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How Dantewada’s panchayat-level children’s libraries aim to rebuild education in conflict-hit Bastar
How Dantewada’s panchayat-level children’s libraries aim to rebuild education in conflict-hit Bastar Premium
The undivided Bastar region—now bifurcated into seven districts in the State of Chhattisgarh—has long been associated with conflict between the Communist Party of India (Maoist) and the State and Central governments. A conflict that continues in parts of the region. This prolonged conflict has had a severe impact on education in an area with a predominantly tribal population. On the education front, the last Census data from 2011 shows that the region recorded a low overall literacy rate of 42%, approximately 50% among males and a significantly lower 32% among females. The figures are even lower in rural areas, where overall literacy stands at 33%, with 43% for males and only 24% for females.
To address these challenges and promote literacy, education, and retention among school-going children, the Dantewada district administration launched the Baal Mitra Programme in 2024. Under the initiative, Baal Mitra Library-cum-Activity Centres (BLCACs) are being established across the district. Of the proposed 169 centres, 67 are already functioning in the first phase, while the remaining 102 are set to be launched across all 169 gram panchayats by January 26, said Jayant Nahata, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Zilla Panchayat, Dantewada. He said this would become the first district in the country to establish exclusive children's libraries in every Panchayat.
The programme is a collaborative effort involving the Dantewada District Administration, Gram Panchayat administration, local Adivasi youth volunteers, and the non-governmental organisation Bachpan Banao, which serves as the knowledge partner and field support agency.
The Library-cum-Activity Centres operate for two hours a day on five days of the week and for four hours on Saturdays. Each centre is run by a local Adivasi youth appointed as a Fellow under a two-year fellowship, with a monthly honorarium of ₹6,000–₹8,000. The fellows conduct learning activities in tribal languages, Mr. Nahata said. No new buildings have been commissioned for the initiative. Instead, existing gram panchayat structures have been repaired or modified to accommodate a room for the libraries, which are now stocked with books in Hindi, English, and local tribal languages such as Gondi, and Halbi, Mr. Nahata added.
Library activity at the Kawalnar Grama Panchayat Children's Library, Dantewada. | Photo: Special Arrangement
Data from the Village Children Register, a survey conducted by fellows with the district administration between November 2025 and 20 January 2026 and accessed by The Hindu, identified approximately 36,000 children across Dantewada district. Of these, around 32,000 children are currently enrolled in schools. While about 60% commute to schools from their homes, the remaining 40% still reside away from their villages in hostels, portacabins, or residential schools. Nearly 2,000 children have dropped out of school, and another 2,000 have never been enrolled in any educational institution, including Anganwadi centres.
Mr. Nahata, said the Fellows are not only meant to serve as instructors but also as community workers who identify and support children, assist them in returning to school, encourage enrolment, and provide mental health support.
As per the survey report, economic constraints remain a major factor, with nearly 65% of children belonging to Below Poverty Line (BPL) households and 20% falling under the Antyodaya category, representing the poorest of the poor. Only about 10% of children come from Above Poverty Line (APL) families. Lack of interest in schooling is another key issue, compounded by language barriers in classrooms: about 75% of children speak Gondi as their mother tongue, around 20% speak Halbi, and only about 2–5% speak Hindi as their first language.
Pranith Simha, founder of Bachpan Banao, notes that as instruction in most schools is conducted in Hindi and the syllabus remains largely traditional, with little scope for play-based activities, many are unwilling to learn. “Interest in learning can be fostered only when instruction begins in children's native languages. These library centres are therefore not just about providing books, but about enabling playful and activity-based learning delivered in tribal languages by local youth,” added Mr. Simha.
When asked why school teachers have not been able to incorporate tribal languages into classroom instruction, Mr. Nahata said that teacher recruitment had taken place over a long period, with many teachers posted to the region from other districts. While some are able to teach in local languages, the majority find it difficult, he said, adding that he hopes the Library-cum-Activity Centres will help bridge this gap.
Further as per the report, distance from schools, and the absence of necessary documents also contribute to the problem. Mr. Simha notes that they are identifying the children and assisting them in documents, as majority of their parents, nearly 60% of fathers and about 80% of mothers are not educated, implying that they lack support in applying documents. Further, around 10% of children are orphans, either with only one parent alive—father or mother—or with neither parent surviving.
Mr. Simha says, many of these challenges are not adequately addressed by the traditional school system, as these children require additional support, including mental health support. The books available in the libraries, with attractive illustrations, also provide information on health, menstruation, and nutrition.
(This is written by Bhaskar Basava, an independent journalist based in Hyderabad, covering politics, human rights, and environmental issues, primarily from Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. He is now expanding his work to include education across all States.)
(Sign up for THEdge, The Hindu's weekly education newsletter.)
Published - January 21, 2026 05:09 pm IST
Chhattisgarh / education / school
Source: TheHindu
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