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A socially-conscious and literate society has a vital role to play in a democracy. Eradication of illiteracy has been one of the major national concern of the Government of India since independence. The need for a literate population was recognized as a crucial input for nation-building. Due to a number of significant programmes taken up since independence to eradicate illiteracy among adults, for the first time the absolute number of literates outnumbered the number of illiterates in the Census-2001. However, gender disparity and regional disparity in literacy still continue to persist.
To address these issues and as per its commitment to the Common Minimum Programme, the Central Government is giving priority for literacy programmes. Education cess was imposed on all taxes to generate the much-needed resources to achieve the goals of ‘Education For All’. The Government is in the process of increasing public spending in education to six per cent of GDP in a phased manner.
Apart from giving major thrust to elementary education programmes like Sarva Siksha Abhiyan, the Government has approved a new scheme called Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya Scheme. Several other major initiatives have been taken in the field of education, especially for girls belonging predominantly to SC, ST, OBC and minorities in educationally backward blocks, where female literacy is below the national average and gender gap in literacy is more than the national average. A total of 750 residential schools would be set up with the provision of boarding facilities at elementary level. These residential schools will be set up in Educational Backward Blocks (EBB). The scheme provides that a minimum of 75 per cent of the enrolment be reserved for the girls from SC, ST, OBC or minority communities and for the remaining 25 percent priority would be accorded to girls from the families of below poverty line. A total of 86 KGBVs have been sanctioned for Educationally Backward Blocks with a concentration of Muslim population. A sum of Rs.489 crore has been provided for this in the 10th Year Plan. The pattern of financing will be 75:25 ratio of sharing between the Center and the States during the Tenth Five Year Plan.
The Scheme is implemented in 20 States, Andhra Pradesh has taken the lead in getting sanction for setting up of 94 schools followed by Jharkhand (74) and Madhya Pradesh (70) schools.
Strategy
The residential schools will be opened in a phased manner over the Tenth Plan with an estimated cost of Rs19.05 lakh as recurring cost and Rs.26.25 lakh as non-recurring cost per school. Such schools will be set up only in those backward blocks that do not have residential schools for elementary education of girls under any other scheme under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment and Tribal Affairs.
Scheme Components
According to the scheme at the primary level, the emphasis will be on the slightly older girls who are out of schools and were unable to complete primary schools (10+). However, in difficult areas (migratory populations, scattered habitations that do not qualify for primary/upper primary schools) the focus will be on younger girls. At the upper primary level, emphasis will be on girls, especially adolescent girls, who are unable to go to regular schools. Established NGOs and other non-profit making bodies will be involved in the running of the schools, wherever possible. These residential schools can also be adopted by Corporate groups.
State Governments will implement the scheme through the Mahila Samakhya (MS) Society and through the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) society. Funds will be released as per SSA pattern to the State SSA societies. The monitoring and evaluation at the State and district level will be undertaken by the MS State Resource Centres and in non-MS states, through the committee created for the National Programme for Education of Girls at the Elementary Level in the SSA Society.
Support Groups
An Advisory State level coordination committee as approved under the National Programme for Education of Girls at Elementary Level (NPEGEL) scheme, shall provide direction and support to the programme. This group will consist of nominees from relevant State Government Departments, Government of India, experts in the field of girls education, educationists etc. The National Resource Group (NRG) created under the Mahila Samakhya programme at the National level shall provide inputs on conceptual issues and concerns arising in the programme, and advice the Government on policy matters concerning the education of girls. This group will provide the interface with research and training institutions, women’s movement, educationists and non-governmental institutions and also bring in other experiences of educating girls.
Methodology
Based on the number of girls and the type of residential school to be provided, the selection of the model of the school to be selected would be done by a State Level Committee based on the recommendation of the District Committee for the purpose. The proposal shall be forwarded to the Cell at the National level. Andhra Pradesh has taken the lead in the setting up of Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalayas (KGBVs). The State has bagged the highest number of 94 KGBVs. Of the total Rs.9256.60 lakh sanctioned and released by the Centre, the state has to its quota a sum of Rs.1823.77 lakh for the same. The State is second after Uttar Pradesh in the possession of recognized educational institutions.
The dramatic social mobilization generated by the literacy scheme will have an enormous impact on other social sectors, most notably women’s empowerment, health and population stabilization along with environmental awareness.
*Journalist
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