Puttur: Good Samaritans to the Rescue of Young Yashwant
 
By Arun Uppinangady
Daijiworld Media Network—Puttur (RD/CN)
 
Puttur, Nov 29: Six-year-old Yashwant lived in a building opposite Uppinangady police station, near here. 

Although, the children of his age attend schools Yashwant was used by his parents for their selfish needs.  He had been supplying arrack to his parents as and when they demanded all day long. 

In spite of the locals enrolling him in a nearby school this academic year, he hardly attended any classes.
 
Despite Yashwant’s earnest interest to attend school like other students, his parents did not allow him to go to school.

He rarely attended classes and was so shabbily dressed and unhygienic that other students shunned his company. Several people marveled at his creativity which exceeded his age and tried to help him attend school regularly.
 
In the midst of general concern for Yashwant, some evil forces in the society tried to exploit his innocence and skills. 

No sooner did Uppinangady Government Model Higher Primary School headmaster B Aithappa Naik receive the news of Yashwant being involved in petty crimes he began his mission to unravel information on Yashwant’s parents. 

Headmaster Aithappa soon came to the conclusion that his parents were responsible for the boy’s unruly behaviour.

He contacted district officers of ‘Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan’, with the purpose of securing the future of the child who would go astray if not rescued at the earliest.
 
Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan district deputy project officer Shivaprakash and officers Pitambar and Ramaswamy Gowda arrived at Uppinangady and visited Yashwanth’s parents and counseled them.

The officers advised Yashwant’s parents to permit him to study in an orphanage school, which they refused.  Somehow, the officers convinced them and the parents reluctantly consented to allow the education department to care for their son.
 
Yashwant at Asha Kiran:
 
The education officers made arrangements to take Yashwant to ‘Asha Kiran’, an orphanage for destitute children in Mangalore.

Yashwant’s parents did not allow him to go with the education officers and  headmaster Aithappa managed to send him and his parents along with teacher Vandana to Asha Kiran on Tuesday November 24. 

Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan officers received them at Asha Kiran and handed Yashwant over to the care of authorities at the orphanage.  Asha Kiran also forms part of Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan.
 
Yashwant’s Skills Used by Thieves:
 
Yashwant’s skills in climbing walls, and stealing valuables from shops around Uppinangady locality were exploited by a group of thieves who paid him a pittance for his service. 

He was nabbed by the police a few times after the thefts and let-off without punishment as he was a little boy.  He had the innocence to narrate his attempts of stealing to the policemen. 
 
Yashwant was finally rescued from going astray by national award winning head master Aithappa Naik out of genuine concern for the boy’s future. 

However, the social responsibility now lies with the education department to shape the future of Yashwant in helping him become a responsible citizen of the country.