By TCN News,
New Delhi: Caritas India in a joint collaboration of Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) organized a National level interface on “Reality of Implementation of Right to Education Act” here at Deputy Speaker hall, Constitution club, New Delhi.
A Right Based Project on “Right to Education (RTE)” is being run by Caritas India in Districts of Bihar supporting Girls Child Education and strengthening entitlement of RTE.
Around 60 participants from the various organizations participated in the program held here on Tuesday.
In the conference the Girls belonging to Musahar community from interior districts of Bihar presented a Stage Show, which was written and directed by them based on their daily life facts. One play was based on the theme of dreams and ambition of a girl born and brought in Musahar community called “Mera Sapna” and the second play was based on Child Marriage in which girls would reiterate the entire factor responsible for their early marriage.
Musahars constitute third largest population of Schedule Castes in Bihar having lowest literacy rate, with female literacy in this group around 1% as per 2011 census.
The program was followed with the release of the research report, Children Magazine “Roshini ki duniya” and a documentary titled ‘Light of hope and Dignity’.
“Roshni Ki Duniya” a compendium of stories, paintings, regional songs, awareness songs, which was prepared by students of complimentary education centre was compiled and released during the program.
Lenin Raghuvanshi, Secretary General of Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights shared the finding of the research reports on the 122 points. The research was conducted in four districts Purenea, Munger, Madhubani and Patna of Bihar state of India. Now the recommendations after this research work will be compiled and communicated to NGOs, political parties, Niti Ayog, members of parliament, Ministry of Human Resource Development and policy makers.
Chief Guest Dr. Syeda Hameed, former Member of Planning commission said, “the few points mentioned in the reports shows the alarming condition of the RTE implementation in the grass root level. Especially on the ratio of student and teachers, the ratio of teacher and student in the school and the ratio should be 35:1. But the actual ratio is 66:1”.
She also stated that there was no appointment of cleaner in the school due to which children have to spend more time in cleaning the school. She highlighted the pitiful condition of the teaching and learning process. The children of class VIII were unable to read the text book of class II. Due to which it will not possible for the marginalized and poor children to get quality education. ”I appeal we should come forward to strengthen this initiative”, she added.
In the Panel discussion the guests John Dayal, Secretary General, All India Christian Council, Jayshree Bajoria, Researcher, Human Rights Watch, Shantanu Datta, Director Engagement, International Justice Mission, Shimray, Assistant Zonal manager, Caritas India, Jagmati, All India General Secretary, AIDWA stated that the objective of universal right to education for children remains a distant dream while certain initiatives have been taken by the government to ensure the implementation of the Act, broadly, it has failed to make the RTE Act a reality.