Beyond the call of duty: How a govt official transformed a school for tribal kids in Garhwa

Time of India

04-06-2025

Ranchi: During the Saraswati Puja in February this year, Garhwa district welfare officer, Dheeraj Prakash, happened to visit the Janjatiya Awasiya Vidhyalaya, a residential school for ST students run by his department and located in Naxal-hit Kudrum, a remote area in Garhwa district.
What Prakash saw there was disheartening — crumbling infrastructure and an environment far from ideal for young children. Amid his helplessness to do anything at that time, Prakash made a silent vow, "It must change."
Days later, he began a modest personal intervention in the Nilambar Hostel, meant for junior section students studying between classes 1-7. Despite limited resources and the school's challenging location, nearly 45km away in a forested region — he chose not to wait for govt funds or schemes.
Prakash began mobilising personal resources, including from like-minded people in his department and undertook multiple site visits to renovate the hostel. Today, the facility is transformed and it gives the inmates a sense of dignity.
it wasn't a large-scale project, but a noble one inspired not by official obligation, but by empathy and purpose.
Talking to TOI on Tuesday, Prakash, who earlier served in various official capacities in Sahibganj and other districts, said he was at a loss of words when he first visited the school.
"I was called by the school authorities during the Saraswati Puja celebrations as a guest. I had also shared bhog (prasad) with the staff and kids there and walked on the campus," he said. Prakash further said, "While the condition of the senior section was largely better, I couldn't believe my eyes to see the pathetic condition of the facility of the junior section.
I couldn't sit back, thinking about those kids. They deserved better."
After holding a review meeting with his departmental officials, he learnt that four years back, repairs were undertaken but the situation, instead of improving, turned worse. Preparing a fresh detailed project report (DPR) for renovation would take a long time given the maze of bureaucratic channels, even though funds are often earmarked for repairs and upkeep of such govt hostels, he said.
"After evaluating the required works along with our engineers, we decided to mobilise the renovation through our own resources and funds.
A few like-mind staff, too, joined hands and the work began," Prakash said.The junior section hostel is a G-plus one structure having 28 rooms, two large halls and accommodation for 120 students. So far, Prakash and others have invested Rs 1.5 lakh.
"We largely focused on revamping the inside of the building as it mattered the most for the kids. Gradually, the entire structure was whitewashed and painted. Moreover, other repairs were done by local workers. The defunct electric wiring system was also rectified to ensure proper lighting and cleanliness," Prakash said, adding that work related to pipelines needs an upgrade for which they are exploring ways.