Though States in India are organized on the basis of language, it is impossible to draw a distinct line between two states and create a border between two languages. In fact the cities or villages that lie on the border of these states, display a beautiful confluence of language and culture! However, this also creates a challenge of a different kind, something which I experienced during my visit to Nandurbar for the review of Pratham's 'Library Program'. Nandurbar is a district in Maharashtra that is flanked by Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh on its West, North and East and the Maharashtrian Khandesh lies to its south! Hence this district is a confluence of Marathi, Hindi and Gujarati. If this is not enough, the tribal influence adds some other dialects like Bhilli, Pauri, Mauchi and Konkani! Hence the biggest challenge for anyone who works in the education sector is this very variety, which at times creates communication hindrances! And hence I find it very appropriate and necessary to salute the tireless work of our colleagues who are working in this district for the past so many years!
Library Program allowed me to understand and imagine the extent to which an 'impact' could be made and how many lives it could influence. It was heartening to interact with the guardians of these library groups, who in most cases were mothers (and in all cases, women). Our CRLs tell us that participation of the womenfolk in this program is indeed healthy. Not only do these women participate in the program, but they also enquire and are curious about the child's progress. Most of the women I met thanked us for the program as this, according to them, made their child sit at one place and do something productive. Otherwise these children used to roam around in the village or spend their time watching television. Our CRLs also tell us that these mothers talk to them about their children's future, something they did not do that often before. One wonders if this could be directly linked to the problem of rampant alcoholism in the state. Men consuming alcohol outside the house and women monitoring the library program besides them was a familiar sight in some villages! Do these women have a hope that studying won't let these children go their father's way?
"Do the male members or the elders in the house interfere in the decisions taken by these women?", I asked one of our CRLs during our meeting. The answer was an emphatic NO! Apart from students learning their lessons, this program has created an opportunity for women to empower themselves!
Kamal Rajput, a guardian grandmother had a different perspective to share during our visit to her village, Khokrale. While she too mentioned that this program has moved children away from television addiction, she added an economic dimension to it as well! Pointing in an anonymous direction she gestured that 'they' can afford good schools and private tuitions, whereas we here cannot! 'They' are the rich families of the village. The library program, she said, has provided a platform for poor students in the village to study and solve their problems by themselves. Her request of more visits and interventions from us, hence, carried a lot of significance! Another important point of view came from Ghotane village, where the village chief (gaav pramukh) Ganesh Mistry opened up. He emphasized that the library program has enabled the first generation learners of the village to get their doubts cleared, then and there in the group! Earlier they used to wait for school the next day and this used to dilute their curiosity and keenness for the answer. These words, probably, pointed towards the growth of a literacy movement in the village. That the village chief himself spoke about this was more heartening!
Overall for me, the program has summarized the fact that women of the village are satisfied that their children are studying and spending their time productively. It has also allowed them to be a part of this very different literacy movement in their village. Will this transform the villages and make them more curious about the world outside? Radically, no! But, gradually, yes!
 |
| Happy Faces from the Library Program at village Kakarde, Nandurbar |
Library Program allowed me to understand and imagine the extent to which an 'impact' could be made and how many lives it could influence. It was heartening to interact with the guardians of these library groups, who in most cases were mothers (and in all cases, women). Our CRLs tell us that participation of the womenfolk in this program is indeed healthy. Not only do these women participate in the program, but they also enquire and are curious about the child's progress. Most of the women I met thanked us for the program as this, according to them, made their child sit at one place and do something productive. Otherwise these children used to roam around in the village or spend their time watching television. Our CRLs also tell us that these mothers talk to them about their children's future, something they did not do that often before. One wonders if this could be directly linked to the problem of rampant alcoholism in the state. Men consuming alcohol outside the house and women monitoring the library program besides them was a familiar sight in some villages! Do these women have a hope that studying won't let these children go their father's way?
"Do the male members or the elders in the house interfere in the decisions taken by these women?", I asked one of our CRLs during our meeting. The answer was an emphatic NO! Apart from students learning their lessons, this program has created an opportunity for women to empower themselves!
 |
| Library Session in Progress at Village Khokrale |
Kamal Rajput, a guardian grandmother had a different perspective to share during our visit to her village, Khokrale. While she too mentioned that this program has moved children away from television addiction, she added an economic dimension to it as well! Pointing in an anonymous direction she gestured that 'they' can afford good schools and private tuitions, whereas we here cannot! 'They' are the rich families of the village. The library program, she said, has provided a platform for poor students in the village to study and solve their problems by themselves. Her request of more visits and interventions from us, hence, carried a lot of significance! Another important point of view came from Ghotane village, where the village chief (gaav pramukh) Ganesh Mistry opened up. He emphasized that the library program has enabled the first generation learners of the village to get their doubts cleared, then and there in the group! Earlier they used to wait for school the next day and this used to dilute their curiosity and keenness for the answer. These words, probably, pointed towards the growth of a literacy movement in the village. That the village chief himself spoke about this was more heartening!
Overall for me, the program has summarized the fact that women of the village are satisfied that their children are studying and spending their time productively. It has also allowed them to be a part of this very different literacy movement in their village. Will this transform the villages and make them more curious about the world outside? Radically, no! But, gradually, yes!
No comments:
Post a Comment