Martyr’s widow wants to fight Naxals through education

GADCHIROLI: Hemlata Parsa became a widow within four months of her marriage to C-60 commando Jhuru who was killed in an encounter with Naxalites in 2009 at Laheri in remote Gadchiroli. Jhuru was among 16 other cops who had been killed in what is still the heaviest single-day casualty for Maharashtra police while fighting the Leftist rebels.Thirty-seven-year-old Hemlata is justifying her selection as block education officer (BEO) through Maharashtra Public Service Commission under the government’s special scheme for martyrs’ kin. Hemlata wants to make education her weapon to avenge her husband’s death by educating youths and helping them refrain them from joining the rebel movement. Posted in Armori tehsil with around 150 schools under her supervision, Hemlata is now gearing up for a departmental examination following which her selection would be confirmed.After her widowhood, Hemlata embraced education to fill up the void in her life. Having done her masters in sociology and bachelors of education (BEd) before marriage, widowhood could not dampen her spirit as she went on to complete her second post graduate in Marathi literature after her husband’s death. She also completed her masters in education (MEd).Unlike other young widows, Hemlata had a hope to live a life of dignity as she had a job as high schoolteacher at Vainganga Vidyalaya in Churmura village in Armori tehsil. She continued with the job as a teacher until recently senior police officers’ efforts ensured that MPSC board approved her selection. The move followed a government decision to support families of martyred police personnel post the 26/11 Mumbai attacks. Benefits of the decision were extended statewide including Naxal-affected Gadchiroli district.Hemlata, who now stays with her parents, said that she had requested for employment in the category of Class-II from the police department after husband’s martyrdom as there was a scope of getting job on the grounds of ‘anukampa’ or empathy as per government’s norms. “I had initially wanted to join as woman sub-inspector but the department could only offer job as clerk or lady police constable which were not working out for me. So, my application was pending,” she said. Hemlata added that initially, it was erstwhile superintendent of police, Gadchiroli, Mohd Suvez Haque and later present SP Sandip Patil who started following up with the government and MPSC board to expedite selection in the higher post in education department.“I want to work in remote tehsil places like Bhamragarh and Etapalli where education can help youth stay in the mainstream and not stray into the rebel movement. My fight against Naxalism will revolve around education system and imparting education to change lives of the tribal population,” said Hemlata.