Mobile Seasonal Schools for Gujjars — ignored and mismanaged (Greater Kashmir) No Infrastructure, no Mid Day meals and teachers working as bonded labourers CONCERN (Article by By DR RAJA MUZAFFAR BHAT) Goddkhal is a small pasture located near south western side of Yusmarg in central Kashmir’s Budgam district. The Gujjar population of nearby Branwar and Jabbad villages migrates to this pasture along with their cattle and sheep during summers. This is a tribal tradition which continues since ages. In Goddkhal there are around a dozen mud and wooden log huts locally called Dokes. The Gujjar population who migrate to this particular pasture from Branwar and Jabbad villages during summers put up in these dokes. One doke is generally shared by two or three families. Decades back the entire population used to migrate from the villages to nearby pastures but with the passage of time the mass seasonal migration has receded and now mostly families belonging to economically weaker sections of the tribal Gujjar, Bakerwal communities especially old men , women and some children are seen in the pastures during summer months . Many Kashmiri speaking people living in the areas close to forests also migrate to pastures. The Kashmiri shepherds (Pohul) and Bakerwals can also be seen along with their families in the pastures and meadows and they are also part of this migratory population. But the Bakerwals do not own Dokes and generally they put up in tents in these highlands. History of Mobile-Seasonal Schools: In order to provide basic education to the children of the aforementioned migratory population of Gujjars, Bakerwals, Shepherds etc, the J&K Government envisaged a scheme in late 1970s called Mobile Schools which is now known as Seasonal Schools. Similar mobile schools can be found in North African state of Sudan also. There are scores of nomadic tribes in Sudan who also migrate in search of livelihood etc and the local Government provides them mobile schooling since early 1990s. Kenya, Mangolia too have many mobile schools for its nomadic children. After the onset of armed struggle in 1990, the mobile schools in J&K could not function for more than 10 years because of the heavy presence of security forces and militants in the forest areas. It was during the PDP – Congress coalition Government (2002-2008) the Mobile Seasonal schools were again set up in different hilly districts of J&K. At present such schools are operational in Poonch, Rajouri, Doda, Budgam, Shopian, Kupwara, Baramulla, Kargil and few other districts of the State. Nearly 40,000 plus students are enrolled in these schools. Every year Government seeks services of more than 1100 Educational Volunteers (Teachers) for taking care of these schools and to provide quality education to the nomadic children who otherwise would remain illiterate. How a Mobile school operates: The Government through the respective Zonal Educational Office takes services of local educated youth known as “Educational Volunteers “. These volunteer teachers are provided a monthly stipend of Rs 4000. In addition to this each mobile school is provided with few tents. The stationery is also provided by the Government. The volunteer teachers are deputed to various places where there is sufficient nomadic / migratory population and the children are enrolled on spot and the schools start their academic session from May onwards which continues till October. These schools provide education up to primary level only (class 5th) . From October the students attend the normal Government run schools in their respective villages. Problems faced by students: The Mobile Seasonal schools are supposed to provide Mid Day meals to the enrolled students. But according to reliable sources the majority of the mobile schools (90 percent plus) do not provide these meals thus raising a question mark on the credibility of the School Education Department . The tents are supposed to be provided to each mobile schools but the tents that have been provided to the mobile schools during 2006, 2007 and 2008 of Budgam have never been replaced till date in majority of the schools. The tents were provided to scores of mobile seasonal schools in 2006 and 2007 in Budgam but till date they haven’t been replaced. The tents are totally damaged and their condition is totally filthy and this forces the children to sit under open sky while taking lessons from the teachers. And whenever there is a rainfall such schools are shut or else the students have to take shelter under trees. The parents of the students allege that there are no blackboards and the stationery is also not being supplied to their children in majority of the educational zones across state. “Only one tent has been provided in the year 2008 for 45 Mobile Seasonal centers (schools) in Charar e Sharief zone and in such a pathetic condition how can we provide quality education to these poor children?” asked Tariq Ahmad, a Seasonal Mobile teacher from Charar e Sharief zone who is District President Budgam of JK Seasonal Mobile Teachers Forum. Problems faced by Mobile Seasonal Teachers: The Mobile Seasonal teachers are engaged for a period of six months only and from the last many years they have been demanding for their job security. “We are being paid a monthly salary (stipend) of Rs 4000 and from 2004 till date there has been no revision in this stipend. The salaries of Government officials has been increased under 6th pay commission but we have been totally ignored,” says Gulzar Ahmad who is the General Secretary of J&K Seasonal Mobile Teachers Forum . The teachers are also forced to take shelter in Gujjar dokes etc. In addition to this teachers are working in very harsh conditions, living away from their homes but no allowances are paid to them. The monthly stipend is spend on the purchase of ration etc. “We demand for some job security and continuation of our empanelment for the whole academic year , in addition to it some risk allowance must be provided to us as we are on duty for 24 hours in harsh conditions,” says a seasonal teacher, Mehraj u Din Sheikh from Khansahib who is also fighting for the rights of the seasonal mobile teachers for many years. The Member Parliament G N Ratanpuri recently assured the Mobile Seasonal teachers that this matter would be taken up by him with Ministries of HRD & Labour in New Delhi. Ratanpuri happens to be Member Consultative Committee of Ministry of Human Recourse Development (MHRD) and he is also the standing Committee Member of Ministry of Labour. Conclusion: The Government of India promises Right to Education to every child, but this right is openly violated while implementing the Mobile Seasonal School scheme which is a part of the centrally sponsored scheme Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) . We have been discussing things like corruption and mismanagement in Mid Day Meal scheme etc, but for aforementioned poor, tribal and downtrodden children this scheme is not a mere mismanagement but a scam. Where does the money go which is earmarked under Mid Day Meal program for these 1000 mobile seasonal schools across the state? Why are the Educational Volunteers (Teachers) made to work as bonded labourers? If the Government gives risk allowance and extra salary to doctors willing to work in far flung areas under NRHM, why these poor educated youth are ignored? The Chief Minister, School Education Department, especially the Minister concerned should look into this matter.
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 01:58:19 +0000
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