Role of Education in addressing needs of Marginalized Groups in India

Role of Education in addressing the needs of  Marginalized groups in Indian society : SC/ST/OBC/EBC/NT, Tribals, Women, Rural and remote region

Definition: 

The Encyclopedia of Public Health defines marginalized groups as, ‘To be marginalized is to be placed in the margins, and thus excluded from the privilege and power found at the center”.

The specific role of education in addressing the needs of the marginalized group is as follows: -

• To empower the marginalized : education is  a societal resource and a means to achieve egalitarianism
• Given equal opportunity for general, vocational, technical and professional education most citizens have equal status in the society. Education is often considered as an equalizer.
• Education brings about awareness of legal provisions that the marginalized can resort to in case of infringement of their rights.
• To create awareness about various schemes that help to combat stratification e.g.: schemes for girl child.
• To sensitize society towards the impact of stratification.
• To create egalitarian minds  by instilling human values.
• Education nurtures critical thinking, decision making and such vital life skills that will help to fight the ill effects of stratification.
• Education seeks to integrate the marginalized into the mainstream through common education system, compensatory education, Laws such as Right to Education Act.

    Provisions & Schemes for education of the marginalized:

(Source: Ref note on welfare schemes for OBCs released by Lok Sabha secretariat Nov 2014, Central Govt financial schemes published by Loksabha secretariat Aug 2013 )

• Hostel Facilities, Midday Meals, Reservations, Education Loans and Scholarships.
• Financial assistance to NGOs providing vocational training where 90% expenditure is reimbursed by government.
• Reimbursement of fees for SC/ST students.
• Scheme under National Backward Classes Finance and Development Corporation to upgrade entrepreneurial and technological skills of OBC.
• Ashram School:- residential schools for ST (over 1600  ashram schools exist) Teachers from ST community. Sensitization programs for non ST teachers. Schools teach socially useful crafts.
• Shilp Sampada Scheme for upgrading technical  and entrepreneurial skills give loans to artisans.
• Eklavya Model residential schools (EMRS) :- The objective of EMRS is to provide quality middle and high level education to Scheduled Tribe (ST) students in remote areas, not only to enable them to avail of reservation in high and professional educational courses and as jobs in government and public and private sectors but also to have access to the best opportunities in education at par with the non ST population.
• National Backward Classes Finance & Development Corporation under Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment - educational loan for those living below double poverty line(p.a Rs. 40,000 rural areas and Rs. 55,000 urban areas).
• EBC (income upto Rs one lakh a yr) Dr. Ambedkar Central Sector Scheme of Interest Subsidy on Educational Loan for Overseas Studies for Economically Backward Classes (EBCs) effective from 2014 through Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.
• People in rural areas are provided with Navodaya Vidyalayas, Distance Primary Education  Program (DPEP), RTE provision primary schools within 1 km.
• People in remote areas are provided with Residential schools, ODL, use of technology, Digital India project launched in Aug 2014 plans to increase connectivity with villages.
• In  2014 the Hemanand Biswal committee recommended developing local language textbooks and teaching children in their local language with a gradual shift to Hindi or English to address issue of high dropouts.
• 3600 Kasturba Gandhi Balika vidyalayas (residential schools for upper primary girls from SC, ST, OBC communities set up where schools are far from habitation. 75% seats for SC/ST/OBC and 25% for those BPL. )  , National program for education of girls at elementary level for girls in educationally backward blocks , Kishori Shakti Yojana (vocational training for BPL girls between 15 to 18 yrs) Balika Smariddhi Yojana (scholarship for girls).