IAS Jitendra Jorwal is transforming the lives of underprivileged children and women in rural Punjab through innovative education and healthcare initiatives.

As the District Commissioner of Sangrur, IAS officer Jitendra Jorwal uncovered a distressing reality — many children in the region’s slums had either never enrolled in school or had dropped out.

He learnt that traditional classroom settings weren’t engaging enough for them. So, he launched the ‘Schools on Wheels’ programme to keep underprivileged kids in school.

Now, every morning, school buses pick up children from the slums and take them to educational sites — pond rejuvenation areas, development projects, and educational parks.

“We needed to make education more interesting — something that would allow the children to experience what they were reading and learn by seeing real-life projects in action. The activities had to be engaging, fun, and never boring,” says Jitendra.

These buses are equipped with interactive learning materials, books, and educational videos. They captivate children with their colourful interiors, illuminated by vibrant LED lights.

This initiative has already seen remarkable success. Thanks to this experiential learning approach, at least 100 children have re-enrolled in school, according to Jitendra.

But Schools on Wheels was just the beginning. Over time, the IAS officer launched several other projects to uplift underprivileged children and women in Punjab.

To combat the prevalence of anaemia among adolescents, Jitendra ensured regular distribution of Iron and Folic Acid (IFA) tablets and set up kitchen gardens in nearly 756 schools.

Additionally, he promoted livelihood opportunities for over 450 women by engaging them in the production of school and police uniforms. Collectively, the women generated a revenue of Rs 4.5 crore in their second year.

“Health and education are the basic foundations for a society. When the foundation is strong, the structure will definitely be strengthened. Women and children comprise 65 percent of our society, and I wanted to focus on empowering them,” he says.