In Odisha’s Keonjhar district, several tribal communities live, one of which is the ‘Ho’ community. A significant portion of this community still resides deep within the forests. More than half of the population has taken up farming as a source of income, but one-third remains landless agricultural labourers. Except for a few, the rest work as unskilled labourers, toiling to fuel the growth of the country’s major cities.
Rajesh, 14, and Sonu, 10 (names changed), are brothers from the Ho tribal community. Their village, Raighati, is located far from the Hatadihi block centre in Keonjhar district. It is hard to separate Raighati from the dense forests surrounding it. Rajesh and Sonu were happy living with their parents. Although they did not own any agricultural land, the family managed to survive on their parents’ daily wages or by selling forest produce.
In these areas, deaths caused by illness are a common occurrence, and even more common is the fact that the victims themselves are often blamed for it. Whenever this “developed” society needs the forests, their resources, or the people living in them, it has no trouble reaching out. But when these same tribal people require basic healthcare or other essential services, it can take years for help to arrive.
Due to a lack of medical treatment, Rajesh and Sonu’s parents, Leboga and Singrai, passed away. At that time, Rajesh was 6 and Sonu was 4. In this situation, the children went to live with their maternal uncle, Jombei, whose financial condition was also poor. Jombei was frequently ill and unable to work, worsening the family’s hardship. Under these circumstances, even having enough to eat became a challenge, let alone sending the children to school. Things somehow managed for a while, but eventually, Rajesh and Sonu had to work for a local contractor. Instead of going to school, they were now cleaning the contractor’s JCB machines and tractors and herding goats. In exchange, they received two meals a day, some money, and the promise of being trained as drivers.
Rajesh and Sonu are among more than 30 million children in similar situations who are either orphaned or separated from their families for various reasons. Education is often the first thing to be affected for children coming from such difficult circumstances.
Shibu Hembram (GPCM, Aspire) is from the same village and community as Rajesh and Sonu. By working with Aspire, he is part of a movement to make the region free of child labour and ensure that every child goes to school. During a survey in Raighati in June 2022, Shibu Hembram found the two boys working as labourers for a contractor. He then met with the children’s uncle, Jombei Ho, and persuaded him to send them back to school. However, this effort could not succeed without the involvement of the community.
Aspire has observed through its work in these areas that the communities have both the desire and the potential to bring about change; they just need a bit of support. With this understanding, Aspire collaborates with community members to facilitate the change process, making it easier for them. Additionally, Aspire ensures that local committees are aware of their educational and other rights, and that they are equipped to actively participate in a democratic society.
Children like Rajesh and Sonu, who come from difficult economic and social circumstances, require a special structure to support their needs. The Residential Bridge Course (RBC) is designed to fulfil this structural need. It provides a residential facility where children can overcome their learning gaps and be reintegrated into mainstream education. In this environment, they are free from all kinds of difficulties and can focus entirely on their studies. The children who come here not only share similar experiences to Rajesh and Sonu but also include those who have been victims of trafficking, abuse, neglect, violence, or bonded child labour.
For Rajesh and Sonu, this was a new place, and they were having a hard time adjusting. The RBC (Residential Bridge Course) operates in a structured environment, with designated times for meals, studying, waking up, bathing, physical exercise, and play. Sometimes, this controlled atmosphere does not appeal to the children, especially those who have grown up in the open environment of the forests. Rajesh and Sonu spoke the Ho language, while most of the other children at the RBC spoke Odia, making it even more difficult for them to connect with others. Only two weeks had passed when, one day, both boys returned home without informing anyone at the RBC. Their uncle informed Shibu that the children had come back home. Shibu then brought them back to the RBC.
The centre’s in-charge, Chakradhar Jojo, says, “It takes some time for children like these to adapt to the RBC, and it becomes even more challenging if there is a language barrier.” In the teacher selection process for the RBC, Aspire ensures that candidates are proficient in multiple local languages. This way, teachers can communicate with children from various linguistic backgrounds and teach them in their native language. Chakradhar himself knows Odia, Ho, Santali, Hindi, and even a bit of Tamil. This linguistic diversity helps children adjust to the environment more easily.Sometimes, children arrive in a severely distressed mental state, requiring the support of a trained counsellor. To address such cases, Aspire collaborates with NIMHANS to provide counselling services for the children and to continuously train the teachers.
It has been almost a year since Rajesh and Sonu arrived here. During this time, they have not only learned to speak Odia but also to read and write in it. Now, Rajesh and Sonu are being reintegrated into mainstream education. They have been admitted to Omkar Sevashram Residential School in grades 6 and 3, respectively. When asked about leaving, they say, “I want to stay here.” Shyly, they add, “All my friends are here, and I would miss them.”
When asked about his teacher, Sonu says that he wants to become a teacher like him someday. Chakradhar explains, “Sonu is very good at his studies, and Rajesh is excellent at playing sports.” When Rajesh is asked what he wants to become when he grows up, he replies that he dreams of becoming a footballer. Rajesh worries that if he leaves, he will lose his friends and won’t have anyone to play football with.
Children who come to the RBC come from extremely difficult circumstances, where they are unsafe in every way—physically, mentally, and even in terms of having enough to eat. After spending some time in the safe environment of the RBC, when they are reintegrated into mainstream education, they often start feeling insecure again. Many times, they worry that they might be returning to the same conditions they escaped from. Chakradhar says, “Even after they leave, we continue to monitor our children and follow up to ensure they haven’t dropped out of school again.” Aspire staff carry out this follow-up work in collaboration with the local community.
Currently, there are 47 RBCs, with a total enrollment of 10,856 children. So far, 6,805 children have been reintegrated into mainstream education. Additionally, 293 children have enrolled in tenth grade, and 147 have passed their high school exams. We hope that Rajesh and Sonu will one day pass their high school exams and go on to enrol in college.
Like Rajesh and Sonu, there are thousands, even millions, of children who need a structure like the RBC. A place where they can weave their dreams without fear or deprivation and fulfil their social responsibilities as empowered and aware citizens.
