Review Report Of Educational Project Of Pvchr

PROGRESS REPORT PEOPLE’S VIGILANCE COMMITTEE ON HUMAN RIGHTS (PVCHR) – JAN MITRA NYAS, VARANASI, UTTAR PRADESH EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The feudal system prevalent in eastern Uttar Pradesh has always suppressed the proper growth and development of dalits and weaker section of the society. After sixty years of independent India, feudalism and brahminism structure is still deep rooted in this region. Against this feudal system, Peoples Vigilance Committee of Human Rights (PVCHR) has formed a movement in this area with a vision of establishing a true, vibrant and fully entrenched democratic society through Jan Mitra concept where there shall be no violation of civil rights granted to a citizen by the state. PVCHR-JMN has been working against the feudalistic structure around social justice and citizen’s rights in the eastern region of Uttar Pradesh for 12 years. The organization believes that education is a means to empower the powerless through which citizen’s rights can be ensured and the Dalit and backward castes can be freed from the clutches of feudalistic structure. Hence, the organization has been implementing an education program since three year with the financial support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT). Within socio-economic and political context of the eastern Uttar Pradesh, there is indeed a greater need to work on the issues of education and social awareness. While working on these issues, there are lots of challenges involved in it. Under the educational programme supported by SDTT, activities like arrangement of education facilities for dalit children, qualitative changes in government schools and activities related to social awareness have been implemented in 7 dalit dominated villages and one slum comprising two blocks. Through this educational programme, where at one hand, Full Time Centre (FTC), Pre-Primary Centre (PPC) and Creche have been implemented for ensuring the basic education to deprived children and efforts for qualitative changes in government schools have been carried out while on the other hand, through public advocacy, efforts have been made to create awareness and ensure public rights among the community. A team comprising 22 members has been formed by the organization to run the education program. Within this program, crèche for 0-3 year’s children has been established to take care of them and imbibe the attitude towards education when their mothers are out to work. Beside, the elder children of the family would also get rid of looking after their siblings and can able to attend their schools regularly. But in prevailing social structure of the area such strategy has very negligible impact where the mothers are not mentally prepared to leave their children especially those in the age group of 0-3 years when they goes for work. Pre-Primary Centre (PPC) has been established by the organization to prepare the children for primary education to the children. The children attending pre-primary centre

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is in the age group between 03-06 years. With the establishment of these centres, the children of the villages where centers have been opened got an opportunity to receive per primary education. However in order to attain the physical and mental development of children, it is necessary for the teachers involved in running these centres be capable to achieve the objectives of PPC. Hence, there is a need to provide necessary training to enable the teachers of the PPC so that they can run the centre effectively. Besides, there is a need of a special curriculum for the children of these centres. Within the strategy of arrangement of primary school for the deprived children, the organization has established Full Time Centre (FTC) in those villages where there is no government school. The aim of the organization is to develop these FTC into model centre so that government and other stakeholder can replicate the same. However, it was found that there is lack of conceptual understanding of model school in the organization and among the teachers of FTC. However, with the establishment of these centres, the dalit children of this area got an opportunity to receive primary education. The organization has constructed building to run the FTC.

1. INTRODUCTION The rural area of eastern region of Uttar Pradesh (UP) has been suffered from discrimination against dalit and backward caste. After sixty years of independent India, Feudalism and Brahminism structure is still deep rooted in this region. Therefore, the region is marked with prevalence of bonded labour, child labour, caste discrimination, sex discrimination, and corrupt practices in local administration etc. This has led the region as one of the most backward especially in areas of education and citizens rights. In light of the socio-political problems of the region, the PVCHR has been working for a decade on the issues to create social awareness and promote citizens rights. Since three year, the organization has initiated to work on education awareness and Public Advocacy at grassroots level with the financial support from Sir Dorabji Tata Trust 2.

BACKGROUND INFORMATION OF PVCHR- JMN 2.1

Peoples Vigilance Committee on Human Rights – Jan Mitra Nyas (PVCHR- JMN) : In June 1996, Peoples Vigilance Committee of Human Rights (PVCHR) was formed as a movement with a vision of establishing a true, vibrant and

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fully entrenched democratic society through Jan Mitra concept where there shall be no violation of civil rights granted to a citizen by the state. Its mission is to provide basic rights to all and eliminate situations, which give rise to exploitation of vulnerable groups, i.e. children, women, dalit & working class, and to start a movement for people friendly society (Jan Mitra Samaj), through inter-institutional approach. In 1999 PVCHR formed a public charitable trust named as Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN). The main focus of the organisation is on marginalised and discriminated communities like Musahar & Ghasia with special focus on women and children. The organisation is also working with weavers groups in three districts of eastern Uttar Pradesh namely Azamgarh, Mau and Banaras. To bring policy into practice PVCHR-JMN has adopted 7 villages and 1 urban slum, to mount its educational projects, which include reactivating defunct primary schools, eradicating, bonded labour, ensuring and encouraging education of the girl child and promoting non-formal education with the support of Sir Dorabji Tata Trust. 2.2

Goal, objectives and activities of Education Programme supported by Sir Dorabji Tata Trust: The main goal of the project is to ensure the social, economic, political, and cultural rights of the people including rights of the children as per the declaration of Human Rights through education. To achieve the above goal PVCHR – JMN is implementing following activities under the education project. 2.2.1

Crèches or Balwaadis The main objective of establishment of Creche or Balwaadis is to provide care and protection to infants of 0-3 years so that their working mother can go to work and simultaneously the younger sister or brother can attend the school instead wasting time in sibling care.

2.2.2

Pre Primary Centers (PPC) The objective of running Pre Primary Centres is to preparing the children of 3-6 years age group to receive primary education. Therefore Pre Primary Centres is meant for preparing the children in such a manner that they would develop motivation and eagerness to get primary education and at the same time their parents also becomes aware about their education.

2.2.3

Full Time Centres (FTCs)

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The objective of FTCs is to provide primary education to the children of age group 6-14 years where government primary schools are not available. There is also a thinking to develop these FTCs as model school so that state and other stakeholders can replicate it. 2.2.4

Intervention with government schools The main objective of this intervention is to link children with school and minimizing discrimination against children of lower castes in the classrooms. Another objective is to improving the quality of education of the government schools through community monitoring and training of the teachers of the government schools.

2.2.5

Advocacy The objective this component is to create awareness among the community on their rights and to teach the children and youths of their constitutional rights through activation of PTAs/VEC and establishment of children panchyaats, youth panchyaats, and women panchyaats.

2.3

Operational Area The project is being implemented in to 7 villages of two blocks and in one slum of urban area of Varanasi. Details of the operational area and number of centres (crèche, PPC, FTC) are being operated by the organisation is given below:

Sl. No. Name of the village 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8

Belwan - BadepurDallipur Lakmipur - Kuwar Newada Shivrampur Bhaitauli Ayar – Puwari Khurd Baghwanala Nindanpur TOTAL

Block Badagaon Badagaon Badagaon Badagaon Harahua

No of FTC 1

1

Harahua Varanasi urban area Baragaon

No of PPC

No of No of govt.school Crèche intervened 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 2

2

1 1 1 7

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Transfer of creach from Lakmipur to Kuwar village happened when Anganwadi centre opened in Lakmipur. Same process continues with the Shivrampur and Ayer village.

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2.4

Internal Organizational Functioning: 2.4.1

Organogram of the organisation Board of Trustees (3 members)

Core group (8 members) Core team (6 members) 2.4.2

Staff Strength There are total 23 project staffs that are directly engaged with the various activities of the educational project. The average qualification of the project staff is Graduation. A detail of the project staff is shown in the table given below.

Sl. No 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8.

Job Title Project Coordinator Administrative Director Activist cum teacher (Area coordinator) FTC Teacher Govt. school support teacher PPC Teacher Crèche organiser TOTAL

No. 1 1 2 7 3 2 7

Job responsibilities Overall project coordination Administration Teaching and organizing activities of their respective area Teaching Teaching Teaching Organizing crèche activities

2. Centres 3.1

Crèche / Balwadis: There are 7 Crèches being run by the organization in Baghawanala (urban slum), Kuwar, Newada, Dallipur (Tari), Nindanpur, Bhaitauli, Newada and Badepur (Belwa).

(a) Kuwar:In Kuwar village one creach is running in the Naut Basti. According to the view of social activist about 20 children are coming to this creach, where 5

14 children are 3-5 years of age group among them 10 are female and 4 are male. The age group from 6 and above years of age is only 6 in which 2 are girls. The Naut caste children are working in the garbage areas such as rag pickers, beggars. In this situation Sona Devi care taker of creach motivate and add 20 children in her centre. Among these 20 children, 12 children have gone to Government School. 2 students are studying in class IV and 5 children are in 1st std and two children are in 6th std in this year. Three students (one girl &two boys) have gone to main stream school in August, 2007. At present there are 19 students (14th girls & 5 boys) at this centre. (b) Belwa :In Belwa village one creach is running in the Badepur in the name of Sant Kabir Jan Mitra Shikshana Kendra. According to the Kalawati view 48 children are coming to this creach, in which 23 children are male and 25 children are female and these children are below 6 years. There are 36 children in Badepur (Belwa) creach centre. However now 11 children have gone to the other centre for example four children have gone to Sant Kabir Jan Mitra F.T.C centre, 3 children got admitted in private school and 4 children in Government school Nindanpur. At present 12 children (5 girls & 7 boys) in this centre. (c) Dallipur:In Dallipur Mushar Basti one creach is running till 2004 named as Jan Mitra Shiksha Kendra. Now 29 children are attach with this centre and in which 13 are male and 16 are female. With the strong initiative of Tara PVCHR activist, 20 students were admitted in Government school in which 16 are male and 4 are female. (d) Nindanpur:In Nindanpur Dalit basti one creach is running in the name of Jan Mitra Shiksha Kendra. According to the PVCHR activist view 22 children are coming to this creache, in which 16 female and 6 are male and these children are between 3-6 years of age. Around 12 children (6 male & 6 female) from Nindanpur creach get admitted in Government school. (e) Bhaithauli:In Bhaithauli village one creach is running in dalits basti in the name of Manav Adhikar Janmitra Shikshana Kendra. According to the view of 28

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children are coming in the creach in which 15 are female and 13 are male. These children are between age group 3-6 years. In this creach there is only one child of Brahmin and rest of dalits. In the month of July 16 children got admission in Government school and 2 children in Aganwadi centre. (f) Newada: In Newada village one creache is running in Mushars Basti named as Manav Adhikar Janmitra Shikshana Kendra. According to the view of PVCHR activist 46 children are enrolled in this centre. In which 28 are female and 18 are male.

3.2

Pre Primary Centres (PPC): The objective of running Pre Primary Centres of the organization is to prepare children to receive primary education. In another words the objective of Pre Primary Centres is to prepare children in such a manner that they would develop motivation and eagerness to get primary education and at the same time their parents also becomes aware about their children education. The age group of these children joining preprimary centre, is usually between 03-06 years.

(a) Bagwanala:One PPC is running in Bagwanala centre which in the name Raja Sohail Dev Shikshana Kendra, there are 17 children in PPC (15 female and 6 male), 14 students (6 female and 8 male) are in class 1st and 11 students (6 female and 6 male) in class 2nd, 9 students (8 female and 1 male) in class 3rd, 11 students (5 female and 6 male) in class 4th, 9 students (6 female and 8 male) in class 5th. Total 71 children are enrolled in Bagwanala centre.

(b) Ayer:In Ayer Mushar Basti one PPC centre is running since 2004 named Jan Mitra Shiksha Kendra. With the strong initiative of Shusila PVCHR activist 24 children get admitted in Government school. In which 14 children are from Mushars community, seven children are from chamar community and 4 children are from Naut community.

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3.3

Full Time Centre (FTC): Full Time Centre established in Belwa and Baghawanala has been functioning at present. There are sufficient teachers who have been working on their own way. Belwa:One full time centre is running in Badepur in the name of Janmitra Sikshana Kendra. There are 150 students studying in Belwa FTC (23 student are enrolled in class 4th, 27 student are enrolled in class 3rd and 49 student are enrolled in class 1st.

(a)

(b)

Bagwanala: There are 55 children in Bagwanala FTC centre (25 female & 10 male) Both the FTC of Belwa and Baghwanala has been functioning in Pucca building, which is constructed by the organization on the community-donated land. This basic facility and infrastructure will help to convert the FTC into a quality school, which ultimately leads to attain model centre. The organizations have formed village education committee comprising representative of women and dalit members for the purpose of running and supervising the FTC. 3.4

Intervention with Government School: PVCHR has been working with government schools by providing three teachers one each in the three schools. The main objective of this intervention is to improve the quality of teaching learning and to link deprived children with school and minimizing discrimination against children of lower castes in the classrooms. With these efforts, the organization has achieved success in linking children to school and there is a significant reduction in cases of caste discrimination in the classes by seeking community participation and exerting their pressure. The teachers who have been attached with the government schools by the organization have been working in pre-primary school of Belwa, Dallipur and Ayar. While interacting with the teachers of middle school of Belwa, it was found that the attached teacher of the organization attends school in time and look after some classes. However, while looking at the level of the teacher, it made to realize the type of work they are able to do for the pre-primary level children. Such doubts were clarified when the government teachers narrated that they have been engaged the organization’s teacher in maintaining various materials of the schools and they are good in carrying out those tasks. In reply to taking classes by the organization’s teachers the government teachers told that they were generally asked to take Hindi classes. With these observations, one can say that the organization has success in intervening in the government 8

schools by inducting its teachers but it has able to create only a marginal impact on the teaching fraternity of the school. In order to see that teachers of organization can able to create impact on government schools, it is necessary to provide them with necessary training where they can get an opportunity to develop their personality and knowledge so that they can able to create impact on government teachers and as well as on whole teaching process. Apart from this, it was also cleared that the government teachers has now been ready to have positive dialogue with the organization despite of some apprehensions and doubts in their mind about the stands taken by organization on issues of human rights. 3.5

Children’s Parliament and Panchayat (Advocacy): The efforts to develop children understanding on issue of community awareness have been carried out through Children’s Parliament and Panchayat. Children associated with this forum performed Nukad Natak which they learn with the assistance of Prena Kala Manch. The issue of the drama was decided by the children Subject of the drama 1. Sindhur Nahi Shiksha 2. Kam Nahi Kalam 3. Is Smaj Ka Kya Hoga 4. Ekta me Bal

- Education - Child Labour - Feticide

This indicates that a lot of efforts have been carried out with children in this direction. In order to scale up more efforts, children need to be prepared and issues such as Human Rights, including Rights of Children should be incorporated as a subject in the syllabus. Children of Bal Panchayat learn to make carton poster in the direction of Mr. Sarad Verma. Now they are making cartoon poster on the problem which is surrounding and they are selecting the subject of poster according to their desire. Children of the Bal Panchayat are corresponding with the student of Rotenjen High School. They are learning how to establish and develop relationship with others. Magzine is going to publish consisting the stories of Children of Bal Panchayat. The children themselves are writing small stories indicating the problem of their surrounding

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Due to these efforts of educational advocacy, PVCHR has able to get approval for the establishment of government primary school at Belwa and Baghwanala and it is a good achievement of the organisation However in order to promote extensive awareness on educational related broader issues like common school system, educational rights bill etc. the organization needs to enhance its capacity. However, the network of organization is quite good but how capacities of workers to be developed with this network, need to be decided by the organization.

Achievements: •

One classroom in primary school in dalit village Shivrampur Khas and preprimary center and community center in Ayer with the economic assistance by Ms. Helma Ritcher chairperson of Indo – German society of Remscheid, DIG and Inwent.

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Sports equipment at Ayer is provided by Ms. Parul Sharma of Swedan.

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100 percentage of enrollment and retention of all children in Shivrampur village in Primary School.

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Except 4 children all children enrolled in Belwa village.

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Anganwadi centre starts in Nindanpur,Ayer Musahar Tola and Belwa Musahar Tola.

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Construction of building in Bagwanala, Belwa and Belwa Mushars hamlet with the economic assistance from SDTT.

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Three girls of Bagwanala namely Jyoti, Puja and Chanda get enrolled in class IX with the support of PVCHR. This story was also published in www.mynews.in and the linkage of the story is given below: http://www.mynews.in/fullstory.aspx?storyid=6287

Communities in Project: In the entire project Rajbhar, Nat (they profess both Hindu and Muslim religion), Mushars, Chamar, Patel, Muslim and other OBCs

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