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A new scene of collective effort has been seen in Sitamarhi. Here in the Mahadalit colony of Dubey Toll, Parihar, there has been a revolutionary change in education, cleanliness and child rights due to the efforts of Association for Voluntary Action and Harichandra Thakur.
Sitamarhi. New light of education is spreading in Mahadalit Basti Dubey Toll located in Bathuara Panchayat of Parihar block of Sitamarhi district. Till a few years ago the situation here was very worrying. Hardly any child came to study in the school and every year the contractors took the children from here to other states for child labour. Incidents of getting work done at brick kilns were common. But the situation started changing after the Association for Voluntary Action freed five children from bonded labour. A new beginning was made in the village regarding education and safety of children. The news of the first girl from this colony passing matriculation in the year 2022 drew the attention of the entire state towards this village and since then there has been a big change in the thinking regarding education here.
Created a positive image about the school
Harichandra Thakur, headmaster of middle school Dubey Tol, took the initiative to give direction to this change. To root out the problem of dropout that had been going on in the school for years, he started many innovations with community support. Habits of cleanliness and discipline were developed among the children—such as cutting nails on time, wearing clean dresses, washing hands before eating and paying special attention to the cleanliness of the school premises. The environment was made green by planting trees in the campus and messages of education, cleanliness and rights were made attractive by painting slogans on the walls. These efforts created a positive image about the school not only in the minds of children but also in the minds of parents.
Increased interest in learning in children
Today Dubey Toll Middle School has become a topic of discussion in the entire area. The attendance of children here has become 100%, which was earlier considered impossible. Facilities like swings, sports equipment, Bal Samiti and Meena Manch in the school have boosted self-confidence and leadership skills in the children. Bal Sarpanch and other members of the committee spread awareness about education, child rights and cleanliness not only in the school but in the entire village. Through continuous programs and activities, children’s interest in learning has increased and their overall development is taking place.
Picture of society changed due to collective efforts
Child Protection Committee member Chandan Manjhi and the villagers believe that this change is the result of public awareness, community cooperation and the tireless hard work of Principal Harichandra Thakur. Parents have now become more aware than before and have started giving priority to their children’s education. After becoming a child marriage free village, Dubey Toll is now moving rapidly on the path of becoming an ideal village. This story tells that collective efforts in the right direction can change the face of any society and take the future of children to new heights.
