India: Sabotaged Schools

Tens of thousands of children are caught up in the conflict between Maoist insurgents and government security forces in India. Education is the only ticket to a better future, but a massive casualty in these areas. Schools are seen as symbols of the state, hence, attacked by Maoists. Additionally, government security forces use schools as bases for anti insurgent operations, or as police stations where they live for months or even years. Children study alongside these forces, pushing them to study outside classrooms and sabotaging their education, specially discouraging the girl child from coming back to school. HRW’s Emma Daly reports from India’s Bihar state.