A WHOLE NEW WORLD...

* This is what the students from Naxal-affected areas of Gadchiroli district felt when Gadchiroli Police took them on a tour of Maharashtra’s developed areas including far-western places like Mumbai and Pune and closer ones like Nagpur. The children who have been living in unstated fear and tension, found a new ray of hope in their life -- to grow up, to learn, to contribute in development of their area. ‘The Hitavada’ takes a look at the novel initiative and impact on students.

By Kartik Lokhande
Akshay Gawade, a student of Class VIII, had never visited a place bigger than Gadchiroli town. It was but obvious for him to get awe-struck when he stood before Gateway of India in Mumbai. A tall monument and vastness of sea behind it, triggered a big thought within for Akshay -- Development is Beautiful.
Akshay is not alone sharing the sentiment. There are Dilip Atla, Sumitra Gota, Ashwini Sidam, Sanghmitra Terim, Mukesh Usendi, and so many others who have got the opportunity to explore Maharashtra in five-batches-old initiative. All of them had never, or very rarely, stepped out of Gadchiroli district. They were used to living in an atmosphere of unstated fear and tension, depravity and distance, and had seen mostly police or Naxalites. However, thanks to Gadchiroli Police, they got an opportunity to visit the other places in Maharashtra and see for themselves the meaning of development. Of course, the impact of this exposure is quite palpable when these children resolve to work for betterment of their area, get educated, and join the mainstream of development. 

And, this is the positive outcome desired by Gadchiroli Police, who have been conducting a unique initiative ‘Suvarna Maharashtra Darshan’, an educational-cum-exposure tour specially organised for young students from Naxal-affected remote villages of Gadchiroli district. The cops took a few batches of students from Gadchiroli district to Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nagpur, and other parts of Maharashtra to show them how the world was changing. They saw Gateway of India in Mumbai, Agriculture University at Pune, Deekshabhoomi at Nagpur, SRPF unit at Aurangabad and lots of other places.
The high point for all students was a free time at sea-shore in Mumbai. The sight of vast sea equalled the vastness of their dreams, and it aroused their ambition. They saw movies and serials on television and got familiar with a few faces. During their visit to Mumbai, the cops co-ordinated their visit to a movie shooting location, much to the pleasant surprise of youngsters.
The visiting students had seen leaders during election campaigns, and had seen them on television, and had read about their legislative work in newspapers. However, where did the elected representatives work? That was the question to which they did not know answer. A visit to Mumbai provided them opportunity to see ‘that’ place called Vidhan Sabha (Legislative Assembly). What’s more, they even got the opportunity to see the Assembly Hall from inside. Actual visit to the hall where laws are made by elected representatives, had a positive impact on them and strengthened their belief in the institution of democracy.
“I stepped out of Gadchiroli district for the first time in my life, thanks to Gadchiroli Police. I was overwhelmed seeing the places like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur. All these places are symbols of development,” said Akshay Gawade. After the tour of Maharashtra, he told the cops in feedback that he wanted to study hard and become a Government officer. He also conveyed his belief that if people took advantage of Government schemes, their life would improve.
Another youngster -- Dilip Atla (16), studying in Class XI -- also was among those who had not moved out of the remote village surrounded by dense forest. “It is a wonderful experience to see that world outside our sphere is so vast and beautiful. It has strengthened my resolve to get educated and contribute positively to making the world a better place to live in,” said an enthusiastic Dilip.
“The tour has exposed us to a new lifestyle and a whole new world. We want Gadchiroli also to be developed like Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur. If Gadchiroli, too, gets developed on the lines of these cities, youngsters like us will get better opportunities of higher education and employment,” Sumitra Gota, a student of Class XII, observed. She also made an appeal to those who have taken the path of Naxalism -- Join the mainstream of development and shun the path of violence.
There are many such stories to be told and written about, but the message is only one -- be the change you want. The biggest outcome of ‘Suvarna Maharashtra Darshan’ tour scheme is that it is igniting the minds of students from Naxal-affected, violence-torn areas to become change-makers. Isn’t it a step towards a whole new world?