Strengthening Education among Economic backward & Scheduled Tribe (ST) Girls / Boys in Low Literacy

Strengthening Education among Economic backward & Scheduled Tribe (ST) Girls / Boys in Low Literacy

Objectives

The scheme aims to bridge the gap in literacy levels between the general male / female population and tribal men / women, through facilitating 100% enrolment of tribal boys / girls in the identified Districts or Blocks, more particularly in naxal affected areas and in areas inhabited by Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs), and reducing dropouts at the elementary level by creating the required ambience for education. Improvement of the literacy rate of tribal boys / girls is essential to enable them to participate effectively in and benefit from, socio-economic development. 

Coverage

The scheme will be implemented in 03 identified Districts (Appendix-1) where the ST population is 25% or more, and ST female literacy rate below 35%, or its fractions. The scheme shall also be covered, Blocks intimated by West Bengal so far. Such Blocks fulfilling the criteria in other States may also be considered as and when reported. In addition, the scheme will also cover areas below a Block level (e.g. Gram Panchayats) inhabited by the notified Primitive Tribal Groups (PTGs). Out of all the aforesaid areas, the naxal affected areas shall be given

The Scheme and the Components

In order to intervene in a focused manner to improve literacy among tribal boys / girls, and to bridge the gap between tribal male / female literacy and general male/female literacy levels and tribal female & tribal male literacy levels, following interventions/actions shall be taken:

• Providing hostel facilities for tribal boys / girls at the Block level to enable them to attend regular middle/secondary school, and at the panchayat level to attend regular primary school.
• Hostel facilities, and schools, can be set up in a phased manner if needed, for up to 2000 primary school boys / girls, and 1000 middle and high school boys / girls at the panchayat and block levels respectively. In compelling circumstances, the number to be accommodated can go up. The hostels may be at two or more location(s) but may not be spaced at a distance of more than 2 kms in hill areas and 5 kms in the plains, from the regular school which they will attend.
• Wherever Himalayan Asha Kendra are operating, hostels under the scheme would be opened within a distance of 5 Km.
• The educational complexes already established under the pre-revised scheme falling in the newly identified 03 low literacy districts of the revised scheme or in tribal area.