Project Shakshar Samaj
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corporate social responsibility |
Prayers draw her to learning
80-year-old Suhadra Mukhi has everyone
around her, including her teachers, in awe. Unable to chant mantras of Goddess Mangla Devi
the old lady grasped at the opportunity to become literate so that she could have the
mantras translated from Oriya to Hindi and chant them during her daily prayers. Every day
she would ignore the teasing of the children of the slum to dutifully attend her class.
The diligence and determination shown by her at an advanced age has bowled everyone over.
Though the programme is for daily-wage
earners in the 40-plus age group, there are few who would deny her entry to the classroom.
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In October 2003, Tribal Cultural Society
(TCS) launched a computer aided literacy project. During the course of the pilot project
itself, Suhadra Mukhi and 300 adults like her were tutored in Bhatia Basti, Sopodera,
Bagun Hutu and the Steel Works.
The project effectively marries
Information Technology with the basic tools of literacy programmes such as alphabet cards,
books in Balpothi Hindi and writing materials such as exercise books, pencils, eraser,
sharpener and the blackboard. The software for the adult literacy project has been
developed by Tata Consultancy Services.
Momentum added to
zest
In year 2004, TCS advertised in
newspapers inviting applications from non-government organisations to implement the
project. Initially, it received only four applications but after mobilising members of the
Singhbhum Association of Voluntary Agencies and direct interaction with others, as many as
12 organisations joined the movement which was to reach out to the three districts of
Jharkhand - East Singhbhum, West Singhbhum and Sareikella -Kharswan. Literacy in Jharkhand
is 54.13% against a national average of 65.38%.
“What has been
extremely rewarding about the programme has been the socio-economic change it has created.
After the spread of literacy, there was a desire among the students to get find economic
security, which led to many small businesses and self help groups being created. The group
activity in turn has led to empowerment”
- R K Singh, Hony, Joint Secretary,
Tribal Cultural Society |
In 2004-05, the project targeted 9000
illiterates and by March 3, 2007, when Tata Steel completes 100 years, the programme would
have reached out to 25,000 illiterates in the three districts.
Seldom does one envisage the attendant
benefits from a project such as this. But even before each group completed its course, the
urge to also be economically better off - is kindled in them. Therefore, Economic Mobility
and Empowerment are its bonuses.
The early
birds...
Rather than wait for a generation of
children to drop out of school, and then once again be compelled to reach out to them
through adult literacy programmes, the Tribal Cultural Society has been encouraging
parents to bring their children to the classes as well. The twin advantage that it reaps
is assured attendance of both parents and at the same time a literate child. To encourage
them to participate and motivate them to learn quickly, these children also receive prizes
from their tutors.
Teachers blossom
into young leaders
While the task of motivating and
encouraging illiterates to become literate is in itself daunting, the motivation levels of
the teacher faced with this challenge is also an area of concern for TCS. It therefore
sought the assistance of as experienced a motivator as Ms Bachendri Pal, Chief, Adventure
Programmes, Tata Steel and a known youth icon to help 26 of these teachers learn both
motivational skills as well as leadership and concentration powers. During a three-day
adventure course, local educated youth who are now driving Project Shakshar Samaj learnt
how to test their potential as well as equip themselves for the challenges ahead. They
learnt that seemingly impossible tasks are possible and will during the course of their
classes pass on the same message to their students.
Areas Covered
- Sonari Adarsh Seva Sansthan & CWC
- Makdumpur – ASHA, YUVA & Unnyan
Bikalp
- Mango – ASMS , Sampurna Vikas Kendra
- Adityapur – Janki Foundation, Adivasi
Kalyan Samiti, Adivasi Mahila Samiti
- Shastri Nagar – CWC & Dishari
- Jugsalai - CWC
- Kadma - Kendriya Mukhi Samaj Uthan
Committee
- Pokhari , Deoghar , Pipla , Idulbeda , NH
33, Sarjamda – Unnyan Vikalp
- Tuiladungri, Kitadih & Karandih - YMCA
- Parsudih , Naga Village – YUVA
- Sunder Nagar – Mahila Kalyan Samiti
- Potka – YUVA , Sahayogi Mahila Samiti
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Learning the alphabet with their child as teacher Even the Prime
Minister’s Trophy team was impressed with her. Imagine a seven-year-old child
teaching her parents the alphabets. But she is not the only one, along with Gudia, there
are several other children who are guiding their parents as the latter pursue their goal
of becoming literate with the help of Tribal Cultural Society.
“My mother is the
one who spends more time learning, while my father sits down whenever he has the
time,” says the little girl providing an assessment of “her students.”
Gudia’s father is a daily wage earner, who sells vegetables to look after his family.
“She teaches me in the afternoon,” says her mother proud of the fact that the
daughter they decided to educate is now in a position to actually educate them. |
| Women from villages and semi urban
areas grapple with the task of getting literate |
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