Half Yearly Progress Report - Amazon Web Services · Half Yearly Progress Report For the period from January, 07 To June, 07. ... the final list of students was prepared. After completion

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The project is targeting to provideeducation to 300 dropout and Non-school going tribal girls through running15 Bridge course centres in 15 villagesunder five Panchyats of RayagadaBlock under Gajapati District of OrissaState in India.

Our Contact Address

Mahila VikasAt- Ramsagar RoadPo- Parlakhemundi

Gajapati District, Orissa, IndiaPhone : (91) 6815 224679

Email: [email protected]

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Introduction:Education of girls and women in general has been a high priority with the Government ofIndia. The national commitment to provide free and compulsory education to all childrenin the 5-14 years age group has received a further impetus with the passing of theConstitution (86th Amendment) Act in December, 2002, making elementary education a“Fundamental Right” for every child in India Reaching out to the girl child has beencentral to the efforts to universalize elementary education.

For the promotion of girl child education MahilaVikas has initiated a step for enrolling the dropoutand non-school going girl children of RayagadaBlock. With the support from ‘Asha forEducation’, a US based donor agency MahilaVikas has started 15 bridge course centers in fiveGram Panchyats (Lailai, Jeerango, Koinpur,S.Karadasing and Laxmipur GPs) of RayagadaBlock. The ultimate objective of the project is toenroll the dropout and Non-school going girlchildren in the mainstream of education. Under these 15 education centers 300 dropoutand Non-school going girl children in the age group of 5- 12 years have started their studyagain. The village volunteers and tribal youths who are from the local community andhaving a minimum educational qualification of 10th class are selected as the teachers forthese 15 education centers. These education centers are called as “Mahila Vikas SanjuktaVidyalaya”.

Mahila Vikas being a women’s organization recognizesthat ensuring girl’s education requires changes not only inthe education system but also in societal norms andattitudes. A two-pronged gender strategy has thereforebeen adopted by the organization to make the educationsystem responsive to the needs of the girls throughtargeted interventions which serve as a pull factor toenhance access and retention of girls in schools and on the

other hand, to generate a community demand for girls’education through awareness generation training andcommunity mobilization.

The targeted activities for promotion of girl’s education under the project include:• Establishment of Bridge course centres for girls• Back to school camps for out-of-school girls• Recruitment of a minimum of 30% women teachers• Teachers’ sensitization programmes to promote equitable learning opportunities• Gender-sensitive teaching-learning materials including textbooks• Intensive community mobilization efforts• Need based interventions for ensuring girls’ attendance and retention.

Efforts are being made to generate a community demand for girls’ education and enablingconditions for people and women’s participation, to create the push factors necessary toguarantee girls education. Motivation and mobilization of parents and the community at

Bridge course center at Madava under progress

large, enhancing the role of women and mothers in school related activities andparticipation in school committees, and strengthening the linkages between the school,teachers and communities are some of the ways in which the enabling conditions arebeing created.

PROJECT AT A GLANCE

Title of the Project : Promotion of Girl Child Education of

Primitive Tribal Groups in Rayagada Block

Year of Project sanctioned : 2007

Period of the project : 1st January, 2007 To 31st December, 2007

Location of the Project

State : Orissa

District : Gajapati

Block : Rayagada

Panchyat : S.Karadasing, Lailai, Jeerango, laxmipur &

Koipur Gram Panchyats

No. of Education Centres : 15 nos.

No. of teachers in the

centers

: 15 nos.

Total no. of girls enrolled : 300 nos.

Sanctioned Amount(for 6 months)

: Rs. 1,78,648.80

The initiation:As per the preliminary survey conducted by Mahila Vikas; it has to run the bridgecourse centers in 15 villages of five panchyats under Rayagada Block. And about200 students have to be enrolled in these centers.

From the very beginning of the project it has been ensured that the localcommunity will own the project activities, so that in long run they will not dependon anybody for the sustainability of the project. To ensure this Mahila Vikas hasinitiated the process from the community itself.

To establish the education centers panchyat level meetings were conductedwhere the representatives of panchyat level leaders CBOs, Federation of womenSHGs, and head master of the Govt. school participated. They were explainedabout the details of the goal of the project and its activities. The persons presentin the meeting suggested the three locations, where the bridge school centers areto be opened.

The second phase meeting was organized at the village level where the villagerswere agreed to provide a community center / house for conducting the classesregularly. In this way 15-bridge school centers were opened.

Then the next big task was to appoint the locally available barefoot teachers andthe enrollment of dropout and Non-school going children. The villagers identifiedthe feasible youth for the post of barefoot teachers. Basing on the followingcriteria the teachers were selected:

1) The minimum qualification should be 10th

2) He/ She should belongs to the Tribal community3) He/ She should have an interest to work voluntarily for the cause of

the children.4) Must belongs to the same Panchyat (Each panchyat consists of 13-

20 villages)5) Priority should be given to the lady teachers.

Basing on the above the 15 teachers were appointed. Then the teachers wereprovided a two days orientation training on the concept and goal of the project.They were explained what are the activities under the project, and what are theirrole and responsibilities too. After the training the teachers in collaboration withthe villagers identified the list of dropout and Non-school going children. Whenthe list came to the office of Mahila Vikas, it was too high then the target. Soagain a meeting was organized in all the Panchyats where the villagers,Panchyat level Govt. workers, School teachers were participated. In theirpresence the list of the students was presented, As per discussion with the localteachers and the villagers and changes made in the list, the final list of studentswas prepared. After completion of all the final lists the total children enrolled inthe 15 schools are 300. Now all the 15 bare-foot teachers are running theeducation centers very well.

PHOTOGRAPHS OF FEW SANJUKTA SCHOOLS

Profile of the Teachers AppointedAs mentioned above all the 15 teachers appointed are from the same locality and belongs to thesame community. Out of 15 we could appoint only three female teachers due to non-availability ofeducated girls in the area. The profiles of the barefoot teachers appointed are mentioned below:S.No

Panchyat Village/ Centre Teacher's Name Qualification Sex

1 Koinpur Madava Ms. Rebati Bhuyan 10th Female2 Suaba Mr. Ananta Gamango 10th Male3 Koinpur Ms. Subasini Sabar 10th Female4 Laxmipur Laxmipur Ms. Kuri Bhuyan 10th Female5 Tuburuda Mr. Somanath Sabar 10th Male6 Tapango Mr. Banamali Bhuyan 10th Male7 Jeerango Jeerango Mr. Biswambar Bhuyan 10th Male8 Rasibado Mr. Somanath Bhuyan 10th Male9 Lailai Lailai Mr. Sundar Sabar 10th Male

10 Jhaliasahi Mr. Somanath Dalabehera 10th Male11 Markada Mr. Rabindra Kumar Sabar 10th Male12 S. Karadasing Bonda Mr. Prahalad Sabar 10th Male13 S. Karadasing Mr. Iswar Nayak 10th Male14 Kudingi Mr. Bhaskar Sabar 10th Male15 Khilligonda Mr. Surendra Sabar 10th Male

Teaching learning materials / Teaching AidsTeaching and learning material plays a crucial role in the process of education. Thematerials will increase the learning process and help in easy comprehensives for thechildren. The children are attracted towards schooling by the teaching learning materials.The materials like Maps, charts, slates, duster, pen, pencils, papers, note books etc. aresupplied to all the schools. Each education center was provided with the followingmaterials:

SL. No Particulars Quantity1 Text Books (Sanjukta) 15 Nos2 Black board cloth & Duster 15 nos. Each3 Chalk piece box 15 nos.4 Trunk Box 15 nos.5 Maps (Orissa, India and

Gajapati)3 nos. to each center

6 Picture Charts• Alphabets & Words• Numbers• Animals• Birds

10 Nos. to each center

7 Sketch Pen set 15 set8 Registers

• Children’s EnrollmentRegister

• Attendance Register• Visitor’s Register• Meeting Register• Stock Register• Health Camp Register

7 Nos. to each center

• Daily Dairy9 White Paper 2 dozen to each center

10 Drawing Sheet 6 nos. to each center11 Gum Bottle 1 No. to each center12 Fly leafs 10 nos. to each center13 Stamp pad 1 no. to each center

Besides that the following materials were provided to the children of the educationcenters:

Slates - 300 Nos, Slate Pencil set- 300 sets, Pencil and exercise book- 300 nos.

Teachers TrainingTeachers are the friends, philosophers and guides ofthe villagers. training s were imparted to the teachersto built good relation with community and class-roommanagement and child psychology and preparation oflow cost, no cost materials for the centre.

Training is also essential in view of the lowqualification of the teachers. The teachers are in needof constant training to improve the quality of teaching and upgrade theknowledge base. Teachers training was conducted for a period of 10 days inthree phases.

The details of teachers training was mentioned below:DATE VENUE RESOURCE PERSON TOPICS IMPARTED

25/01/2007To

26/01/2007

Mahila VikasParlakhemundi

Mr. Umakant Panda(Best Teacher Awardee)

Ms. Sibani PanigrahiSecretary, Mahila Vikas

• Aim & Objective of theProject

• Purpose and need of aBridge course center

• Role of barefoot teachers• Role of community, SHG

and Federations ineducation

• Community mobilization24/ 02/2007

To27/02/2007

Do Mr. Naresh Panda(State level Resource Person)

Mr. Sanjaya Jena(Education Coordinator,Lead NGO, Gajapati dist.)

• How the children learn• Various teaching methods• Need for participatory

course curriculum• Joyful learning / Play-way

method of teaching• Role of Parent Teacher

Association• Role of Women SHGs in

promotion of girl childeducation

About the Resource PersonsMr. Naresh Chandra Panda: He is a retired teacher and at present involved in the educationdevelopment works and also he is a statelevel renowned trainer and also part of the planning team ofstate Education department. He was also among the one of the team members who has designed thebridge course curriculum for the dropout and Non-school going children for the state.

Mr. Umakant Panda: At present he is working as the headmaster of a M.E. School nearParlakhemundi. He is also a dedicated person working for the promotion of education. He wasawarded as the best teacher award too. He is a specialized person in developing model schools andlow cost/ no cost teaching materials.

Mr. Sanjaya Jena: He has started his carrier as a teacher of a Non-formal Education Centre andnow working as the coordinaotr of the lead NGO of Gajapati District. He is a specialized trainer ongirl child educaiton, women empowerment, Gender, SHG, Federation, Panchyati Raj and Microfinance related activities.

Mrs. Sibani Panigrahi: She is the Secretary of the Project implementing organization, who isworking for the promotion of women’ in the operational area. She has got very good knowledge onthe women empowerment activities, Promotion of SHGs and Federations, Education development.

Mr. Umakant Panda impartingtraining to the teachers.

26/03/2007To

30/03/2007

Do Mr. Naresh Panda(State level Resource Person)

Mr. Umakant Panda ,(Best Teacher Awardee)

Ms. Sibani Panigrahi(Secretary, Mahila Vikas)

• Importance of childcentred education

• Building educationenvironment in the centers

• Need of various teachingand learning materials

• Developing no cost / lowcost T & L materials

• Bridge course curriculum& Sanjukta book

• Songs and games as partof the teaching method

Methodology adopted during the training programme:Ø Lecture methodØ Practical DemonstrationØ Group ExercisesØ Chart & Poster presentationØ Playing Games & SongsØ Exposure visit

Mrs. Sibani Panigrahi, Secretary of Mahila Vikas explainedthe teachers about the concept of the project, its purpose,aim and objective. Besides, she also explained about therole of barefoot teachers in implementation of the project,their importance for mobilization of community andmotivating the community.

The State Govt. has specially designed a book for thedropout and Non-school going children, which is known asSANJUKTA . The use of the book and the coursecurriculum was explained to all the teachers. Each teacherwas also supplied one SANJUKTA book.

On the last day of the training Mr. Umakant Panda,resource person of the training practically demonstratedhow he has developed many low cost/ no cost teaching

and learning materials to teach the students. He took them on an exposure to the nearest Govt.school at Jajapur where he developed those. He also explained them the use of these materials.The main aim of this visit is to explain the teachers on play way teaching method and joyfullearning and to enhance the capacity of the teachers; so that they can take initiatives to developthe low cost & no cost teaching materials.

Awareness and Sensitization programmes for strengthening VEC,PTA, SHGs and CBOs

During the 1st Quarter in each panchyat one sensitization programme was conducted where themembers of VEC, PTA/ MTA, SHG/ Federation and other CBOs and youth clubs of the respectivepanchyat participated. Looking into the need of the community two more sensitizationprogrammes were conducted in S.Karadasing and Jhirjhira villages. The details of the awarenesscamps organized during the 1st quarter are mentioned in the following table:

SL.No

Date Venue Name of the Resource Person

1 07.03.07 Laxmipur Mr. Purna Chanda DalaiMr. Jagannath BhuyanMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

2 10/03/07 S. Karadasing Mrs. Pramila SabarMr. Purna Chanda DalaiMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

3 18/03/07 Koinpur Mr. Kailash Chandra SabarMr. Purna Chanda DalaiMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

4 21/03/07 Lailai Mr. Manoj Kumar SabarMr. Purna Chanda DalaiMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

5 21/03/07 Jeerango Mr. Manoj Kumar BhuyanMr. Purna Chanda DalaiMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

6 22/03/07 Jhirjhira Mrs. Pramila SabarMr. Purna Chanda DalaiMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

7 22/03/07 S.Karadasing Mr. Purna Chanda DalaiMrs. Sibani Panigrahi

The main aim of the sensitization camps is to sensitize thecommunity on the importance of girl child education andencourage the VEC, PTA and SHG members to take active rolefor proper implementation of the education system in the area.During the sensitization camps emphasis was given on thefollowing points:

ð Role of VEC in the sensitizing the education system.ð Active and regular monitoring by the VEC membersð Involvement of SHG and Federations in education

systemð Social Stigmas behind depriving girls from education rights.ð Role of women for promotion of girls educationð Child Rights and its need.

During the 2nd quarter emphasis was given to sensitize theilliterate community of the area through organizing a series ofstreet plays. The street plays were conducted in the weeklymarkets, at villages in the leisure hours. The following are thefocus of the street play:ð Need of education in the societyð Promotion of girls education

ð Provision for girls in various Govt. schemesð Role of CBOs in girls education

Health Care of students:In each Panchyat five health camps were organized in each quarter. Allthe student of the respective panchyats participated in the health campto check-up their health status. Dr. Sitansu Behera, Medical Officer ofRayagada Block attended the health camps. After examining the healthstatus of the girls they were provided with medicines for Malaria,Cough, Diarrhea, Skin Diseases, warms etc. The details of healthcamps along with no. of children benefitted are mentioned below:

Date Venue No. of Children benefitted25th March, 07 Jeerango 38

Lailai 46S. Karadasing 68

Koinpur 60Laxmipur 52

9th June, 07 S. Karadasing 66Lailai 50

Jeerango 40Laxmipur 48Koinpur 64

Quarterly Interface workshop:During the period two interface workshops were organized.

On 11th March 2007 an interface meeting was organized at the block conference hall, Rayagada.The Block Development Officer, Inspector of Schools, Block Resource Coordinator, PanchyatRepresentatives, Federation leaders, Local School teachers, local NGO representativesparticipated in the meeting. Mrs. Sibani Panigrahi, Secretary of Mahila Vikas, facilitated theprogramme, she presented the causes for low female literacy in the area:

• The existing infrastructure i.e. schools available in thefive Panchyats are insufficient.

• Schools Don t have toilet for girls• No School have appropriate facilities for children with

Disability• Drinking water facility is not available in most of the

schools.• Playground is also a factor that affects children

enrollment and retention.• The no. of school going girl children is found less in

comparison to male children. It is the case of retention and mainstreaming.

The community members also added some more points asmentioned below:

• Appointment of Non-Oriya teachers (The teachersspeak Telugu language and corrupted Oriya languagewhich the students fails to understand)

• Due to lack of infrastructure like staff quarters theteachers are not staying in the village

• Communication is a barrier in many of the villages.

The Govt. officials present in the meeting tried to explain the participants about their limitations.However, the Block Development Officer and District Inspector of Schools explained that thesocial institutions could function systematically if the community members involved in the process.So they asked the PRI representatives and women SHG leaders to act like watchdogs. They alsoensured to come over the loopholes in the present system through the collaboration of NGOs,Panchyats and the community members.

With the special interest of the Block Development Officer, Rayagada the 2nd interface meetingwas organized on 11th April, 07 at the ICDS training Centre, Rayagada. 52 participants includingthe Block Resource Coordinator, Cluster Resource Coordinator, VEC members, and some of theparents. The BDO interacted with the officials regarding the follow-up of the previous workshop.He also instructed all the CRC and the VEC members to improve in their monitoring system. Healso explained how the women SHG members are successfully able to manage the Mid-day Mealprovided in the schools. As a result of the management by SHGs they are able to know thestudents who are remain as dropouts and taking action on it. He requested the VEC memberspresent in the meeting to extend their support to such SHGs for promotion of quality education.

Mainstreaming:One of the major objectives of the project is to bring the girls back to the schooling system. Duringthe 2nd quarter the emphasis was given on mainstreaming the dropout children into the Govt.schools. As a result of which now 46 girls who are deprived from their studies due to dropout werejoined back in the school and going to the schools regularly. Our teacher in cooperation with theVEC committee members and the Govt. school teachers could able to enroll back them. TheParent Teacher Association is also ensuring the regularization of their schooling. The list childrenwho mainstreamed are mentioned below:Sl.No

Name Age Center Name of the Govt. School class

1 Sulami Sabara 7 Tapanga Padmapur Mini Ashram 2nd2 Jayanti Sabara 6 Tapanga Padmapur Mini Ashram 1st3 Pramila Badaraita 7 Tapanga Padmapur Mini Ashram 2nd4 Bebi bhuyan 6 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 1st5 Mamata Sabara 7 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 2nd6 mini Sabara 7 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 2nd7 Rinu Mandal 7 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 2nd

8SushilaDhangadabhuyan 6 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 1st

9 Sabita badaraita 6 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 1st

10SakuntalaDhangadabhuyan 8 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 3rd

11 Kuni Bhuyan 9 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 4th12 Shanti Sabara 7 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 2nd13 Sujata Sabara 6 Koinpur Koinpur Govt. School 1st14 Parvati Mandal 8 Madaba Madaba Primary School 3rd15 Lalita Bhuyan 9 Madaba Madaba Primary School 4th16 Malati Bhuyan 7 Madaba Madaba Primary School 2nd17 Sanju Bhuyan 7 Madaba Madaba Primary School 2nd18 Gunabati Bhuyan 7 Madaba Madaba Primary School 2nd19 Sebati Karjee 7 Madaba Madaba Primary School 2nd20 Dhanamani Bhuyan 6 Madaba Madaba Primary School 1st21 Mina Sabara 6 Madaba Madaba Primary School 1st22 Ribika Sabara 9 Tuburuda Koinpur Govt. School 4th

23 Silipa Goura 7S.Karadasing

S. Karadasing PrimarySchool 2nd

24 Mamata Nayak 6S.Karadasing

S. Karadasing PrimarySchool 1st

25 Suchitra Mandal 6 Markada Padmapur Mini Ashram 1st26 Dalila Sabara 6 Markada Padmapur Mini Ashram 1st27 Sushamila Sabara 6 Markada Padmapur Mini Ashram 1st28 Sabita Sabara 6 Markada Padmapur Mini Ashram 1st29 Mamita Mandal 6 Markada Padmapur Mini Ashram 1st30 Sanjukta Sabara 6 Lailai Lailai Primary School 2nd31 Ranjani Bhuyan 11 Lailai Lailai Primary School 5th32 Suryamani Dalabehera 11 Lailai Lailai Primary School 5th33 Sakuntala Bhuyan 9 Suaba Koinpur Govt. School 4th

34 Susila Bhuyan 8 Suaba Koinpur Govt. School 4th35 Mohini Sabar 7 Suaba Koinpur Govt. School 3rd36 Surlata Sabar 7 Suaba Koinpur Govt. School 3rd37 Rebati Mandal 10 Suaba Koinpur Govt. School 5th38 Sabitri Bhuyan 8 Suaba Koinpur Govt. School 3rd39 Bidrati Sabar 6 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 2nd40 Sunita Sabar 7 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 3rd41 Raili Sabar 10 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 5th42 Magadalni Sabar 8 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 3rd43 Minati Sabar 6 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 2nd44 Pramila Sabar 7 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 3rd45 Prabita Sabar 6 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 2nd46 Maabati Sabar 6 Jhaliasahi Lailai Primary School 2nd

Monitoring & EvaluationThe project is being directly coordinated by the Secretary. On 28th of every month a projectreview meeting was conducted where all the teachers participate. The teachers bring the monthlyformats designed by Mahila Vikas for assessing the project progress. To involve the community inthe process the teachers also regularly participate in their meetings. The activities carried outduring the last month, the impacts of the project activities were discussed and activities to beconducted for the next month were planned during these review meetings. Basing on the actionplan the coordinator makes site visits and conducts the programmes. Besides, this thecoordinator also directly visit the villages to interact with the community to asses the progress andimpact of the project.

Challenges Ahead:Though we are able to enroll back 46 girls in the mainstream of education, but our fieldexperience are showing us that we are miles away from the following achievements:

♦ Child Labour practice needs to be eradicated

♦ Blind beliefs and superstitions from the community are to be eradicated and they are to

be sensitized on the importance of girls education

♦ Curriculum is to be improved

♦ Health and Nutrition facilities for girls are yet to be improved.

* * * * *

CASE STUDY

Girls Education- Needs more encouragementSituation before intervention:Kusuma Sabar a 12 years old girl is staying with her parents at Suaba village inKoinpur Panchyat. The village is situated on the hilltop. One has to walk around 5-6 kms on the steep hill to reach the village. The village has very limited facilitiesand don’t have any other means of communication.

Kusuma was joined in the school at the age of 8 years. For her studies she has toattend in the nearest village at Langasahi UP School. When she was in 3rd

standard she attained puberty, as a result of which she was restricted from furtherstudies. Though she has very keen interest on studies but due to lack ofencouragement from parents she stayed away from studies and helped herfamily in all the domestic works.

After Project intervention:During the year 2007 Mahila Vikas got support from Asha for Education to run 15bridge course centres in Five Panchyats of Rayagada Block. The main objectiveof the project is to enroll back the dropout and non-school going girls in theschool and ensure their mainstreaming. A bridge course center was opened inthe said village. The teacher appointed in the school identified Kusuma as one ofthe beneficiaries, to enroll Kusuma in the center the teacher went to her parentsand asked them to send her to the center. But they restricted to send her.

The teacher met Kusuma’s parents again and requested but they restricted tosend her to the center. During the monthly project review meeting the teachernarrated this problem. After five days of the meeting the project coordinatormade a field visit to that village. The teacher took her to meet with the parents.The coordinator could able to motivate them to permit the teacher to come totheir home and teach their daughter. Though in the beginning they were notinterest in the proposal, but after the motivation of the coordinator they agreed.

The teacher then went to their house daily twice and started teaching. Theteacher encouraged Kusuma through the joyful learning methods and usingcharts, drawings. Kusuma was able to grasp the lessons quickly; her parents sawher development. Within three months she started learning simple arithmetic’slike addition, subtraction, Multiplication and division. Her parents are very happywith her progress. Now they are able to understand their daughter’s abilities. Theyshowed interest to send their daughter with her other friends to continue herstudies again. Kusuma’s interest in other subjects and to learn more aboutenvironment and good hygiene was encouraged. Her parents enrolled her inthe center now. Now Kusuma is coming to the center regularly.

When Kusuma was asked what she will do after completion of her education, shereplied “Because of my teacher I am able to continue my education, I havenever got earlier such encouragement from any others, and like him I will be alsoa teacher and teach the children.”

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