closed during the anti-Naxal movement Salwa Judum in 2005-2006, according to officials overseeing the initiative.
The Supreme Court of India disbanded the judum (anti-Maoist civil militia) in 2011, calling it illegal and unconstitutional.
“Since coming to power in 2018, the government has taken the initiative and reopened dilapidated school buildings after renovations, as well as building new ones,” the official stated.
