Transport of children to schools in Forest Department vehicle begins at Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve

A joint initiative by the Forest Department in association with an NGO to transport students from remote tribal hamlets within the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (STR) to their schools in a department vehicle began on Friday.

As many as 36 students from Classes I to X in the hamlets of Thadasalatti, Mavanatham and Ramanarai, all located in the Talamalai Forest Range of the Sathyamangalam Division, and under Talamalai Panchayat of Talavadi Union, were taken in the vehicle to the Government Tribal Residential Middle School at Bejalatti and the Government Tribal Residential High School at Talamalai.

The 25-seater STR vehicle is provided by the Forest department while the NGO, Rights Education and Development Centre (READ), covers the fuel costs, and the salaries of the driver and the caretaker, and vehicle maintenance expenses. A committee, comprising the Forest Ranger, four village forest committee presidents, and the NGO, will study the initiative for any operational issues for one week before officially launching the scheme.

Officials said 60 students from four hamlets, including Ittarai, will be transported between their hamlets and schools. The initiative aims to reduce dropout rates among students in these hamlets, which are currently high due to inadequate public transportation.

Published - November 29, 2024 07:17 pm IST