Chhattisgarh teacher turns COVID-19 warrior amid lockdown

Amidst all the problems, children are being educated in several villages in Chhattisgarh. Thank you to the teachers, who have taken the responsibility and become instrumental in the war against coronavirus. In a special interaction with ETV Bharat, Kamini Sahu, a teacher of Raipur said that how she has made use of the lockdown period in a more productive way. Lovingly called by the locals as 'Mohalla schools', the classes are taken by the school teachers under the open sky, in community halls of the villages, temple premises and even under the trees.

Raipur: In an exemplary display of strong determination, women corona warriors of the Chhattisgarh have become instrumental in the war against coronavirus.

These women are working as the footsoldiers in this fight and have turned into the eyes, ears and nose of the administration.

These women have been performing their responsibilities and duties very well in the health, education and administrative sectors ever since the lockdown.

Despite the extended lockdown during which schools remain closed, Kamini Sahu, a teacher in Raipur has made innovative effort to engage the students of her locality.

Shau became a part of the Government’s Mohalla class of 'Padhai Tuunhar Duar Yojana' and started teaching children during the coronavirus included lockdown.

For her dedication and tireless efforts, the Chhattisgarh government is going to confer her with the 'Rajya Ratna' award this year.

Speaking exclusively to ETV Bharat, Shau said that with an insatiable desire to make teaching innovative and attractive for the students, she had made use of the lockdown period in a more productive way.

Reporter: What kind of work did you do during the lockdown?

Kamini Sahu: First of all, I would like to thank the Department of Education for starting the Mohalla class through 'Padhai Tuunhar Duar Yojana'. In the Mohalla classes, we have been quite successful in getting the children to study through the use of loudspeakers. In Chhattisgarh, a better effort has been made to educate children during the lockdown. In such a gloomy situation, children are being taught through digital resources, under the Jigyaasa Project.

Reporter: While going to conduct Mohalla class, there would have been a fear of getting infected. So, how did you work during this time?

Kamini Sahu: There was definitely a fear, but the enthusiasm of the children; it gave a lot of courage. Children were more interested in Mohalla class than online class. Children connected through digital medium and studied through games, which they liked very much. In view of the contagion, social distancing, masks and sanitizers were being used in the class.

Reporter: How did you decide to become a teacher after studying engineering?

Kamini Sahu: After doing Biomedical Engineering from NIT, my family wanted me to do something in the same field, but I decided to go into the field of education. I started learning the teaching abilities and then started teaching nearby children. I am happy that the government is going to honour me today. Out of 90 teachers, my name has also been selected for the Jigyaasa Project. I am proud to be able to impart knowledge to children as a teacher.

Reporter: What should the government do for women empowerment and how should women be aware of their rights?

Kamini Sahu: We have brought zero investment innovation for women empowerment. ‘Sunehre Pankh’, this project emphasizes on girl education. Under this project, girls are being mentally involved with studies and the effort is to create awareness such that they do not stay away from studies. In order to empower women, we are running a project called 'Blue Bird', under which women who are deprived of any work, are being made to come forward by helping them overcome the difficulties in their lives such that they can become self-reliant.