Bhopal:Wednesday, September 3, 2008 :Efforts to bring children of traditional hunting tribes Pardhi and Bahelia into the mainstream have met with success. After a nine-month residential course in Panna district, 107 children belonging to these communities have been admitted to Ashram schools being run by Tribal Welfare Department. People belonging to Pardhi tribe have also undergone change after seeing their wards in the new atmosphere. Meanwhile, 30 Pardhis have been imparted training of making cement tiles and poles and they are doing this work for the last one and a half months. Two hostels are also being constructed at a cost of Rs 50 lakh so that basic educational infrastructure can be ensured to children in the future also.
On the initiative of Panna National Park’s management, for the first time 107 children belonging to Pardhi and Bahelia communities including 44 girls were included in two courses of nine months duration each. After completion of the courses in July 2008, these children have been admitted to class I to IV as per their respective capability in the Ashram schools run by Tribal Welfare Department. Boys have been admitted in the Ashram school at Dhangarh while girls have been accommodated in the Ashram school at Indrapuri colony in Panna. These children will be able to complete their education up to class X without a break with the help of assistance received from Sarvashiksha Abhiyan.
Encouraged by initial results of the initiative undertaken by the management of Panna National Park, the second residential course for Pardhi children has been started from August 5. The management is also undertaking efforts to ensure facility of residential course during summer vacations also with the help of World Wildlife Fund.