By Akhand in Bhubaneswar, India
Childrens are the future of the nation. But the condition of rural children in India is beyond imagination. They are far from their fundamental rights. Most of the school going Children are involved in housework and dropout rate is very high. So their role in education is becoming dim. Take example of Nuashai Village in Delanga Block of eastern Indian state Orissa. Here not a single girl passed High School exam. Most interesting thing is that seventh standard student Laxmipriya is the most educated girl, then sixth standard student Deepa. Due to poverty the Harijan Sahi (Lower caste street) of this Village cant educate their upspring. Those who enrolled their names in village primary school, they are forced to leave the school after three or fourth standard. There is no importance on girl education. Parents have no money for their sons. In this situation who asks the girls?, said one villager Kalia Behera The girls left from standard one or two and assist the family members in planting or cutting Paddy.
The girls like Mina, Pakei, Chumuki, Arati, Sarada, Anu, Tikei and Nandi etc. of this village could read in college if they have chance; but now they are working in the field. By doing housework, collecting woods or grazing the cattle , they spend their time. Most of the School going children is doing these works. Though the children of 10-11 years have no earning. They are involved in house work like collecting woods, grazing cattles, cutting the grass etc. So parents of below poverty line become happy for a while for their help. But on the other hand the future of their children are becoming worst. Children after grown up are working on fields. This process continues.
The condition of Candisahi Harijan Basti of Chainipur Panchayat of this Block is more miserable. If you ask 15/16 years village girl Jamuna, Kalika, Nandi, Dukhi. Kandei … about their study, there is only one answer, their family didnt give Chance.They never go to school. They have learning how to work on field from their childhood. Now- a-days they earn 50 rupees per a day. But there is only two months scope for work. Poverty suppressed their desires to crate an educational surrounding.
Another village of the same Block is Signghaberhampur. On the way of Harijan Basti we met a working boy. His name is Sanjay Pradhan, nickname Anjei. He left School during 6th class, till then he has a high aspire, but working on fields destroys his desire. He refused to take a photo to himself because he thought that he would be ashamed while the people see his photograph in a newspaper. We meet another boy Jambua who has no good eyesight. Many a time the children of this undeveloped streets securing many diseases due to unhealthy condition. So Jambua doesnt go to school after fourth standard. He works with his family. Though the small children of this village go to nearby school, most of the time they are engaged with noon-study matter of their family.Some of them take care of their litter brother & sister and some are busy with grazing the goats etc. We met some children of this category. They are Tilotama ,Niranjan, Dulumani. All are admitted in to village primary scholl.
Most of the families has no money to take care of their children. A large number of villagers are landless. In this condition they have no desire or plan for spending money for their childrens study. Thus it is obvious from the very beginning that the future of the these children are dark. It is regret that the government or any Voluntary Institution dont give their attention towards this important topic. No Government program could not be a success yet in this village. Mass Media only give importance on sensitive matter rather than the childrens problem who have great immense in constructing the country. The government should think about the rural children to study free primary education at least up to seventh class. Otherwise the aim of compulsory primary education cant be success just by opening only primary schools.
Filed under: people
