NERSWN SCHOOL AT JOWHAR BILL

Jowharbill primarily a cluster of villages has been the shelter of Santhal from 2004 onwards. After the ethnic conflicts which took more than 400 lives created a fear among the Santhal and they had option but to take refuge in Jowharbill.  The story of the school is intrinsically linked with the people of Joharbill and the 1996 conflict.

1996 conflict

KOKRAJHAR district in Lower Assam's Bodoland Autonomous Council (BAC) region experienced last fortnight another virulent outbreak of violence - part of the continuing pattern of ethnic conflict there. On September 15, 48 people were killed and over 500 houses were burnt as Bodos and Adivasis clashed in the Bodo-dominated Gosaigaon subdivision. Of those killed in the violence, the worst of its kind in Assam in recent months, four were Bodos, seven Santhals and 37 Oraons.

Amidst mounting tension, thousands of villagers fled their homes. Over 70,000 people, including Bodos, Santhals and Oraons have taken shelter in 28 relief camps. The worst-affected villages were Ranipur, Dalgaon, Sidlijora, Amguri, Jampukhuri, Sapkata, Bhanpur, Saraibil, Gansilla and Lakhiguri.

The latest outbreak of violence began with the killing of Adivasi Seva Samity (ASS) general secretary Satyan Soren and his four-year-old son by militants of the National Democratic Front of Bodoland (NDFB) on September 9. In retaliation for this, Santhal militants burnt 109 Bodo homes in Bodomdhari and Sindhrijhar villages and razed 35 houses in Sapkata village on September 10.

Bodos attacked a relief camp at Balegaon in Gasaingaon subdivision and killed an Adivasi woman. They also burnt 190 Santhal homes, in Koksaguri, Surendrapur and Sabkakat villages in the subdivision, on September 13. On September 15, extremists belonging to the NDFB, armed with guns and sharp weapons, swooped down on the Ranipur-Dalgaon area, inhabited by the Oraon tribal people, and killed 14 persons. The militants then attacked several nearby villages and killed seven Santhals and 23 Oraons. Four Bodos lost their lives in the violence.

Sources said that even though the district administration had warned about a possible outbreak of violence, the Army was withdrawn from the district on September 13 and repositioned at Kameng along the border with China in Arunachal Pradesh. This emboldened Bodo militants, who gunned down 45-year-old Phanindra Roy, a State executive member of the ruling Asom Gana Parishad, in Kokrajhar town on September 16. The killing took place within hours of Chief Minister Prafulla Kumar Mahanta's visit to the riot-hit areas of Gosaigaon subdivision. Shortly after the September 15 incident the Deputy Commissioner of Police S. Thadou was transferred.

The police said that ethnic conflicts in the area had left over 300 persons dead this year. On July 25, Bodo militants hacked to death eight Santhals at the Saraitala relief camp in Kokrajhar district. In retaliation, Santhal militants, armed with machetes and bows and arrows, attacked the twin villages of Moinapur and Diamaguri and killed 12 Bodos, all women and children.

Post 1996.

After the conflicts  many Santhals were forced to live in relief camps where they were  living the lives of refugees. They were not sure of future. A bleak hope of survival and protection from the armed forces kept them alive. They had to give up their homes, their lands their animals and everything that they called their own. In relief camps they lived like animals who do not know when will we get our next meal. The camps were full of children who had nothing but to play around the four walls of the camp. It was Mouse Tutu who came to the rescue of the children and started gathering the children under a tree and he started his school their. He was working without anything in return.

 He was working for the future of the Santhal and slowly he started the school with few children. Burt soon the awareness spread across the camp and the parents started sending their children to the school. Mouses tutu had a number of students whom he used teach alone but as his health was not supporting him he needed some help to take care of 100 odds students who were eager to learn. Till 2011 the school was run by Mose tutu, and he received one 1kg rice from each family who used to get 2to5 k.g rice from the government for their survival. The tribal sacrificed their food for the future of their tribe as they realized it only education which will help the present generation to look ahead in future.

 Soon the NERSWN came to rescue of Mr. Mose Tutu and they offered him the help to run the school and they provided better teachers and assistance to the school and a lot of work was initiated by NERSWN for the upliftment of relief camp workers. Soon the relief camp was bustling with activities and the children were learning well. After 2011 the relief camp people decided to go back to their villages and the government was constantly asking them to go back as the situation outside was better and peaceful but the relief camp dwellers were not sure of their lives as feared same conflict in future. So some of them suggested that they all should move to a safe land where they have enough land as well safety from the outside world. So after much of deliberation and debate they decided to come to jowharbill.

School at Joharbill

As the people decided to move on take what ever they called their own they also decided to take the school with them. requested NERSWN to establish school in Jowharbill. As they moved and started living a new life a life full of uncertainty and ambiguity where they did not know what lies in future, yet their brave steps towards a new horizon and towards a new hope has inspired me and many others. According to them, it was the school that they could call their own so brought the school here. The land and location was decided since it was covered with trees the land was cleared and slowly school building started taking shape. Nerswn provided initial help and support to establish the school and to get the teachers. It was the tough job to get qualified teacher as Joharbill was cutoff main land because of the river flowing and during monsoon it was impossible to cross it a lot of practical difficulties did emerge but the school started functioning and it has reached 8^th std now. The school has a SMC (school management committee) which manages the school. SMC comprises of the villagers who take responsibility for the smooth functioning of the school and the other matter. All the major decisions are taken by the SMC and they run the school as representative of the villagers.

The school stands as a role model to many of as the school is entirely run by the villagers and the Ngos plays the role of a mentor and out side support rest of the matters are handled by the villagers and the school is run by them. The school has also tried to generate their own income by cultivating paddy and other crops from which they plan to make some income for the school so that the school can run without much hassle. At present the children are not paying fees and they are learning so well which would have not been possible if the school was not here. These 400 odd children coming from 8 different villages would have remained illiterate or would have not prosperous future like any other child but the school has made a big difference in the lives of these children as well as in the village. The villagers work together give their time and energy to keep up the school. They have also seen a lot of positive changes in them through the school as it keeps them united.

Future of the school.

The SMC has a lot of plans for the future of the school as they have decided to take the school up-to 10^th std and even to start a junior college for the benefit of the children.

They have also planned to expand the school building so that they can accommodate as many as possible.

They also envisage to construct a solid R.C.C building with the help and guidance of NERSWN so that they have a per meant school which can shelter the children in difficult weather.

They are also planning to have their own pond to start fishing so that the income can be generated and money can be used for the betterment of the school.

The SMC members are also planning to include more of English education but it requires qualified staff and training which is needed.

I have never witnessed such progressive Adivasi community who have taken the running of the school in their hand and they are already thinking so much ahead in future. I see bright future of those children and I admire the role of NERSWN in the entire process of trans-formative  and visionary.

vivian lopes
m2017027