Vidhayak Sansad considers it unacceptable that sixty-one years after independence elementary education does not reach every Indian child. Our current education programs therefore aim to reach those with the least access to schooling: the children of migrant workers, tribal girls, and teenagers who have dropped out or never attended school. These educational initiatives are intended to serve as models for the state government to emulate on a wider scale. We also work with children in Thane district to run the Bal Sanghatana, an organization managed by young people that runs evening study and play centers at the village level. The organization is active in working with government officials and village committees to ensure schools function properly. The Mahatma Phule Education Guarantee Scheme, a government program that provides education to the children of migrant workers and other deprived students, was established through a campaign by VS and its allied organizations. Today this program serves nearly 500,000 students in Maharashtra. The Vasti School Scheme, a government residential school program for students from remote areas, has also been implemented through the intervention of VS. The scheme now benefits 200,000 children.

Eklavya Parivartan Vidyalaya (Residential School for Tribal Girls)

This residential school provides a comprehensive education to girls who would otherwise have limited or no access to schooling. Thane Distrist near Mumbai has a large population of poor tribal families. Among them is the extremely underdeveloped Katkari tribe. Many families of this tribe migrate seasonally, which means that their children, especially girls, never see a classroom. The girls commonly work as a balgi (caretaker for younger siblings or a landlord’s children) and a gowari (cattle herder). Poverty is so acute that parents must take the help of their children to survive. Child marriage is also widely practiced among this community. Vidhayak Sansad established the Eklavya Parivartan Vidyalaya residential school to offer girls from this community the rare opportunity to become literate and aware of their rights as citizens and as women.

Tribals have been exploited for generations because of their illiteracy. But the challenge in breaking this cycle is the grinding poverty that requires every member of the family, young and old, to work. This is why the free, residential education offered by Eklavya Parivartan Vidyalaya is so important. It contributes significantly to the socio-economic empowerment of the most deprived and neglected tribal communities.

In all of Thane District there is only one primary residential school and two secondary residential schools run by the government exclusively for girls. One important reason for this is that parents are not ready to trust institutions with their young daughters. Vidhayak Sansad’s residential school is possible because the organization has earned the trust of tribals in Thane District during its over 25 years working with them.

Currently 120 girls aged 6-16 from the Katkari tribe live at Vidhayak Sansad’s campus in Usgaon where they not only study, but also learn singing, dancing, painting, and karate.

Bhonga Shala (Schools for Migrant Children)

Bhonga Shalas, or “kiln schools,” are a response to the large number of children leaving school each year when their families travel for seasonal jobs at brick kilns. These children leave school mid-year and return six months later, only to be held back from entering the next grade. Worse, they often must work in the hazardous conditions of the brick kilns to supplement their families’ income.

Vidhayak Sansad opened schools, housed in small huts at the site of the brick kilns, to close the education gap and allow these migrant children to study. The schools cater to children aged 5-10 and the teachers are hired from the same economic backgrounds as the students. Every teacher goes through a one-month training program before beginning at a site. Students from the Bhonga Shala schools who have later appeared for state exams have had over a 90% pass rate. Many of them are admitted back to their original village schools after returning from the seasonal migration.

The Bhonga Shala school program has benefited more than 30,000 children in Thane District from 1995-2008. The National Child Labor Project, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, and the Maharashtra Government have recognized the program as a role model in education.

Bal Sanghatana (The Children’s Union)

The Bal Sanghatana program organizes evening study and play centres for children at the village level. The program is meant to supplement and reinforce what students learn during the school day. Activities include poetry reading, essay composition, sports competitions, theater, and helping each other with that day’s homework. The teachers who lead the centres are members of Shramjeevi Sanghatana, Vidhayak Sansad’s allied trade union. They have been specially trained to supervise the children and assist them in schoolwork. A typical evening session at a centre would include a mix of grammar and composition assistance, traditional games, and discussion.

The Bal Sanghatana has a community “watch dog” role as well. Its young members engage with students, their local school administration, and the community about standards and conditions at their school. In numerous cases Bal Sanghatana members have successfully pressured their local administration to improve quality of education and school facilities. The members also ensure that every student in their centre has access to notebooks, textbooks, and other supplies. In many blocks the Bal Sanghatana organizers have created mobile libraries for their communities. The libraries are based in the homes of Bal Sanghatana members, who are responsible for their stock and maintenance.

Vidhayak Sansad is currently working with 97 Bal Sanghatana centres in 5 blocks of Thane District, benefiting 2161 children.