Cuttack: As many as 17,468 adolescent girls between the age group of 11 and 18 years have left their studies before completion in the district.
The shocking figure came to the fore after a survey conducted under Rajiv Gandhi Scheme for Empowerment of Adolescent Girls (RGSEAG) ‘Sabla’ scheme by the district social welfare department.
However, the Sarva Siksha Abhiyan (SSA) authorities have dismissed the claims of the survey report and said there are many false data in the report. The SSA had earlier conducted a survey and claimed that the district has only one per cent dropout. The large-scale inconsistency in the reports of the two departments has raised serious questions over implementation of the schemes.
While the government has been spending crores of rupees for universal education under Right to Education (RTI) Act, the shocking figure has raised serious questions over the universal education.
Sources said Sabla scheme was initiated April 1, 2011 by the the Ministry of Women and Child Development at the Centre in which 205 districts were selected from states and union territories across the country with an aim to empower adolescent girls between the age group of 11 and 18 years through nutrition, healthcare and life skill education.
Nine districts in the state – Cuttack, Bargarh, Bhadrak, Gajapati, Kalahandi, Koraput, Mayurbhanj, Puri and Sundargarh – were covered under the scheme. According to the Sabla report, till the end of 2016-17 financial year, 5,90,168 girls were included under the scheme in the nine districts. Likewise, 1,19,835 girls were included under the scheme in Cuttack, the report of the social welfare department claimed.
The report further stated that 20 girls between 11 and 14 years had left the studies halfway while there are 17,448 dropouts between the age group of 14 and 18 years.
District SSA project coordinator Gadadhar Behera said, “There are many lacunae in the report given by the social welfare department. I have drawn the attention of the district social welfare officer in this regard.’’
District social welfare officer Tuna Behera said, “We’ve prepared the report on the basis of surveys conducted by anganwadi workers. There should not be any mistake.”
Social activist Sangram Nayak alleged the report was prepared to misappropriate funds of both the schemes. Collector Nirmal Chandra Mishra said, “I will hold discussion with the officials of both departments and analyse the reports.”
Post News Network
