50 schools in Chhattisgarh village!

Jagdalpur, Chhattisgarh, May 17 (UNI) In what seems straight out of 'Ripley's Believe It or Not', 25 primary schools, eight secondary schools, 17 ashram schools and 51 anganwadi centres are being run at a single premises at Dornapal village in Bastar region's tribal-dominated and naxalism-affected Dantewada district.

Government sources say that the village, located between Konta and Sukma, has by sheer chance emerged as a hub of educational activity as about 16,000 tribal villagers sought refuge at Dornapal's heavily-guarded relief camp after leaving their homes due to rebel terror. Educational institutions closed down one after the other in this district's extremism-affected areas.

Official statistics reveal that 64 schools, including 59 primary and three secondary, were locked up by January 20 this year. As many as 243 educational institutions closed down in the 2005-06 session though it was claimed that 179 of them were restarted in 2006-07.

A total of 127 teachers, including women, are employed at Dornapal's schools to educate 2,384 children while more than 1,500 kids are taken care of in the anganwadi centres. The village also boasts of a students' hostel.

UNI