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| Projects: West India |
| Kutchch (Gujarat) |
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Following the earthquake of January 26, 2001, Novib initiated a dialogue with Pratham to introduce the work in the three worse affected districts of Kutchch- Anjar, Bhuj and Bhachau in Kutchch. After the sanctioning of funds from Novib, work began in August 2001.
While the long-term aim is to create a provision for universalisation of primary education in the region, the short-term goal of the program was to normalize school going and learning for the quake-affected children as soon as possible
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THE PROGRAM
In-School Balsakhi program: Even though the program was termed the 'In-School Balsakhi' program, the characteristics of the program in Kutchch are different from its namesake in Mumbai and other cities.
- Nearly all school buildings were destroyed in the earthquake. Even today, in many areas, classes are conducted in tents.
- Since most of the schools were not functioning, the Balsakhis had to first take the list of children on the rolls in schools and contact them. Many teachers' lives were also wrecked by the earthquake as a result of which in some schools the Balsakhi was doubling up as a class teacher.
- The trauma caused by the earthquake resulted in parents not wanting their children to go anywhere. The Balsakhis had to convince parents to send their children to school. In Anjar, where 350 children had died when buildings had caved in on them while participating in a republic day parade, the resistance and fear was more. Children were also fearful of sitting inside school buildings.
Bridge Courses: prepares children who are out of school for entering the formal school system
THE JOURNEY SO FAR...
- The program has expanded all over the region, 290 villages, and 4 major towns in three taluks (sub-district areas) of Kutchch.
- 100% of the schools in Anjar Taluk have been covered.
- Nearly 16,000 children in schools of Kutchch are being helped by balsakhi to read and write.
SOME CHALLENGES IN CONTEXT OF OPERATION
- Socio-cultural and geographical factors act as constraints while working in Kutchch. Many classes are conducted in villages that are more than 50 kilometers away from the town. The density of population in Kutchch is 28 persons per square kilometer as against 211 for the rest of Gujarat. Scattered habitats make it difficult to conduct classes in some areas.
- Gender bias is widely prevalent. Female literacy rates are extremely low, 15-20% in Bhachau and Rapar. Figures in Kutchch, of children enrolled in schools receiving inputs from Balsakhis reveal that the average representation of girls is only 46%.
- Rigid Caste System also poses various problems: for instance; Patels would not send their children to be taught by a Harijan teacher.
- Difficulty in finding young women educated up to Standard X to work as Balsakhis. In most places, the Balsakhis have passed Standard VII and dropped out of school
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Pratham - PABO exchange program |
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Under the Pratham-Novib Initiative, Pratham Delhi joins hands with PABO
(Teacher Training Institute), Meppel, Netherlands for a web based information
exchange program
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Pratham PABO newsletter
July 2003
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