Dhanbad, Aug. 8: Shell out a rupee every month and education arrives at your doorstep in troubled Tundi block.

Residents of this extremism-ravaged block, nearly 3.5 km from the district headquarters, are countering the Naxalite menace through a unique community-based education project — the Swami Vivekananda Mahavidyalaya — which added another feather to its cap today. Dhanbad deputy Beela Rajesh inaugurated graduation-level courses in the college.

Over 80,000 villagers pay Re 1 every month to keep the mahavidyalaya running.

The initiative aims to educate the local youth, who are otherwise lured by rebels.

Addressing the gathering, secretary-cum-principal of the college Chunchun Mishra said, “After the creation of Jharkhand, Section 46 of the Chhotanagpur Tenancy Act which entails restoration of lost tribal land was not implemented. This gave rise to resentment and the tribe of landless poor swelled. The rebels cashed in on the land divide resulting in violence. Rising unemployment and illiteracy added to the problems.

“Local people are trying to combat extremism through community development and education is a major component,” says Chunchun Mishra.

“The youth of the area were deprived of higher education as the nearest government college is located 25 km from Tundi. In 1997, we took permission from the Bihar Intermediate Council to set up a college in the block but paucity of funds came in the way. We collected Re 1 from the villagers and carried on with the project. For the degree course, we have tied up with Rajganj College in Rajganj. Our efforts have borne fruit,” Mishra said.

Local educationists are using “cultural rejuvenation” as the primary tool in their fight against extremism. The Ramakrishna Vivekanand Shevashram had set up the first primary, middle and high schools in the region 50 years ago.

“The concept was later embraced by the government and now we have donated 2 acres of land to the local people for a college,” said shevashram secretary Umesh Chandra Goswami.