Hemalkasa’s Lok Biradari school secures 98% success

NAGPUR: Located in remote location of Hemalkasa at Bhamragarh in Gadchiroli district, the Lok Biradari Ashram School is known for providing free education to the Madia-Gond tribals of this Naxalite-infested belt. However, the school is also getting recognition for securing good results in examinations conducted by the Maharashtra State Board, despite facing all odds, for the last few years. This year, it has achieved its best ever results.Of the total 45 students, 44 have cleared the class XII exam. Even the lone failure student was a repeater, who had failed in last year’s supplementary exams.
“All our students are tribals, who hail from interior areas of Gadchiroli district. It’s creditable that they cleared the examination from arts stream without any tuitions. Our teachers did a commendable job to teach them,” said Aniket, younger son of Dr Prakash and Dr Mandakini Amte.
Two of its students scored over 75%, while most of the students passed in first and second divisions. Dinesh Madkami topped with 77.69% (505/650), closely followed by Sunita Vachami with 75.38% (490/650). Shriniwas Alam bagged third position with 73.69% (479/650).
“Now we plan to send some of these bright students to pursue courses like law in Chandrapur. Others would pursue BA. We also help them financially to study and stand on their feet,” Amte told TOI.
The school started in 1976, but was granted permission to run class X and XII in the last decade or so. Currently, it accommodates and provides education till standard 12th to 650 students. “Besides studies, we also train the students in various sports like athletics apart from providing vocational training. Some of our students had performed at the national-level and brought laurels to the school. We have a well-equipped computer lab with 40 machines and Internet facility to train the students in information technology,” he said.
The school gets government grant of Rs930 per student per month for their daily expenses. “However, it’s insufficient, as we also need to provide them uniform, stationery, books and footwear. These expenses are taken care of from the donations received to the school from individual donors,” Amte said.
With a view to equip the tribals with skills, the school trains them with bamboo craft, farming, ceramic art, greeting card making, tailoring, health education, and seed production.