The success story has finally traveled to the state capital. On May 18 this year, Principal Secretary Planning Department V Venkatchalam visited Agar village. Since the project cost is just Rs 1,300 per village, the government now aims to replicate it in other districts. ‘‘I have recommended that the Planning Commission take up the project in the eleventh five-year plan,’’ says Venkatchalam.

Getting together

The project has also helped the Saharia tribe join the mainstream. The Saharias, who work on quarries crushing stones and making beedis, were treated as outcasts in Bundelkhand and their children were denied admission to schools.

The UNICEF intervention made a difference with its informal schools called ‘Mera School’, where school-going children of other communities teach the Saharia children. ‘‘I really like it that I can now write my name,’’ says Asharfi, the 20-year-old oldest student of Mera School. In just one year, of the 22 students of Mera School in Jamalpur village in Lalitpur district, 15 have started going to government junior schools.