New Delhi: Giving back to society is the need of the hour to ensure no one is left behind! Three bureaucrats from Bihar have set up Ambedkar Initiative for the Marginalized (AIM) Pathshala as a part of their social responsibility. These officers are Santosh Kumar Rai, a 2014-batch IAS officer posted as Secretary, Arunachal Pradesh Staff Selection (APSSB), Vijay Kumar, an Indian Railway Traffic Services (IRTS) officer posted at Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh; and Ranjan Prakash, a Deputy Commandant with CRPF in Assam.

Their AIM Pathshala strives to help students from underprivileged sections of society so that they get proper education and give wings to their dreams. Often children from weaker sections have to leave their education midway because of lack of resources. AIM Pathshala has three centres right now -- Gopalganj, Samastipur and Aurangabad districts. Santosh Kumar Rai has set up one at Basantpur Ramni village in Samastipur, Vijay Kumar at Pithauri village in Gopalganj; and Ranjan Prakash at Tarai village in Aurangabad district.

Started in 2019, AIM Pathshalas have around 450 students, out of which 40 per cent are girls.  The major focus is on girls and dropouts. These Pathshalas run from 7 am to 10 am in the morning every day. Apart from education, students are also provided with free study materials. Special attention is being given on competitive examinations as well. Other than school education, the AIM Pathshala also aims at personality development of these children. During holidays, the officers visit these centres in their respective hometowns and often give motivational and career guidance classes to them.

“Children the future of the nation, and they must be taken care of by all of us. We have made a small effort in empowering poor children holistically so that they also actively participate in the process of nation building,” said IAS officer Santosh Kumar Rai while speaking to Bureaucrats India. “We are hopeful that in time to come AIM Pathshala has its centre in almost every district of Bihar,” added Rai. /BI/