Summer camp for militancy affected children of North Cachar Hills

Lodi, Haflong (Assam), July 26 (ANI): A voluntary organisation in Assam has held a summer camp for militancy-affected children, which intends to cater to the educational needs of such kids besides organising sports activities for the entertainment.

Organised in the State's Lodi village, the camp has come up as a major relief for the children of families presently living in relief camps following the violence witnessed in North Cachar Hills district.

The district has witnessed large-scale ethnic violence and militancy in the recent times that has not only affected the economy of the district but also caused a major blow to the life of tribal people.

North Cachar hill district of Assam has become synonymous with ethnic violence and militancy in recent time.

Hundreds of houses in the district, belonging to the Dimasa tribe and the Jemi Nagas were recently set ablaze by miscreants due to the ongoing clash between both the tribes.

The tribal people were compelled to take shelter in the relief camps. But life in the relief camps is miserable. For children, especially, who are out of their schools for last three months, the life had turned quite gloomy.

It was for this reason that an endeavour to uplift the education of these children in the relief camp, a local voluntary organization named, Ziliang Students Union, organised summer camp for the children under the Government's Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (education for all mission).

"I think since coming under our guidance they have benefited, because in those village areas and their areas, they were not getting any proper schools or institutions. But here we are teaching them in our private English-medium schools. So I think although they missed their schools for 2-3 months but they can learn the primary courses here," said Pauram Jeme, General Secretary of Ziliang Students Union in Assam.

Under Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the children are provided education and they are given books and required stationary materials. Besides educating the children, traditional games and other physical activities are also organized for children during evening.

Students here are enjoying in the summer camps with enthusiasm, as these camps are bringing their smiles back on their faces.

"Due to the prevailing situation here, we could not continue our school for about three months, we could not even take our exams but the Sarva Siksha Mission (Education for all mission) here is helping us in our education. Our brothers and sisters are enjoying here and I am also enjoying it here," said Acame, a girl student at the camp. By Perter Alex Todd (ANI)