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).
