Empowering Rural Children: Kartik Oraon Ratri Pathshala Transforms Education in Jharkhand

Ranchi: As evening sets in, children of around 100 villages across the three districts of Ranchi, Lohardaga and Gumla congregate at their local public places like community halls, village ‘akharas’ and ‘dhumkudias’, where a unique teaching class is conducted for them daily.During the two-and-a-half-hour class at ‘Kartik Oraon Ratri Pathshala (KORP)’, the children not only learn their subjects and complete homework but also get trained in basic skills like computer and internet operations, delivering speeches, dancing, painting and sports.A former inspector general of Punjab Police and native of Jharkhand, Dr Arun Oroan, started this initiative around 11 years ago. This initiative has now translated into 138 ‘pathshalas’, having 50 to 100 students each, in the three districts.

Around 450 educated youths who have resolved to serve society in their localities are teaching the children.One of the students of this ‘pathshala’, an 11-year-old girl and Class 6 student of Rajyakrit +2 Utkramit Vidyalaya located at Uchri of the Mandar block in Ranchi district, said, “I, along with many friends, enjoy our time in these classes. I am very happy to learn English speaking here.”Shivani Oroan, a 13-year-old Class 8 student of Rajakrit +2 Utkramit Vidyalaya Uchri, also said, “I can learn Hindi and mathematics better in these evening classes.

I attend them regularly.”Oraon, a 1992-batch IPS officer, said, “I took voluntary retirement from service in 2014 and came back home, where I started teaching some students. I, however, felt the need to do something more for them. This led me to set up the first KORP, named after my father-in-law and noted politician, at Uchri village in 2014. The classes are being run through voluntary contributions from people and local public representatives, but there is no state and corporate funding.

”He said that as part of skill development, the children are also trained physically and mentally for selection in the Army. He added that many students of the KORPs cracked the selection examination for the CM Schools of Excellence. Class 10 and 12 students are also being counselled at KOROP pathshalas about their careers, Oraon said.The former police officer further said a team of young advocates of the Jharkhand high court has also started ‘kanoon ki pathashala’ in the KORP pathshalas.

Every Thursday is dedicated to cultural activities during which the elderly persons of villages teach children traditional songs and dances, he added.A body named Akhil Bhartiya Adivasi Vikas Parishad, which was formed by the late Kartik Oraon, monitors the KORP system and operation every three months. It has also provided carpets, blackboards and two emergency lamps for each KORP pathshala.