From red corridors to formal classrooms: Bastar plans schools across division

Raipur: Where once only Maoist ‘jantana' schools ran across Bastar, formal, mainstream classrooms are slated to come up instead. The tale of this transformation began with a CRPF ‘gurukul' in Puvarti, the native village of slain Maoist commander Hidma. The baton for formal schooling in Bastar is being carried on by the likes of Budhra Deva, a teacher and the brother of surrendered Maoist Barse Deva. Budhra said that after his brother's surrender recently, conditions have changed and villagers are now demanding a formal school in Sukma's Oyopara village.Authorities are planning a district-wide expansion of formal education in some of the country's most remote Maoist-hit interiors in the state. Proposals have been sought from all districts, with Sukma's Konta block already sending a plan for 22 new schools — many in villages where children have never seen a classroom.For years, several villages in Sukma and Bijapur remained cut off, leaving education hanging in the balance of Naxal-related violence. Now, in some of these areas, even children aged 10 may have to begin from nursery level as they restart their journeys with formal schooling. Officials say Konta block has been among the worst affected.The shift can be traced back to Puvarti — the native village of slain Maoist commander Hidma — where the CRPF set up a gurukul. It was after decades that children were introduced for the first time to basic concepts of schooling, including classroom learning and the use of blackboards. At present, around 30 children are studying at the gurukul, and over 20 have enrolled in a govt school.Education officers said proposals have been invited from across Bastar and schools will be opened based on requirement.