I am Taru Naik, born to Mr. Tima Naik and Mrs. Sambari Naik as the eldest son in Silda is a Tribal village under Kendeiposi Panchayat in Patna Block of Keonjhar District 11 years back. My village is 12 km away from the Block Head quarter and 30 k.m away from the District Head quarter. Mainly the Munda, Dama & Mohanta tribes are the inhabitants of this village. The Village divided in two three wards. Most of villagers depend on agriculture for livelihood. The Villasge is deprived of the public facilities like Electricity, Road and Drinking water.
I left my study from class 6th to support my father who was working in a road side Dhaba located in the Kendujhar - Sambalpur highway for a meager wage of Rs. 300/- per month. I was abused by truck drivers and other customers many a times and finding no way of hope still continued to work thinking of my ill fate.
One fine morning the members of my Village Child Protection Committee facilitated by PECUC identified me while working at the road side Dhaba and arranged for a discussion with my parents. Subsequently the members visited the Dhaba and interacted with me and counseled myself and my parents to ensure my return back to home. And finally an atmosphere created which paved way to my home coming and finally I returned home.
My dreams of reading and playing flowered again and the members of the CPC watered my dreams, interacted with the school teacher and I got back to school into the same 6th class. I am now going to school, playing with my friends, moving in around natural surroundings of my village ever happily. I also joined evening class organized by the CPC members of the village. Its CPC which enlightened my life, nurtured my dreams and paved way for my development.
“I want to be a good, educated and rich man in the society in future” Taru boasted with a ray of hope twinkling in his eyes”