Inspiration
From a Bangle Seller to an IAS Officer, Ramesh Gholap is Now Rescuing Kids From Forced Labour
An IAS officer of Jharkhand has become the epitome of humanity for the children he saved from a life of forced labour.
IAS officer Ramesh Gholap is currently the Deputy Commissioner of Koderma, Jharkhand. But when young, he sold bangles with his mother and siblings in Mahagaon, Solapur. Having escaped poverty and becoming an IAS officer did not make him arrogant but only humble and empathetic towards others' plight. And that's the very reason why he was recently in news for bringing 35 children out of forced labour and enrolling them in local schools.
Remembering the story of one such child, the officer told The Better India, “I was posted as the DC in June 2019. During winter, it is customary to distribute blankets among the poor. In January 2020, when we conducted the distribution drive, I noticed a young girl standing at the back of the line."
This kid was Sapna, an 11-year-old gild who lost her parent and was being brought up by her grandparents and uncle. Unfortunately, their poor economic condition couldn't afford to send the girl to school. Immediately after identifying her situation, Gholap enrolled her in Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya, a residential government school, under the care of warden Vibha Kumari. He signed himself as the local guardian and also enrolled her into the Integrated Child Development and Security Scheme through which she would receive Rs. 2000 every month.
Sapna was initially very anxious and sad for not being around her family but Gholap and the warden comforted her and made her understand that she is in good hands. The bright girl is now thriving and doing exceptionally well in the Hindi subject, which is her favourite. Apart from this, she's also interested in dancing.
Instead of forgetting about the Solapur childhood memories that are very unlikely to be cheerful for Gholap, he chooses to remember them to make sure no child who he comes across undergoes any similar ill-treatment ever.
We salute this kind and courageous man who's truly committed to work for the betterment of this country and her children.