After noticing an alarmingly high dropout rate among tribal students of Wayanad, the district authorities have roped in the Janamaithri police to bring the students back to school.
The police have also set up toll free numbers so that people can inform them about the regular absentees.
“People can dial 1090 apart from the police number of 100 to provide information,“ DSP (administration) Prince Abraham told The Times of India.
The ToI reports that data available with Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) showed that 1,331 students had quit studies in Wayanad during academic year 2015-16, the highest dropout rate in Kerala.
The Gotra Vidya programme has been launched by the district administration and the education department for a year-long dropout prevention.
This programme, which will enlist the help of local bodies, will analyse the lack of basic necessities in tribal education so as to ensure a proper leaning environment for children at school and home.
“The police could help address issues such as engaging children for coffee plucking and other works in plantations one of the key reasons for the dropout rate. Police can also curb the problem of rampant alcoholism in many tribal colonies to change the atmosphere at home. Parents will send their children to school regularly if Janamaithri police keep an eye on chronic absentees, “ Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) programme officer Saji M O said, ToI reports.
Police have also said that they the Janamaithri police network is present in all 15 police stations of the district, where officials are very close to the tribal community, and this would help in implementing the programme.
The Janamaithri police project was launched in 2013 to enable policing with active participation of the community members.