New plan ignores old lessons

The Abhiyan, linked to the Union Government-sponsored Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, was aimed at ending illiteracy in the state. As part of the project, the government promised to pay a minimum of Rs 1,000 per month to any educated person, who is at least matric-passed, willing to teach 20 illiterate children in a village where there is no primary school.

The Abhiyan brought much cheer to Koyenjhari since it had no primary school to boast of. However, 10 months have passed and there is nothing to show on ground that the project has actually taken off even though a state government document claims that 11,514 villages have come to have as many schools under the Abhiyan.

Koyenjhari now has one school with 200-odd students and three teachers. While the government promised to give students study material free of cost 8216;8216;depending upon availability8217;8217;, none of the students in the Koyenjhari school has been given any study material yet.