The students of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya (KGBV) Kalamati situated in Khunti district will soon get a number of skill development trainings.

IPS Officers’ Wives Association (IPSOWA) along with social organization Shakti Vahini and Khunti district administration is all set to provide skill training like pottery, stitching, beautician, computer operators and much more to the students of this school under 'Chetna' project.

President of IPSOWA Poonam Pandey said that the step has been taken to ensure that once the students complete their education, they have a backup plan for earning a decent livelihood.

“We want the girls to be self dependent and learn skills other than their regular education. This will help them develop self confidence and be prepared for the future. We want this school to be developed as a model school,” she said.

The skill training classes would be organized twice every week for students of class 9 to 12. However, students from 6 to 8, who are interested in the trainings, would be allowed to sit through at least one class a week.

The IPSOWA members had visited the school on two consecutive days, Saturday and Sunday, to interact with the girls and know their demands.

“The girls wanted science teachers in the school and also wanted new computers. The deputy commissioner, Suraj Kumar, who was there at the school, was very helpful and assured that these demands would be met soon,” Pandey said.

Pandey informed that the Khunti SP, Alok, has assured them that the police would be providing sports kit to these students through its community policing funds.

However, the students also demanded new blazers, which IPSOWA would be providing. “There are around 380 students in the school and we will be providing blazers for each of them within the next 10 days.

Also, blazers will be provided to the staff at the school including teachers, warden and security persons,” Pandey said.

The IPSOWA members got herbal medication saplings planted in the garden of the school, through which students will be given training in farming of medicinal plants.

This apart, a pink drop box was installed in the school where the students were asked to put in complaints and suggestions.

“We have told the students that they can put in written complaints in the box anonymously and the complaints would be addressed. We are hoping that this will help them open up about their problems,” Pandey said.

A health camp will also be organized at the school on January 23 and 24.

The students were excited to get a chance to interact with the IPSOWA members and requested them to continue visiting the school on a regular basis.

Seema Kumari, a student of class 11 said, “It was a wonderful experience for us to share our demands with someone who would listen to us. Getting skill training will help us in long run and we will be able to become independent individuals when we finish schooling.”

Rishi Kant of Shakti Vahini, which is a partner in the project, said that if successful, the project will be implemented at other government schools as well.

Caption: IPSOWA members and officials of district administration interacting with students of KGBV Kalamati in Khunti.