ANURAG MISHRA, LAKHIMPUR KHERI

CATEGORY: GENDER EQUALITY

While many of his colleagues fulfill their duties as service obligations, Anurag Mishra a young block education officer (BEO) of basic Shiksha Parishad thinks differently. He has extended his duties to the extent of creating educational awareness towards girl child in rural areas. “Despite all efforts of the government, the education scenario for girls in rural areas is still below expectations,” Mishra noticed. He said “Socio-economic conditions of rural families play a key-role in projecting a lukewarm response towards the education of their kids.”

This prompted Mishra to do something different to boost girls’ education and their empowerment. He organised regular meetings with the parents, elaborated them importance of education of girls. He won their confidence and arranged books for their children. It took a few years but results were encouraging. During his first posting in Bijua block, the qualitative change in girls’ education brought him in focus among all. In 2015, he was one among the two block education officers of UP who were selected for National Innovation Award by the HRD ministry. This boosted his morale further and his efforts continued. This made him eligible for the national award in 2017.

NOMINATED BY DEO KANT PANDEY