Chhattisgarh's Dantewada launches 'Bal Mitra' to curb school dropouts

Dantewada (Chhattisgarh) [India], September 28 (HBTV): As Chhattisgarh works to free itself from the grip of armed Naxalism by March 2026, the administration in Naxal-hit Dantewada has launched an innovative campaign called Bal Mitra to ensure a brighter future for children by addressing school dropouts.

The campaign seeks to bring dropout children back into the education system by establishing education centres within villages. Under this initiative, Bal Mitra libraries are being created as spaces where students are taught basic literacy and numeracy skills, Dantewada Collector Kunal Dudawat said.

‘Here we aim to ensure a suitable learning space for children through storytelling, poems, and a child-friendly environment. Moreover, the children are being engaged in sports and other extracurricular activities,’ Dudawat said while speaking to ANI. He added that the focus is to connect dropout students with education through Bal Mitra volunteers.

Dudawat explained that last year the Bal Mitra campaign was run in 65 panchayats, linking several children back to the education system. Volunteers conduct two-hour sessions for children, including those already enrolled in schools, to strengthen their literacy and numeracy skills. The initiative, he said, is expected to improve education quality and offer children greater opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities.

The programme is being implemented across the district. According to officials, Bal Mitra volunteers are young individuals who have either completed their college education or are pursuing it. They receive a stipend of INR 6,000 and undergo training that helps enhance leadership, communication, and teaching skills. Volunteers are also expected to benefit in terms of career growth.

The collector said the ultimate goal of the Bal Mitra campaign is to make Dantewada a dropout-free district by linking children aged 6–14 years with the formal education system and raising learning levels to match state and national averages.

Sharing their experiences, students said the initiative has helped them rediscover learning. Kumari Deepak said, ‘I come here every day and get to listen to stories in new and creative ways.’ David, a sixth-class student, added, ‘At the Bal Mitra library, we learn the alphabet, dictation, and counting. We also learn new stories, including picture-based stories. Moreover, we play fun games and learn drawing skills under the guidance of a mentor.’

Another student, Sujata Das, said, ‘By coming to the Bal Mitra class, we get to learn new things every day. We are taught drawing and storytelling, and we also play games. Many children come here, and we all play and learn together.’

Explaining the structure, volunteer Manoj Kumar Pawar said, ‘The Bal Mitra programme is a two-year fellowship. Each village has a fellow who works with children and the community. They are also connected with schools. After the COVID-19 pandemic, many children from rural areas stopped attending school, and efforts are now being made to reconnect them.’

He said volunteers identify children who dropped out or were never enrolled, prepare lists, and coordinate with panchayats to re-enrol them in schools. ‘Some children lack documents such as Aadhaar cards or birth certificates. We help them obtain these documents and enrol them in school again. The process is ongoing and has benefited many children. They now come to Bal Mitra centres on their own, read storybooks, draw, and take part in various activities,’ Pawar added.

(ANI)