JHARKHAND MIRROR

By Jyoti Sonia Dhan

Jharkhandmirror.org

25 January, 2010

The Child Right to Education Bill 2009 which was passed by Parliament in last August 2009, which speaks about the free and compulsory education to all children between 6 to 14 years. On other hand there was nation wide campaign by Child rights organization CRY for “saman shiksha sabko shiksa”. Both tell about education to all children. In states of Jharkhand, Bihar and few areas of West Bengal and Orissa there are security forces set up their camps in the schools of the Maoist affected area for longer period of time like 10 years or more. This has resulted in blowing up of the school by Maoist, which caused wide spread damaged to school especially in the Palamua and Chatra district of Jharkhand. Read more…

By Gladson Dungdung

29 Novembre, 2009 

The right to education is a fundamental right of every child in India. However, there are millions of children whose rights are neglected, denied and deprived. According to the Education Survey, only 50 percent children of the age of 6 to 14 have access to education, 35 millions children do not attend schools and 53% of girl children in the age group of 5 to 9 years are illiterate. The India government has enforced the ‘Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act’ on 26 of August 2009 with the prime objective of providing free and compulsory education to all children of the age of six to fourteen years. Ironically, it was enforced only after 62 years of Indian Independence, when the state realized about its failure in fulfilling the promises made in the constitution of India. The fundamental question here is does this legislation have comprehensive provisions to address the issues of denial of the children’s right to education? Read more…

By Gladson Dungdung

Tehelka 21 November, 2008 

The midday meal in Jharkhand does not reach those who need it, nor does it heal the social divide in the state

Children having midday meal at school

 Midday meal has been recognized as one of the key components of the Total Literacy Programme, playing a crucial role in bringing children to schools. The midday meal was introduced following a Supreme Court directive to the state governments in November 2001 to provide cooked food in all government primary schools and schools receiving government aid. The scheme was revised several times, its budget increased and its reach extended to the whole country. According to a report published by the state government of Jharkhand, the midday meal is doing what it is supposed to do. There were 30 lakh children not attending schools in 2002 but the midday meals in schools brought back 28 lakh children including dropouts to school. Their regular attendance has shot up to 70 percent. The education minister, Bandhu Tirkey has only good things to say about the midday meal. Read more…

By Gladson Dungdung

Tehelka 26 September, 2008

The dismal state of school education in the tribal state of Jharkhand.

It is 11 am. 12 year-old Sushil and his friends are playing “pitto” (a local game) in the school premises. They are studying in class 6 at Manikdih Middle School of Latehar district in Jharkhand, supposed to follow a 10 to 6 time table. 137 children of adjoining villages are enrolled in the school. It has a provision of 3 teachers. But only two teachers are posted in the school and one position is still vacant. In the last year, children received the books four months before their final exams. The teachers are also uncomfortable with the way school functions but they are helpless. Their hopes lie on the midday meal, the only reason for children to go to school.

The school also has a village education committee consisting of 15 members, formed in 2005, assigned to oversee the running of the school. But the committee is also defunct. The chairperson of the committee, Kripal Singh says that the members are just not interested and only 5-6 members turn up in the meetings. Consequently, it has lost the legitimacy. Though the villagers are not happy with the Khichidi (mixed rice) their children are being served in the school, they fear having to forgo even this if they question authorities. Read more…

Santhal Children in a village of Pakur district in Jharkhand

By Gladson Dungdung

Mynews 3 January, 2008

  “Education is the movement from darkness to light.” — Allan David. More than 4 lakh children who are still engaged as child labourers in Jharkhan.

 Though the ‘Right to education’ became the fundamental right after the 86th amendment of the Constitution of India in 2002 but the grassroots realities still remain the same। The right to education has been incorporated in the Article 21a of the Constitution, which clearly says that the state shall provide free and compulsory education to all children of the ages of 6 to 14 years. The Central and the State government are implementing numerous education programmes in the state for ensuring the right to education of children at the grassroots. The ‘Total Literacy Programme’ is the most populous among them. At the same time, Mid-day Meal scheme was also introduced to ensure the presence of children in the schools. Read more…