Promoting Muslim and Dalit
Girl Child Education and Women Empowerment Program
SSK’s
Intervention in Cholapur
SSK is intervening in 10 panchayats
of Cholapur block of Varanasi district under promoting muslim
and dalit girl child education and women empowerment program.
The program aims at strengthening capacities of panchayats to
improve quality of education as well as promoting community based
organisations to raise as well as advocate on issues related to
rights of girls and women. The program is also supported by a
scholarship program for girl students. The scholarship program
called as ‘Vidya Gyan Scholarship’
targets girls from class 6 to 10. Along with scholarship special
arrangement has been made for group coaching and extending mentoring
support.
During the initiation phase of the program when dialogue was facilitated
with guardians and primary school teachers for collecting names
of girl students for enrolment under scholarship program, the
interaction provided us key information towards real status and
issues concerning girl child education particularly muslim and
dalit girl child education. It provide us with the fact that issue
for poor state of girl child education is not only limited to
economic reason but it has a wider dimension which is very largely
influenced by social and cultural rigidness and issues. These
rigidness and issues are responsible for poor state of girl child
education. With an objective to support our observations and insights
SSK conducted a study on the factors influencing girl child education
particularly muslim and dalit in Cholapur block of Varanasi.
The insights from study bring out the reasons for gradual decline
in the number of girl children going to school as they move up
the class ladder. The reason for drop out is poverty which accounts
for 34% drop out cases. 19% of drop out cases are due to cultural
environment which includes early marriage for girl as well as
there is an attitude that no higher education for girls and why
to waste resources on girls education. 17% of drop out cases among
girl children are due to household responsibilities such as cooking,
home- keeping and rearing younger siblings.
In contrast to this situation 55% girl children of the area are
willing to go to school and continue their education, if due consent
of their parents is taken. At community level it is observed that
majority of population approx 79% feel education is important
for overall development. They also feel that status of education
can improve if some financial support is provided.
About Cholapur
Cholapur block in
Varanasi district is 20 kms from district headquarter. The total
population of the block is 204348 (as per 2001 census) out of
which 50% population is of dalits and backwards. Dalit population
in the area mainly comprises of muslim dalits who are engaged
in weaving business and they are just surviving on hand to mouth
existence. The status of the women in the area is very pathetic
they mainly support family in weaving. The average size of the
family in the area is 6-8. Women in the area are still in the
trap of feudalistic and patriarchal norms. The area witnesses
quite a high maternal mortality rate which is 760.The status of
the education in girls is poor particularly in muslim population
as they have to take care of the family and manage household chores
as entire family is involved in weaving. The area observes a high
drop out rate of muslim girl child ranging from age 6 years and
above which is approximately 92%. Major reasons for high drop
out rate of muslim girls is poverty followed by cultural environment
of the region which includes early marriage, no higher education
for girls and wasting no resources on girls education as the family
has limited resources. The poor quality of education in primary
schools is another reason for high drop rate because community
has a feeling that why to waste resources on education when quality
and good education is not ensured, its better they should drop
studies and extend support to family.
With muslim girls
in the area it is observed that their mean age of marriage is
15.5 years this is further associated with high early fertility,
which affects their nutrition and health status.
Coverage Area
10 Gram Panchayats
of Cholapur block which include Srikanthpur, Hariharpur, Dharuhara,
Ugapur, Rampur, Chandrawati, Cholapur, Dharsuna, Murali, Bhawanipur.
Target Group
Muslim and Dalit Girls of age group 12- 18
Parents and Guardians of girl students
Women
Elected Representatives of panchayats
Village education committee
School Teachers
Government officials
Operation Strategy
Building
Scholastic Aptitude-
With an objective to build scholastic aptitude of girl students
Coaching classes are being organized particularly for subjects
like Maths, English and Science. These classes are organized in
their villages and local instructors are appointed to facilitate
the process. During classes teachers try to induce play way methods
and other creative mode of teaching like stories, poems and skits
so to keep the interest of students alive. Coaching classes are
being organized for the girl students of class 6th to 10th. Apart
from this scholarship support is also provided to girl students
of muslim and dalit community coming from economically weaker
section. The scholarship is awarded through open competitive exam
and short listed candidates on basis of merits are awarded scholarship.
At present there are 222 students who have been awarded scholarships.
Scholarship is awarded to students from class 6th to 9th. Along
with this with an objective to enhance employability of adolescent
girls studying in class 6th and 9th they are enrolled in computer
classes.
Capacity
Building-
Capacity building programs are organized for members of kishori
groups, members of women groups and elected representatives. The
capacity building aims at strengthening, sensitizing and creating
awareness towards their rights and entitlements as well as enables
them to understand their roles and responsibilities.
Sensitizing
PRI's and VEC-
This is one of the most important strategies of the program, efforts
are taken up towards sensitizing PRIs to take up education as
one of the developmental issues and building capacities of VEC
so as to activate the members to check and monitor quality of
education in schools. This is done through organizing campaigns,
orientations and regular meetings.
Handholding-
Handholding support is being provided to girls by organizing Creative
activities particularly art, craft and painting, Cultural programs
and competitions for girls are also organized as well as they
are given inputs on Interpersonal communication and personal counseling.
These activities provide scope to these girls to show their talent
as well as this enhances their confidence level as well as helps
in grooming their personality.
Community
Mobilization-
Community mobilization is one of the most important components
of the program, the objective is to initiate the process of citizen
monitoring so as to improve quality of primary education. This
is done through organizing Guardians meeting, Building Guardians
Forum, Organizing women groups, and Community level meetings.
Involving
Stakeholders-
Involving stakeholders is one of the key strategies of the program,
the issues identified at field level particularly with reference
to quality education and other developmental issues are taken
up for advocacy at different administrative levels. The key activities
are Building rapport with Government officials, Sensitizing members
of PRIs, Sensitizing teachers of primary school, Building rapport
with teachers of other public and private schools, other active
members of community
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