Young IAS officer driving positive changes in Gadchiroli Ashish Yerekar By Kartik Lokhande : Right from conducting workshops for teachers to getting school textbooks translated into Gondi and Madiya languages to getting ISO certification for tribal Ashramshalas IAS officer Ashish Yerekar is a man on a mission It takes one man to stand his ground firmly to overcome a challenge. In case of Gadchiroli district which is tribal-dominated and is affected by Maoist terrorism a young IAS officer is proving to be that one man. Ashish Yerekar who hails from Nanded district and cleared his IAS examination after getting trained at Pre-IAS Coaching Centre Nagpur is currently serving as Sub-Divisional Officer and Project Officer of Integrated Tribal Development Project (ITDP) Gadchiroli. It is just a few months into the new posting but he has initiated several steps to bring about a positive change in the lives of people even during COVID-19 pandemic situation. “There were unusual challenges in the year 2020-21 due to COVID-19. Still we decided not to get bogged down by the situation and keep positive attitude. Once we made up our mind action was the only driving force” Yerekar told The Hitavada over telephone with his voice bubbling with enthusiasm and determination to do something that makes a difference in the lives of tribals. Yerekar led his team and launched several initiatives. Yerekar took initiative to get the school textbooks for Std I to III translated into Gondi and Madiya languages to enable the tribal students to understand the syllabus well. “We have developed the content. The desktop jobwork is to be done and books are to be printed. I wish if we get support for publishing these books we can give the textbooks in Gondi and Madiya to the students next month” he said. Besides coaching was imparted to students of Std III and IV to prepare them for Navodaya School entrance exam and scholarship exam. As schools were closed enthusiastic group of teachers was assembled and teaching material for the said preparation was created. As the tribal students were deprived of learning due to COVID-19 and lack of Internet connectivity in remote areas the audio-video clips of Mathematics and Science teachers were recorded and the said material was made available to all Ashramshalas through pen-drive so that they could reach out to students. Similarly Yerekar prepared a plan to extend education to students doorsteps during COVID-19 situation as part of State Governments Unlock Learning initiative. The young officer also realised that the students from tribal areas like Gadchiroli needed to increase their participation in medical engineering and other such professional courses. To qualify for admission to these courses they need to clear NEET/JEE. Considering this Yerekar conducted test of students from seven junior colleges including five Government junior colleges and chose 100 students of Std XI and XII. Arrangement was made for providing accommodation to these students at Government English Medium Ashramshala Gadchiroli where computers Internet and healthcare facilities were better. These students have been divided into batches for NEET and JEE coaching. Expert teachers from IBB-Nanded and RCC-Latur have been roped in to train them. The wards of policemen also are being trained. Further four Eklavya Schools have been approved at Chamorshi Gewardha Dhanora and Korchi. Yerekar ensured that the land was acquired so as to pave way for construction of school buildings. To expose teachers in the district to better teaching techniques Yerekar organised on-line sessions for them with noted educationist Heramb Kulkarni and also Ranjitsinh Disale. The on-line session with Gadchiroli teachers was organised by Yerekar even before Disale was chosen for the prestigious Global Teacher Award. In another initiative Yerekar facilitated organising wood-art workshop under Skill Development Programme at Mendha (Lekha) where 15 artisans got trained over 30 days. The trainees created a wooden frame in which was carved the Preamble to the Constitution of India. Now Yerekar said the wooden framed Preamble is in great demand not only from across Maharashtra but also from other States. “I am happy that the trainees have got work soon” he added. The officials visiting the homes of Ashramshala students as part of Unlock Learning initiative. ISO certification to 7 Ashramshalas Under ITDP Gadchiroli there are total 24 Government Ashramshalas and 18 unaided Ashramshalas. Implementing innovative initiatives and focussing on educational and infrastructural changes Headmasters of these schools were motivated to work with dedication. As a result so far seven Government and one unaided Ashramshalas have got ISO certification! Of these schools Maseli and Bhadbhidi have won special praise for well-maintained premises as well as purposeful decoration of classrooms keeping in mind the curriculum etc. Pad Man roped in to start sanitary napkin unit at Govt Ashramshala During menstruation cycle girls in tribal areas face problems due to some traditions. Realising this he took an initiative and roped in women teachers to start a sanitary napkin production centre at Government Secondary Girls Ashramshala at Sode in Dhanora tehsil. For this particular initiative Yerekar got in touch with the real-life Pad Man A Muruganantham from Tamil Nadu to guide the team involved in the project. The required machinery was made available through corporate social responsibility funds of some pharmaceutical firms with the help of senior IAS officers. The girls were trained under Learn and Earn scheme. Also the girls were trained to act as Menstruation Hygiene Ambassador.

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