RANCHI:In a first-of-its-kind initiative to check minors getting pregnant in the tribal dominated Khunti of Jharkhand, special classes will be held in schools on every Tuesday.
These classes aim to make children aware about how early pregnancy or relationship will affect their future, besides making an adverse impact on their health.
According to officials in education department, the schools will also utilise parents-teacher meetings conducted on 25th of every month to make parents aware of their child's safety.
According to the District Education Officer, Aprupa Chaudhary, the decision was taken following reports that a huge number of minors girls are getting pregnant and giving birth to children. Most of them are living with their parents, while a few of them are living with their minor husbands/partners.
Hospital records revealed that many minors who gave birth were unaware of their child's whereabouts, despite hospital staff confirming that the babies were safely handed over to their mothers.
Believing the issue to be rooted in psychosexual challenges, the district education department is now seeking expert counsellors to guide and support these minors in an effort to curb the problem.
Notably, in this tribal-dominated region, widespread addiction to alcohol and ‘hadia’ (rice beer) remains a major concern. As a result, many parents are unable to properly care for their children. Due to the lack of awareness and supervision children engage in consensual relationships that lead to accidental pregnancies.
The order, which is currently in drafting stage, will be issued once the schools open after the summer vacation.
“As it is a problem among minors, it is also important to create awareness among the children as well as their parents. Therefore, we have decided to hold a special period of School Health and Wellness Programme (SHWP) on every Tuesday dedicated to the issue for creating awareness among the children. They will be told how early pregnancy or early relationship will affect their future and make an adverse impact on their health,” said District Education Officer
Aprupa Paul Chaudhary. They will also utilise the parent-teacher meeting to make the parents aware about their child’s safety, she added. The DEO informed that they are also talking to the NGOs so that they join hands with the education department to make this drive more effective.
“Since, it is a psychosexual problem and hence, we are also looking for some experts who can deliver lectures and also do counselling of the children as and when required,” said the DEO. A survey will also be conducted to find out such minors, who have already become parents and whose children are missing, will be and counselled.
Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Chairperson Tanushree Sarkar said that an investigation has been ordered to look into the matter.
“There are a lot factors, most of the time parents are under the influence of liquor, there are also some social and customary (Dhuku) under which boy or girl chose their partner and take him or her to their home and live along with them without even getting married and have children. All aspect has to be taken into consideration,” said the CWC Chairperson. NGOs will also be identified, who have been making children aware in the rural areas and roped in for creating awareness, she added.