Kundapur, October 7: The one who enters this home will be surprise to notice the children playing with gay and their systematic coexistence. The children happily are engaged in games and lessons were not like this before. Due to poverty in their house, they used to wander along with their parents begging for food, and engaged themselves in small works. Now these children’s routine has changed.
Fifteen children who are the residents of Koraga colony in Kumbhasi district are keen in the formation of their future. They are supported by the government’s Integral Tribal Development Department (ITDP) and the local panchayat, including the Koraga leaders.
A building has been erected in close to Ambedkar Bhavan building near Gram Panchayat in Kumbhasi Named as “Makkala Mane”. The children get fresh up in the morning; have their breakfast here which will be prepared by ITDP, and walk to school after their tuitions. When they return from school in the evening, coffee-tea and snacks will be kept ready for them; children after having it will engage themselves again in their tuitions, home work and games. In order to get relaxed for some time in the evening after the bath; they watch TV which was given by the local Kumbhasi grama panchayat , post which they will have their lunch and stay at night in ambedkar Bahvan itself. This routine is followed daily and children will visit their homes daily once at any time and return back.
Reason behind this effort: Since many years, the Koraga’s, were being harassed by some of the upper-class people and were kept away from the society. The koraga families even in kumbhasi had lived in the same mess since many years .Society had kept them away, in addition to it all were aware that they were illiterates and lacked knowledge. The Koragas being away from the Society and education never sent their children to school. They meagrely thought about the future of their children; they were using their children to assist them in their occupation. Knowing all this, the local koraga leader Ganesh Kundapur, Ganesh Barkuru, Shekhar Maravanthe, Lakshman Byndur and others whose struggle resulted in obtaining a well equipped infrastructure with a kitchen, a hall by the Integrated tribal development department (ITDP). The colony’s children were united in “Makkala Mane”. This new effort is fruitful, which is completing 2 years now. 11 children from class 1st to class 7th of children and 4 children going to Tekkatte high school are here now. The children do their duties perfectly and go to school happily.
Convenient system: A DEd graduate Vinita Konki from the same community is appointed to give tuitions to the children. Along with the tuitions, Vinitha teaches painting and a variety of cultural activities to the children along with the tutions. Once in a week, the children are provided with healthy food with chicken, eggs, fish curry meals. ITDP have provided all food equipments. Kumbhasi Gram Panchayat has provided TV and other furniture. Once in a month, children’s health inspection has been carried out.
Here children are trained with variety of cultural activities along with education. This is complemented by organising various events during the holiday. Every week, the children practice Yakshagana, carried out by skilled artists. It is very beautiful to watch the drum art of this community which is played by the children along with dance. The children are quite good in their curriculum.
Currently, four new homes are being constructed in the kumbhasi koraga colony. A week ago teh DC of Udupi Pattanna Shetty has inspected this place.
We stretch our best wishes to the Children; in addition to the new house, let them get a good education and lead a prosperous life
In addition to the education of children we are working to spring up their interest in cultural activities. Under the “Makkala Mane “concept the children are united, education is necessary for a bright future and to live independently. All the children are involved in their curriculum living happily here.
