Girls of tribal village pass class VIII exam

Betul, MP, Aug 14 (UNI) For the first time since independence, two girls from a tribal village in this district's Bhimpur block have passed eighth class examination this year.

The fact brings to light the pathetic state in the district where girls in tribal villages could not reach high school despite government claims about spending huge amount over girl education.

Villages had welcomed the news of the girls passing the examination.

A villager, Maniram Kavde, expressed happiness over the result of girls from his village, which has a population of 500 people and 90 houses.

Piparia village Up-sarpanch Saheb Lal said Sangeeta Uike used to travel eight km to attend the school at Chunaloma, while Ramila stayed with her relative at Aapla village, 100 km from the village, to avoid daily movement. Both cleared eighth examination this year.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the government's education policies, Mr Lal said though the government upgraded a primary school to middle school in the village two years back, the scarcity of teachers in primary and middle school remained.

A village youth, Ramdin, believes that girls could continue education if the government provided facilities in schools on par with urban schools besides ending dearth of teachers.

Scheduled Castes Assistant Commissioner B S Sengar described the two girls passing the examination for the first time since independence as an achievement by the government.

He said a girls high school would be opened in Bhimpur block this year. Sangeeta and Ramila had been provided admission in the Krida Parisar Chhatravas this year where they are undergoing studies for class IX.

UNI XC-PS 1410