'Nalme Balme' brings smile on Koraga kids' faces

In an effort to bring the children belonging to Scheduled Tribe communities back to schools, Chelyar Gram Panchayat in association with other individuals and organisations conducted ‘Nalme Balme’ programme which has yielded positive results.

Several children belonging to 21 Koraga families in Madhya village in Chelyar GP were deprived of education and were loafing around without going to schools. 

Chelyar Gram Panchayat which had earlier tried its hands several times to bring the Koraga families in Madhya village to the mainstream had failed in the attempt, thanks to the negligence of the villagers. A programme that was specially organised for the Koraga community members in their own community hall too did not receive any response from the community. 

Though disappointed, Chelyar GP President Pushparaj Shetty did not say it quits, rather he shifted his attention on the children of Koragas. He placed his dream to educate Koraga children in front of Surathkal Govinda Das College lecturers Prof Krishnamurthy and Prof Devappa who in turn guided him to accomplish the task. Artist Jagan Pavar Bekal came forward and designed ‘Nalme Balme’ concept. 

The Koraga children were invited for the camp for children under the banner ‘Nalme Balme’, which within no time instilled the need for education among Koraga children.
During the camp Bekal used all the tactics to draw the attention of children. 

The children were trained to play local instruments like thembare, thaase, band and danced to songs of Kayyara Kinhana Rai. Sessions were held on meditation and Yoga and the children were taught the lessons of cleanliness. The children wholeheartedly came forward to clean the surroundings. 

They showed their expertise in various capacities including dancing, singing and drawing. When the number of children participating in the camp increased from merely 10 children to 40 , the Panchayat President left a sigh of relief as his plan worked out without much hassles. 

Delicious breakfast, dinner and evening snacks served to the children on time to time too helped the children to hold on to the camp. 

The man behind the camp, says that enough freedom given to the children along with proper guidance and training would help to develop the personality. Adding to the success is the impressive shift in the personality of children. For instance, a Koraga boy who had said goodbye to studies after IV standard has now decided to continue his education from this academic year.