A unique initiative has been taken by a 58-year-old government school teacher, Bhim Mahto, in Junori village under Paplo Panchayat of Chandrapura block of Bokaro. He is teaching children through loudspeakers installed at a Shiva temple located centrally in the village.
Mahto has also pasted posters of Hindi and English letters at every nook and corner of the entire village.
The children read and write according to Mahto’s announcement on the speakers. Villagers who mostly belong to the downtrodden section in Junori village are appreciating this unique effort of Mahto. They said the effort of Mahto is very successful as the children started taking an interest in it.
At a time when government and private schools all over India have been closed for about one and a half years due to the Covid-19 pandemic, Mahto’s efforts are benefitting children whose parents cannot afford smartphones for online classes.
Mahto said this was his small effort to ensure that the education of the children in the village should not be interrupted. “I thought teaching through loudspeakers is the safest way of teaching in the pandemic. Putting alphabet posters on the walls at popular spots of the village also helps children to grasp the subject easily.”
Mahto is a teacher of the government Middle School, Junauri. He said, “Using loudspeakers, I first started teaching the children of the Malhar family settled in Mangaldadi village of Ghatiyari Panchayat. Then the people of Junauri also requested me to conduct classes.”
Gopal Giri, a resident of Junauri village, said, “Mahto is doing a noble job by sharing his extra hours to impart education among children. Till today no teacher had taken initiative in this way, all the children are studying.
Another resident, Chandrika said, “We admire the way Mahto is teaching children through loudspeakers installed in the temple premises.”
Dwarka Malhar of Mangaldadi village said, “Till date no one have come to see this village. Mahto teaches children free of cost. The contribution that he has made towards the children of our community is immense.”
