Radicalized tribal youth leaders in Banka Tribal insurgency district of Bihar, turned Gandhi Peace Volunteers through sustained visits, compassionate relationship building and nonviolence dialogue are at a threshold of ushering in a new phase: undertaking community reforms, starting with education for tribal children deprived due to defunct primary schools by dispelling fear of Maoism, for the appointed teachers don't go to these villages out of fear, and raising volunteer teachers.
In Maoist tribal insurgency villages children's education suffer as appointed, out-station teachers do not attend schools due to fear of Maoists. Secondly, there are schools with just one or two teachers attending as many as five classes. Because of the fear neither Govt officials nor any other agencies enter such villages. Former local radical leaders now turned nonviolent peace builders have effectively changed the situation and are trying to activate defunct schools.
One, by Nonviolence campaigns to a) dispel fear among out-station teachers, give security and safely; b) create public awareness to make Administration answerable. Two, selected volunteers will undertake teaching as a community service with nominal stipend until the appointed teachers' return to duty; Three, will initiate in schools nonviolence education since the young are influenced by the radicalized environment. Gandhi Peace Volunteers are rooted in and trusted by the community.
1. Sets an example that when bright youth do not vanish in the jungle with the gun, they assume over- ground community leadership; 2. A different kind of constructive awareness that gives a sense of moral self-fulfillment among the radical youth brings value to nonviolent transformation; 3. Confidence building about the process of nonviolent change and nonviolent capacity building; 4. Above all, this will accord moral legitimacy to the process of reclaiming the radicalized.
