JHARKHAND MIRROR

 

Children in the Red Corridor

The Indian Government and the Indian Media are repeatedly telling us that 92 thousand square kilometres geographical area covering 170 districts in 9 states of India is out of control of the Indian State. The vicinity is full of the natural resources including verities of minerals, forests and water sources. The territory is ruled by the Maoists therefore the Government has branded it as the ‘Red Corridor’. Actually, the area is highly Adivasi dominated therefore it is supposed to be called the ‘Adivasi Corridor’. And of course, it is their homeland. The Indian State has been carrying on a major offensive in the Red Corridor since October 2009 to clear the land. In the latest development, the British Company “Execution Nobel limited” has estimated a business of $80 billion if the area is liberated from the Maoists. Consequently, the government is determined to cleanse the Maoists by 2013 by taking all required steps.  Read more…

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…