Dhoni to lure drop-outs back to school

After stamping his authority as the world's top batsman, Indian cricket's new star Mahendra Singh Dhoni would now bat for a cause -- to motivate school drop-outs back to studies in his home town.

"Dhoni will join the campaign, 'School chhalen hum' (Let's go to school) between April 24 and 29 in Ranchi," Deputy Commissioner Pradeep Kumar said.

The administration believes that the charishma of the swashbuckling wicketkeeper-batsman could drive slum children to schools.

"We would like to get regular feedback on the children's response to our novel campaign," Kumar said.

As per a recent survey, the drop-out rate in Ranchi is as high as 43 per cent in the past three years.

"Now we are committed to stem the drop-out rate and determined to spread awareness by involving administrative officials, NGOs, media and celebrities," Kumar added.

Film-star Farooq Sheikh is also joining the state government's campaign.

While Dhoni's services will be utilised in slum areas, Farooq Sheikh will be taken to remote villages during the enrolment week starting tomorrow," he said.

An estimated 3.88 lakh children do not go to schools in Jharkhand and Chief Minister Arjun Munda has directed the officials to enroll them under the 'School challen hum' campaign across the state.

The focus of the campaign is to target boys and girls in the age group between six and 14 and make a concerted effort to bring them to school through different methods.

"First, we will teach them between nine and 12 months, both in residential and non-residential camps before moving them to middle schools," Kumar said.

An amount of Rs 6,800 would be spent per child in residential and Rs 845 for non-residential camp and the funds would be given to village education committees, he said.