Children from Naxal-hit Gadchiroli visit city

At least 80 children from Gadchiroli, one of the focal points of the Naxal insurgency in Maharashtra, visited the city August 26. It was organised by the Gadchiroli Police Dal, the Adarsh Mitra Mandal and other Maharashtra-based organizations to show the children the city and the possibilities of a life different from the career of a Naxal insurgent. Adarsh Mitra Mandal, a Ganesh Utsav organising mandal, decided at least four months ago to work with the children most affected by the Naxalite movement in the region.

Uday Jagtap, Vice President of Adarsh Mitra Mandal said, “We want them to grow up and choose more productive paths instead of joining the movement. Some time ago we provided them with an education kit wherein they learned about jewellery design, the solar system, construction and other things and develop skills. We don’t want them to follow in the footsteps of their parents.”

The education kit provided to the children consisted of easy telescope and airplane-making kits, DIY film and picture projector kits, DIY periscopes kits, knitting know-how, rubber band and bracelet makers, puzzles, home products-making kits, DIY Solar System kits, among other things.