Kendrapara, Nov. 23: Tribal children in backward Mahakalpada tehsil of Kendrapara district, who used to assist their parents to run the family, are slowly making their way to schools.

When volunteers of Ramachandi Youth Club in Ramnagar tried to convince 56-year-old Hari Sabar to send her seven-year-old daughter Jhuni to school, he never took them seriously. For unlettered Sabar, sending children to school carried little meaning. According to him, it would be better for his minor daughter to do household chores than learn alphabets in school.

After days of persuasion, better sense prevailed and Sabar, a traditional inland fisherman, decided to send Jhuni to school. She is now enrolled in government-run Ramnagar Primary School at Lunimathia village in Kendrapara.

Despite the avowed government claim for education for all, facilities remained out of bounds to the tiny hamlet housing about 500 migrant tribal settlers.

This is the first time that tribal children from the village are going to school. None from the villagers are literate, though they settled here in the sixties after migrating from Mayurbhanj district.

"We had tried our very best, but failed to persuade them. The youth club volunteers have done a commendable job in convincing the parents to send their children to school. As many as 42 tribal children were enrolled in the school register," said the Ramchandi Primary School headmaster Akshyaya Kumar Routray.

"The tribal people have never been to schools. Parents of about 50 children below 10-year-age group never knew the utility value of school education," the youth club volunteer, Ranjan Mandal said.

"Initially, it was quite an uphill task to persuade the parents. During day, the parents are engaged in fishing activity, while the children are left to do household works. After minors attain adulthood, they assist their parents in fishing," another volunteer Mrutyunjay Mandal said.

After many rounds of counselling, the youths managed to persuade them.

District education officer Sangram Sahoo, too, appreciated the youths for their efforts. "The youths have done a great job," he said.

"I have sent my daughter and son to school. We are happy as they are enjoying the school atmosphere," said Sabar.

"I love going to school. Teachers are sincere and are teaching me Odia alphabets. I am taking mid-day-meal. Though I am lagging behind in studies from my classmates, I am confident to make it up in coming months," said seven-year-old Jhuni.