Two tribal girl dropouts go back to school thanks to Kanniyakumari district police

The police department, which is supposed to just maintain law and order, prevent crimes and ensure the conviction of criminals in the court of law, has brought back two tribal dropouts back to school thus ensuring the continuation of studies of these girl children.

When Superintendent of Police R. Stalin received information that the tribal girl students studying SSLC and Plus One at Petchipaarai Government Residential Higher Secondary School had not come to school for long and had failed to appear for the ongoing half-yearly examination, he dispatched members of ‘Nimir Team’ to the residences of these dropouts.

The SP has formed ‘Nimir Teams’ in all five Police Sub-Divisions of Kanniyakumari district with women officers and the constables for crime prevention especially against women and children. The teams, who have provided with vehicles, also give career guidance and counselling to the students, particularly girl students.

When the team, led by Special Sub-Inspectors of Police Saroja and Kala and Head-Constable Bisma, met the students at their homes, which are located deep inside the Western Ghats forests, the trio had to struggle a lot to pacify the parents of the dropouts. The innocent parents cited their poverty and health issues to justify their decision of not sending the girls to the school even though they were getting free education and food at the residential school.

Pacifying the two children’s parents was tougher than the arduous trek. The police team had to negotiate hostile terrain in the midst of rain to reach the students’ houses at Aandipoththai hamlet located deep inside the jungle. The ‘Nimir Team’ members, after patiently listening to their problems, appeased them with their counselling that the girl children’s life would totally change for better if they could get good education and complete their graduation at least.

“We assure you that the Kanniyakumari District Police would help your children, who need to only concentrate on their studies now. We’ll take care of the rest. So, please send your children to the school and ask them to sit for the half-yearly examination,” the police team pleaded.

As the parents were moved by the humility of the law-enforcers, who explained to them the problems the girl children face in future if they become school dropouts, they agreed to send their daughters back to school.

“We, are treating the children as our daughters and we were keen on bringing them back to the school. It was a highly satisfying mission as the Police Department’s efforts have ensured the continued education of two girls,” members of the ‘Nimir Team’ say.

When they brought the two girl students to the school, their teachers could not believe their eyes as their parents had categorically refused to send them to the school.

“It was great to see them back,” the teachers said.

Dr. Stalin said the ‘Nimir Team’ was taking care of over 2,500 ‘single parent’ childen in Kanniyakumari district with the prime objective of protecting them from getting abused.

“Through the ‘Nimir Team’, we have created awareness among these children about the kind of abuse they may encounter either in the school, hostel or in their homes itself. We’ve emboldened them to take on the aggressors with the help of the police and the law. It will completely weed-out crime against women and the children in near future in Kanniyakumari district. Moreover, we also give awareness lectures to boys in schools and colleges and tell them in unequivocal terms that any crime against women and the children, including stalking, or substance abuse will land them in very serious complications besides bringing disrepute to their families. Apart from this, we also want to guide and counsel the girl children to choose a right career,” Dr. Stalin said.