Part II.pdf - MTB-MLE Network

• Using the SHGs as a means to build capacity and awareness creation on issues such as
health, universalisation of primary education, prevention of school drop-outs, skills
upgrading and support for the literacy campaign
The SHGs are formed under the banner of Prochesta in cooperation with SRC Assam and various
District Literacy Committees. In Goalpara, under the aegis of the District Literacy Committee (ZSS)
and SRC Assam, about 500 groups have been formed involving nearly 9,000 women. Inculcating
the saving habit while at the same time using money for economic development will eventually
help the community. The groups sit together to discuss various social issues along with their economic
activity. The women manage the groups. Health issues become a part of their discussions, and
training is given for this. Special emphasis is given to Reproductive and Child Health (RCH), Life
Skill Education for adolescents (both in school and out of school), awareness creation about STD/
AIDS, family planning and gender sensitization.
Project challenges and possible solutions
Since the Rabha language has become standardized with printed matter of its own, the other
sub-groups, mainly the Kochas, have become discontent because their dialect has not received due
focus and faces the threat of becoming extinct. Due to this resentment, there were instances where
they did not cooperate with our work.
In our project, we have prepared only a small number of primers (1,000 copies each). At present,
however, the demand has increased to more than 5,000 in Goalpara district, itself. The number
might grow if we propose to cover more districts.
When we initiated the project, we did not envisage that there would be the need for the three different
categories (bilingual reading materials, literacy primers and children’s primers). Fortunately, the
District Literacy Committee (ZSS, Goalpara) is taking up the matter of printing more primers for
adult learners with national government funds. For the children’s primer, we are negotiating with
the Assam government for printing.
The problems cited can be overcome if government authorities at the central and state levels respond
positively. There are many ethnic language groups in India, in general, and in Assam, particularly,
which need to be taken care of in terms of literacy. Working with the Rabhas made us feel that we
need to expand our area of work. Many other ethnic communities need help in initiating education
in their mother tongue. We hope to start the campaign on a national basis, and provide support to
other SRCs and Indian NGOs to carry on the literacy work. Our work will also have a positive
impact in developing the aspirations of other ethnic groups throughout the country.
Facilitators/Teacher Training
The District Literacy Societies will be given responsibility for reprinting the teachers training manual
that was prepared by SRC Assam. In this way, they will be able to function independently.
Action research on the project: Our target is to complete the ongoing Action Research in Goalpara.
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