Deprived, depressed

No table, no chair. Children of Harijan families taking lessons at the lone school for them at Chaitannya Polli in Kushtia town (left) and three girls learning sewing at FAIR office. The photos were taken recently. PHOTO: STAR

They now want education for their children, which was once beyond imagination. Education is becoming popular in the community day bay day. But facilities are very limited.

"We want to see our children go school rather than cleaning dust", said Panna Lal Bashffor, the lone graduate from the community in the district. He is now studying L.L.B at Kushtia

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Law College under National University. After taking the law degree, he wants to devote to services for development of his community.

"Civilized men had forced me out when I first went to school", Panna Lal told this correspondent.

"I am determined to continue the struggle for education for our children".

Kaja Rani, who passed SSC (Secondary School Certificate) examination, is a teacher at the lone school for Harijans in Chaitannya Polli in the town, run by the municipality. There are about 50 Harijan children at the school. Another about 200 are out of school.

But she is not getting salary for the last five months. When contacted, the new municipal chairman said funds for salary will be released soon.

"Many of us are struggling for education, but all schools in the town are not allowing our children", she said.

In the recent past, some Harijan children got admitted to some non-government schools. But they were driven out when the school authorities came to know their identity, she regretted.

Only three children are studying at a non-government high school.

Only one school can not provide all of them with education facility Harijan leader Sangkar Lala said.

About 300 Harijon families live in Chaitannya Polli, Mill Line and Station Road areas of the town. Cleaning dust on roads is their ancestral profession.

FAIR, a local NGO, with the help of RIB (Research Initiative of Bangladesh), a research institution for backward people, at first took the initiative to make the Harijan community conscious.

FAIR recently organised a press conference at Kushtia Reporters Unity where the community leaders demanded government steps to provide education facilities for Harijan children.

Now Harijan people are thinking in their own way to develop themselves but the response from the authorities is very poor, Aktheruzzaman later told this correspondent.

FAIR holds a weekly meeting with Harijan children to motivate them to go to school.

It also provides training to elders on different vocations including tailoring, sewing and livestock and poultry raising.