In June 2007, Vicharata Samudaay Samarthan Manch initiated campaign for school enrollment of nomadic children in the Ashram Shalas and residential schools run with government support. Around 700 children were enrolled in various schools. However retention of the children in schools was big challenge. The children of nomadic communities find it very much difficult to adjust with the environment in the residential schools. Children were finding it difficult to sleep inside rooms as they are accustomed to sleep outside in open. Their eating habits were also different. On the other hand, it was very much difficult for teachers to understand living habit of these children. Their food intake was much higher then that of the other children. Many amongst those were having habit of chewing tobacco. Children were feeling excluded. Thus they left the school. The experience was disheartening and disappointing. Nomadic and de-notified communities are still out of the reach of education. The experience of first year gave us a feeling that challenges are tough then we have expected.
In 2008, we started well in advance. Community leaders were given responsibility of making list of children. The experiences of first year were shared with various schools and teachers. We also decided to put maximum effort for enrolling the child in nearest school instead of residential school. Children who were ready stay in residential schools were sent to Ashram Shalas where we have initiated continuous dialogue process with teachers. Still around 20% of the children could not be retained.
Women from Vadia settlement of Banaskantha district have been engage in prostitution for earning their livelihood. It is very important that children from this settlement go to school so that they are not trapped in the vicious viscous circle. 16 children from this settlement were enrolled in the Asharm Shala near Ahmedabad. Children from Vadia settlement are exposed to the occupation in which their family is involved in. Severe behavioral problems were observed with these children. Teachers gave punishment to the child and 4 girl children left the school.
In Parevada settlement of Rajkot district, children from 80 families of Vaadi community were denied school enrollment in the nearest village school. When representation was done to Education department of the state, a teacher visited the settlement and invited children to school. When women from the settlement took children to village schools for enrolling their names, villages pelted stones towards children. Two children were severely injured. Children were not enrolled in the village school. Lastly government started tent school in Parevada Settlement.
We observed that children of nomadic communities could not follow the discipline and rules that are to be obeyed in the residential schools. This was mainly because; they are used to live free life without restrictions in their settlement. Thus it was realized that facilitation process before school enrollment is necessary for increasing retention rate. These experiences were continuously shared with associated organizations like Sarvaday Trust and many others. Kantibhai from Sarvoday Trust agreed for support to start these facilitation centers in 5 selected settlements.
Women from Vadia settlement of Banaskantha district have been engage in prostitution for earning their livelihood. It is very important that children from this settlement go to school so that they are not trapped in the vicious viscous circle. 16 children from this settlement were enrolled in the Asharm Shala near Ahmedabad. Children from Vadia settlement are exposed to the occupation in which their family is involved in. Severe behavioral problems were observed with these children. Teachers gave punishment to the child and 4 girl children left the school.
In Parevada settlement of Rajkot district, children from 80 families of Vaadi community were denied school enrollment in the nearest village school. When representation was done to Education department of the state, a teacher visited the settlement and invited children to school. When women from the settlement took children to village schools for enrolling their names, villages pelted stones towards children. Two children were severely injured. Children were not enrolled in the village school. Lastly government started tent school in Parevada Settlement.
We observed that children of nomadic communities could not follow the discipline and rules that are to be obeyed in the residential schools. This was mainly because; they are used to live free life without restrictions in their settlement. Thus it was realized that facilitation process before school enrollment is necessary for increasing retention rate. These experiences were continuously shared with associated organizations like Sarvaday Trust and many others. Kantibhai from Sarvoday Trust agreed for support to start these facilitation centers in 5 selected settlements.
Children from these settlements except at Advaal (Ahmedabad) are child labours. However in most of the cases, parents were ready to send their children to school. In Tharad, parents were happy and immediately engaged themselves in preparing a class room for children. In nearby settlement, Vadia houses are being constructed and there were lots of empty cement bags. Women collected those bags and stitched together to form a large sheet that was used as roof of the school. Rohitbhai Nai, a local youth has been selected as teacher. Community takes care of the school, teacher and children.
In Vijapur settlement, most of children go for work. Due to scarcity of drinking water, girl children are engaged in fetching water. Children also work in BT cotton seed plot for 2-3 months also in other related work. School has been started almost a month ago. Slowly more and more children are attending school. Teacher Jaswantbhai Parmar, has been successful in retaining the interest o the children in school through recreational activities. Women from the settlement have done a raised platform of mud as seating arrangement for children.
It was very difficult to start school in Saraniya Settlement in Prantij block of Sabarkantha district. Community did not agree for sending their children to school. A group of women took initiative and school was started. Most of the children are child laboures and work either on tea-stall or other places. Parents do not have trust on the education system and does not feel importance of education. Two local teachers left the school within a week. Recently a third teacher, Shahinben Pathan has agreed to take up the task and we hope for better results. Another school has been started in Bajania and Bharathari settlement. Here too children go for work, however co-operation from parents is better then the earlier settlement. Damayantiben Vankar has been selected as Teacher, and we anticipate that it will be comparatively easier to work here.
In Surendranagar schools will commence after Diwali Vacation. Rekhaben Solanki has been selected as Teacher.
In Advaal, near Ahmedabad, it is difficult to find teachers to run a school. Village youth are reluctant to work with Dafer community. However a search of teacher is on and soon school will be started. All the above mentioned settlements are big and have contacts in several other districts. Thus it will be easier to start schools elsewhere once we are successful in these settlements.
Monitoring and local support is given by community leaders. For ex. In Prantij, Natubhai Barot has accepted voluntarily responsibility of monitoring and providing local co-ordination support. Mrs. Sharadaban, Tharad and Mrs.Truptiben in Surendranagar have taken this responsibility respectively.
Resources:
Sarvoday Trust, Pindawal has agreed for payment of teachers @Rs.2000/month.
Other educational material like slate, charts and other educational material was given by Navneet Prakashan
Parent association in contact with Sanjaybhai Dave (Charakha – a’ bad) gave contribution for purchase of pen, pencil, book, drawing book, duster, pen, chowk etc. The accounts will be directly submitted to the each of the donors. These will also be circulated to all associated stakeholders.
In Vijapur settlement, most of children go for work. Due to scarcity of drinking water, girl children are engaged in fetching water. Children also work in BT cotton seed plot for 2-3 months also in other related work. School has been started almost a month ago. Slowly more and more children are attending school. Teacher Jaswantbhai Parmar, has been successful in retaining the interest o the children in school through recreational activities. Women from the settlement have done a raised platform of mud as seating arrangement for children.
It was very difficult to start school in Saraniya Settlement in Prantij block of Sabarkantha district. Community did not agree for sending their children to school. A group of women took initiative and school was started. Most of the children are child laboures and work either on tea-stall or other places. Parents do not have trust on the education system and does not feel importance of education. Two local teachers left the school within a week. Recently a third teacher, Shahinben Pathan has agreed to take up the task and we hope for better results. Another school has been started in Bajania and Bharathari settlement. Here too children go for work, however co-operation from parents is better then the earlier settlement. Damayantiben Vankar has been selected as Teacher, and we anticipate that it will be comparatively easier to work here.
In Surendranagar schools will commence after Diwali Vacation. Rekhaben Solanki has been selected as Teacher.
In Advaal, near Ahmedabad, it is difficult to find teachers to run a school. Village youth are reluctant to work with Dafer community. However a search of teacher is on and soon school will be started. All the above mentioned settlements are big and have contacts in several other districts. Thus it will be easier to start schools elsewhere once we are successful in these settlements.
Monitoring and local support is given by community leaders. For ex. In Prantij, Natubhai Barot has accepted voluntarily responsibility of monitoring and providing local co-ordination support. Mrs. Sharadaban, Tharad and Mrs.Truptiben in Surendranagar have taken this responsibility respectively.
Resources:
Sarvoday Trust, Pindawal has agreed for payment of teachers @Rs.2000/month.
Other educational material like slate, charts and other educational material was given by Navneet Prakashan
Parent association in contact with Sanjaybhai Dave (Charakha – a’ bad) gave contribution for purchase of pen, pencil, book, drawing book, duster, pen, chowk etc. The accounts will be directly submitted to the each of the donors. These will also be circulated to all associated stakeholders.
Thank you very much for your email, for I would otherwise never know that there could be a blog called NOMADS OF INDIA. Although it is named so, I find that it pertains to the nomads of Gujarat in particular,and that makes it a more compelling read for a person who is interested in the literatures of such marginalized groups.
ReplyDeleteIt is indeed a very challenging work and Mittal and Janpath and all the volunteers engaged in the community work deserve great kudos.
I have to however make a suggestion or two for further bettering the blog content :
1. Although it is superfluous to bring to your notice, I found spelling mistakes ( and that too when spellcheck facility is available) in words like nmadic,samarthn,blok etc. I fully understand content is the most important part of any communication, we shouldn't neglect the basic rules of the language. This enhances the effect of the content.
2. I believe this blog must begin with a brief historical note on the nomads of Gujarat. It should also explain in the language of the blog i.e. in English what is the real meaning ( for they are suggestive of their traditional occupations ) of the names of different nomadic-denotified tribes: Saraniya, Gadaliya, Vansfoda, Kangasiya, Bharathari, Bahurupi, Bhavaiya, Nat etc.
In any case, this is a wonderful blog and a great service to the deprived and despised.
I shall return to the blog very often. Thank you again for keeping me informed of the good work.
Neerav Patel.