Keonjhar: Primary education in various tribal pockets has plunged into a mess for various reasons while the Sarva Sikhya Abhiyan (SSA) has allegedly failed to achieve its goal. Scores of tribal children in Kolimati under Anandapur block have been deprived of their right to education as mandated under the Right to Education Act.
Three orphaned tribal children were found tending cattle in the area that falls under the constituency of higher education minister Badrinarayan Patra. The kids belong to Putughar in Kolimati panchayat.
Conscious citizens and social activists termed this unfortunate, observing that when children of their age are studying in schools and leading joyful lives, these kids are struggling for survival.
The children were identified as Siddhartha Munda, Gouranga Munda and Ramchandra Munda. There are many tribal kids who are grazing cattle in forests to supplement their family income.
“My parents passed away, but I can’t recall the exact year. We were studying at my uncle’s house. I dropped out of school during Class-V and took up tending cattle,” said Siddhartha.
Gouranga also dropped his studies when he was in Class-V. He has three bothers two of whom are married. “I have been tending cattle for the last two years,” Gouranga said.
Arjun, who studies in Class-III, said his brother has been sick and he has to graze cattle now.
A report said scores of tribal children have dropped out of schools due to financial constraints and are engaged in various works.
Local people alleged neither the administration nor the education department has taken note of this problem.
They said SSA has completely flopped in the area while the administration boasts of having taken steps to bring the drop-outs or out-of-school children to schools.
The government has made provision of residential schools for tribal children, but nothing is being done for these unlucky kids, some locals said.
A former member of the district child protection committee expressed concern over the incident and noted that the administration should take steps to enroll them in residential schools while their families should be rehabilitated financially.
District project coordinator of SSA Purna Chandra Sethi said steps are being taken to ensure that all children below 14 years of age are educated. PNN
