Dr Manasvi M. Kamat
In a positive step towards socially inclusive education, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) headed by the PM Modi has in this week approved Rs. 2242 crore impetus for the tribal education sector. India has the world’s largest tribal population and educating them has been a challenge. The much needed announcement will go to play a considerable role in addressing the challenging issues to meet the objectives of tribal development.
Despite government efforts to promote education among the Scheduled Tribes (STs), their literacy rates as compared to the national average have remained low. The literacy rate among tribal in India is at 59 percent, and is far below the national literacy rate of 73 percent.
Though the overall literacy gap amongst the various groups and STs has come down from 19.77 percent in 1961 to 14.03 percent in 2011 the relatively recent data based on 71 Round (January - June, 2014) survey, conducted by National Sample Survey Office (NSSO), Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation on ‘Social Consumption: Education’, it is found that the literacy rate for STs are 67 percent compared to the corresponding figure for all category at 76 percent.
To address the above imbalances, the CCEA has now given its in-principle approval for setting up of 462 new Eklavya Model Residential Schools (EMRSs) across the country. The new schools would be set up in every block that has a 50 percent ST population and at least 20,000 tribal persons. The CCEA has approved a budget of Rs 2242.03 crore for 2018-19 and 2019-20 to roll out the revamped scheme. In addition to this, the CCEA has recommended the setting up of an Autonomous Society under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs on the lines of Navodaya Vidyalaya Samiti to run the EMRSs.
The EMRSs are special schools that have been set up by the government to impart quality education more specifically, to the ST children. Apart from the school buildings which include hostels and staff quarters, provisions for a playground, computer lab, teacher resource room etc are also included in EMRSs. This initiative is believed to have benefitted ST students immensely.
The already sanctioned EMRSs have been approved an upgrade of already sanctioned with a maximum budget of Rs 5 crore per school. Similarly the Sports facilities would also be made available in 163 tribal dominated districts at a unit cost of Rs 5 crore each and are expected to be constructed by the year 2022. The financial provisions for 15 sports facilities during 2018-19 and 2019-20 have also been agreed to.
Money alone cannot solve all the impediments in increasingly bringing the ST population in the education manifold. Despite all efforts in this sphere too the things are far from satisfactory. The Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) calculated for 18-23 years of age group in higher education in India is 25.8 percent, for the Scheduled Castes (SC) it is 21.8 percent, it is considerably lower for ST at 15.9 percent. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and the North Eastern States have a sizeable ST population. However systematized implementations of the plans do half the wonders and Kerala presents a classic example in this regard.
The Kerala State which otherwise has the highest literacy rates in India at 93.91 percent, owing to their progressive policies and their innovative programs has met with remarkable success in its educational endeavor to include tribal communities in the region. The initiative was first implemented in Palakkad district’s Attapadi and later in the Wayanad region of Kerala, for the Kattunaikka and Paniya communities and where the state’s tribal population is most heavily concentrated.
Launched by the Kerala State Literacy Mission Authority, the first phase of the programme successfully taught 5729 tribal people from 283 hamlets how to read. The program also saw positive lifestyle changes, in lowering the use of alcohol and tobacco, and an overall increase in hygiene. The modus operandi followed was of unusual nature. The officials travelled to tribal homes to understand their problems and current situation. The instructors were chosen to be belonging from the from tribal backgrounds. This helps in better acceptability. The course content not only incorporated reading and writing skills but addressed issues of direct relevance to the ST community as well. Finally the population above 35 was targeted and with the parents convinced of the idea, this made ready grounds for their children to get in the mainstream.
Poor economic conditions, considerable distance between home and school (especially for secondary education and above all the lack of awareness about the long-term value of formal education are the main reasons for abysmal participation of the ST brethren in the education manifold. Education is one of the most powerful means of bringing about socio-economic development among scheduled tribes and it cannot be over-emphasized.
The low literacy rate and GER clearly indicates the development of the tribal population in India is not just considerably low but below average. Among the tribal women, the disparity is even worse as they have the lowest literacy rates in India. In spite of the government putting enormous efforts to build equality among both the genders, there is still a clearly visible breach in the literacy rate between the male and female population of the ST.
Both authoritative bodies and the eminence of education if blended effectively with proper implementation can change the face of the tribal community. The increased fund allocation aiming the revamp of the educational opportunities will provide the much needed relief. Good things though late, do come.
