Project Proposal

Project Name: Improving the state of education and providing scholarship to tribal children

Project Location: Jharkhand

Total Project Budget: ₹ 50,000

Submitted by: Creamy Garg

Diya Srivastva
Jahnvi Gupta
Rishika Goyal

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Goal

The project aims at empowering tribal children by providing them quality education and earning opportunities.
Through this project, we are trying to accomplish the following goals-

1. Generating interest in education.

Tribal children are often disinterested in attending school due to lack of incentives as they think education
gives them no benefit. Through our project, we will try to change this attitude by making education
interesting for children.

2. Securing employment areas.

Alongside education, we will try to maximize the extra-curricular and vocational activities so that students
have enough options to choose a career from.

Policies incorporated

1. Promotion of the following policies

We will try to promote the following policies to students so that they can avail of the benefits.

- Pre-matric scholarship1

- Post-matric scholarship2
This scheme provides scholarships to the ST students pursuing Post–Matriculation or at the Post-
Secondary stage. Students with disabilities are given additional allowances. For the students to be eligible
for this scholarship their family income should not be more than Rs.2,50,000 per year.

- Rajiv Gandhi national fellowship for SC/ST candidates3

RGNF was introduced in the year 2005-2006 with the objective to encourage the students belonging to ST
community to pursue higher education such as M.Phil and Ph.D. It has now been renamed as National
Fellowship for Higher Education of ST Students and is formulated and funded by the Ministry of Tribal
Affairs. There are 750 slots for Scheduled Tribe candidates every year for all the subjects.

- Top-class education4

2. Inclusion of following policies.

In our project, we will incorporate the following policies in order to gain the financial support provided by
govt. to NGOs.

- Scheme of Strengthening Education among Scheduled Tribe (ST) Girls in Low Literacy Districts5
Under this scheme we will try to accomplish following targets.
(i) Promote 100% enrollment of scheduled tribe girls in the identified districts, blocks or pockets (for
Primitive Tribal Groups), vis-à-vis present level of enrollment, class-wise, for all schools taken
together.
(ii) Reduce dropouts at the primary and middle school levels.
(iii) Monitor the running of the hostels/complexes.
(iv) Make payments, grant of awards, etc., as may be prescribed by the Ministry.

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 (v) Arrange regular interaction between girls and ANMs to promote preventive health education and
establish
curative linkages of these hostels/complexes with health institutions.
(vi) Promote awareness among parents towards the importance of girls’ education.
(vii) Tie up with potential recruiters so that immediately on passing, the student can get a job or can go in for
self-employment.

- Scheme of Grant-in-aid to Voluntary and other Organizations Working for Scheduled Castes6
Under this scheme we will register ourselves as an official NGO for acquiring the grants provided by
govt.
to the organisations working for welfare of STs. Our project of improving education status in tribal areas
is
valid under this scheme.

- Vocational Training Centres7

Alongside education, we will try to keep the vocational courses active and hence we are eligible for
acquiring various grants under this scheme as well.
Grants will be available for organizing vocational training in recognized institutes or in Vocational
Training Centres (VTCs) under this scheme. NGOs are also eligible for such grants given that they fulfill
the following conditions:
a) Any registered voluntary organization/non-governmental organization engaged in
the conduct and promotion of the social welfare of STs. The organization should
have been registered for at least three years.
b) Experience of at least three years in the relevant field.
c) Aptitude and experience in welfare work pertaining to weaker sections.
d) Preference will be given to programs that benefit the Particularly Vulnerable
Tribal Groups (PTGs) or remote/interior/backward areas not serviced by
Government Institutions or other established NGOs.
e) Financial viability of the organization and ability to continue the work for limited
periods in absence of assistance from the Ministry.
f) Good reputation and credentials.
g) Capability to mobilize the community.
h) Networking with other institutions for optimum utilization of resources allocated
and assets created.
- Financial Assistance for support to Centres of Excellence8

Project Brief

In order to improve the livelihood of various communities and scheduled tribes in Jharkhand, it is important to
introduce them to education, especially vocational education. Hence, we propose a project of introducing
vocational training in the present schools in those districts of Jharkhand where the literacy rate is lowest.

We have already identified districts that have the lowest literacy rate, such as Latehar, West Singhbhum,
Godda, Sahibganj, Pakur, etc9. However, we still need to conduct an on-ground inspection to locate schools,
community centers etc where we can set up vocational training centers. Furthermore, we need to interact with
the communities and tribes living here, learn about their problems and needs, and ask them if they already have
a traditional art or skill, which isn’t given much recognition.

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These centers will have vocational training for professions such as electrician, plumber, carpenter, tailor, etc.
Alternatively, if the tribe or community already has a traditional craft, say basket weaving, then we will develop
a proper module and course for vocational training in traditional basket weaving, form a micro-industry and
help them market these products. This would not only provide them with a livelihood but also revive a
traditional art, craft or skill.

It must be noted that to carry out all of the above activities, we will also take help and register under certain
government schemes and policies.

Desired Impact

The areas wherein we wish to implement this project have very low literacy rates. Thus, the people here
struggle to maintain their livelihood and can even be lured into crime to sustain themselves. Hence, access to
education in such areas can play a vital role in improving the conditions of people in these areas.

We will begin our project on a small scale i.e. by setting up a vocational training center in one of the districts
with high poverty rate and low literacy rate. We will organize campaigns and get familiar with the communities
so as to spread awareness and sensitize them towards the importance of education and vocational training. Such
awareness campaigns will also encourage the young ones in the family to pursue formal education and not drop
out of school.

If we manage to find a tribe that has a unique traditional skill or craft, then this can also be included in
vocational training and a formal module can be followed for teaching these. This will ensure the community’s
participation and also keep a unique traditional art form alive. If they happen to be marketable products, then
we can also help the community with marketing these products and it can be a good source of income for the
people. Once we have set up such a center in one district successfully, we will look into the scalability and
further expand our project, as well as make it sustainable.

Feasibility

The women in India, who were revered in ancient India but were the most neglected lots decades ago, have now
been receiving increased attention. In India appreciable progress has been made in this direction- still much
more remain to be done. Tribal society is far behind in education and in raising their social and economic status
and thus integrating them in the so-called men dominated world of today. The large majority of population in
tribal areas is backward due to the co-relation and least adoptionof educational technology. The tribal societies
are closed and isolated society living in compact groups. When this tribal groups are considered in case of
educational field, the national average literacy rate in educational development among tribes is 29%, among
which, the highest literacy rate of tribes is 36% in Gujarat (48% male and 24% female) and in Rajasthan
literacy rate is just 19.44% (with female rate 4.22% and male rate 33.29%).
All projects mentioned here are legally and technically feasible. Economic feasibility differ from one another
and some are as follow:
1) The government created so many policies and plans of education and development for tribal womens. It will
help the organisation in running different project.
2) Fund of Organization is also helps in making the project feasible.
3) It is legally & socially feasible as well as act as a value addition in society.
4)It is also practically feasible and helps in growth of India's economy.

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Projects mentioned here will also empower tribal women and children, first with education and second by
making them independent through offering employment and providing other vocational training and can also
include providing proper market to their produce.

Implementation Plan

Any combination of the following plans can be undertaken subject to the budget constraints:

Plan 1: Direct Action - Open a training center

Assumptions: 1. Availability of land for project operation.

2. Trustees and sponsors who can help in covering the costs associated with establishing a center.

Areas to work on:

1. Deciding the cost to attendees: A minimal fee should be charged from the children.
2. Deciding the curriculum: Choice can be made from the state and the center guidelines.
3. Setting up a library: A collection of books will have to be acquired for teaching. Books can be chosen such
that they are not only enlightening but also engaging.
Language-specific books can also be chosen to make the learning process easier.10
For vocational centers, vocation specific instruments will have to be acquired.
4. Establishing a teaching ideology
5. Creating an environment with easy interaction with the tutor and engaging teaching methods.

Plan 2: Assisting other organizations - Collaborate with existing schools and vocational centers

Short term basis: Conducting skill development workshops

Long term basis: Getting involved in the daily curriculum

Plan 3: Organizing a team of individuals with knowledge about government policies regarding scholarships.
This team will help in the promotion of policies and thus generate awareness. Another task that can be taken up
is helping the potential applicants in filling/applying for the scholarships.

For example: Kalinga Institute of Social Sciences (KISS) - located in Bhubaneswar, India - is free of cost, a
fully-residential educational institute for indigenous students. As the largest fully residential and fully free
educational institute for tribals (Indigenous people), KISS is committed to providing free accommodation, food,
healthcare and education to only tribal students from families in the Below Poverty Line (BPL) category. KISS
gives special emphasis to women’s education, thereby giving preference to girl students during admission. ST
students belonging to Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs) are also given preference during the
admission process. There is no entrance for UG admission. Selected individuals can help in spreading
awareness about the institute and provide technical support to the applicants.
Steps for implementation:

Step 1: Identification of areas where intervention is critically required.

The selection can be made on the basis of literacy rates. The districts with the lowest literacy rates in Jharkhand
have been identified as Latehar, West Singhbhum, Godda, Sahibganj and Pakur.

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Availability of land and other resources for setting up a center and openness of schools and centers for
collaboration are other factors that will critically influence the choice of the location. Groundwork will be
required for the evaluation of these factors.
Besides this, areas with particular vocational skills such as crafts and handicrafts or culinary can be chosen.
Efforts can be made to promote sports.

Step 2: Establishing a center or contacting existing institutions for collaboration.

Step 3: Finding human resources
Educational, vocational and mentoring support can be imparted among the students with the help of the
following people:
1. Trained Professionals
2. Volunteers
3. Interns
4. Fellows

Special emphasis can be placed on the recruitment of unemployed people belonging to the target communities.
This will create employment opportunities in the community and also make people more perceptive towards the
whole process.

Selected people will have to have prior knowledge or given training according to the requirements of the plan
being implemented. This will mean that proficiency in academics/vocation or complete knowledge of
government schemes is required.

Step 4: Monitoring and Evaluation

Constant monitoring and evaluation of the progress made will be beneficial in the detection of loopholes.
Efficiency will be improved this way.

Contact details

1. Fatima Villa, 5th Floor, Flat No. 503, B Wing, 29th Road, Pali Naka Bandra (W),
Mumbai 400 050 Maharashtra
Phone: (91)-22-3240-3453

It is an organization named Dasra which enables non-profit organizations, who change the lives of
marginalized communities, to scale. They provide organizations with growth capital and management
expertise, maximizing charitable investments for philanthropists.

2. https://tribal.nic.in/

It is the official website of the ministry of tribal affairs from where information regarding various policies
can be availed.

3. http://ngodarpan.gov.in/

It is mandatory to get registered under this portal in order to avail the schemes that we have incorporated in
this project.
It is related to Niti Ayog.

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4. http://ngograntsmota.gov.in/ngo-login

This is the official website for grants-in-aid to NGOs. It is mandatory to get registered in it in order to avail
of the grants by govt.
011-23387187: Contact to the undersecretary to the govt. of India for any queries.

References

1. http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/SCHEMES/PERFORMANCE/Scholarship-Schemes/pre-matric-scholarship-
scheme

2. http://minorityaffairs.gov.in/SCHEMES/PERFORMANCE/Scholarship-Schemes/post-matric-scholarship-
scheme

3. https://www.ugc.ac.in/rgnf/default.aspx

4. http://socialjustice.nic.in/SchemeList/Send/27?mid=24541

5. https://tribal.nic.in/writereaddata/Schemes/4-6NGOSchemeStrengthningEducation.pdf

6. http://socialjustice.gov.in/SchemeList/Send/41?mid=24541

7. https://tribal.nic.in/writereaddata/Schemes/VTCGuidelinesAndApplicationFormat.pdf

8. https://tribal.nic.in/writereaddata/Schemes/2-2RM-SchemeofCoE.pdf

9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jharkhand_districts_ranked_by_literacy_rate

10. https://prathambooks.org/

11. https://kiss.ac.in/