Bhandara nomadic tribe kids have their OMG moment at Mihan, in Metro

Nagpur: “Its so big! Hundreds of us can be seated inside!” Nine-year-old Niraj Thosar was trying to find suitable words to explain the aircraft he saw on Saturday. “And they repair it in Nagpur, you know?” he asked us while sharing the ‘exclusive’ information he received today from the engineers of Boing MRO engineers.

At least 85 students like Niraj, from different nomadic tribe hamlets from Bhandara district were here for an eye-opening picnic.

As part of efforts to bring new generation of nomadic tribes from Bhandara district into mainstream, district collector Sandip Kadam brought these students to Nagpur, took them around Mihan and also got them a Metro ride. The district collector spent the entire day with the kids in the trip which was coordinated by social organization Bhatke Vimukta Seva Samiti of Bhandara.

“None of them had ever seen aircraft from up so close. Most of them now go to government schools and they know about Metro train. But, they had never travelled in one. I am really glad to be a part of this project. The day spent with them was fulfilling after I saw the glitter in the kids’ eyes,” Kadam told TOI.

The children from Tumsar, Sakoli, Mohadi and Bhandara tehsils come from Arakh, Gond, Rajgond, Halba, Halbi and other tribes. Most of them are first in their families to go to school for a formal education.

With the help of Bhatke Vimukta Seva Samiti, the authorities in Bhandara have given Aadhaar cards, gas connections, and many other facilities to the parents of the kids. The next target is to educate the kids and bring them out of poverty and backwardness.

“The aim was to make these kids realize the importance of education. They must continue school after primary classes and drop-out rate needs to be reduced,” said education officer Manohar Baraskar. All students, especially girls, were eager to know more about aircraft, he said.

Students also visited Tata Advance Limited campus here. Public Relation Officer of Mihan Deepak Joshi coordinated the visit.

After the Mihan visit, students went by the Metro from Khapri to Jaiprakash Nagar station. “Nagpur looks amazing from the Metro train. Next time, we will have a full joyride,” said Anurag Bokde, a student.

From here, they went to the house of Union minister Nitin Gadkari as his special guests. Gadkari had a brief interaction with some of them in which he promised to bring Broad Gauge Metro to Bhandara soon. Deepak Sarda and Anna Amrut NGO also contributed for the success of project.

WEEKEND DOSES

Bhandara has sizEable population of nomadic tribes — Arakh, Gond, Rajgond, Halba, Halbi and Nathjogis

With the help of NGOs, District collector Sandip Kadam has taken several steps for their welfare

Visit to tribal hamlets, organizing Aadhaar camps, giving LPG connections to them were some initiatives

Parents were convinced to send their children to schools, NGOs also conduct ‘at hamlet’ schools

Students from govt schools, and those who attend these ‘at hamlet’ schools were in Nagpur on Saturday


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