TWENTY POINT PROGRAMME AND
 ACCESS TO EDUCATION FOR THE
 DISADVANTAGED
 

14.1.0 Under point of No.10 of 20-point programme, 1986, the progress in elementary education -- formal, nonformal and adult education is monitored in physical and financial terms with respect to pre-determined enrolment targets. Physical progress report for elementary and adult education for the year 1990-91 along with evaluation reports on content of education, Non-formal education and value oriented education was sent to the ministry of Programme Implementation. Statewise enrolment targets for elementary and adult education for the year 1991-92 were fixed. Half-yearly phisical and financial progress reports for the period April-September, 1991 were sent to the Ministry of Programme Implementation.

Education of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes

14.2.1 The year 1990-91 was the centenary year of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar. The National Committee which was set up under the chairmanship of then Prime Minister for the Centenary Celebrations decided that the Programmes for the development of SCs and STs would continue for one more year, i.e., 1991-92. Department of Education has issued instructions to organisations under its control to take up programme and activities for celebrating the birth centenary in a befitting manner and extend these activities to the current year also. The Programme includes panel discussion, seminars, essay competitions, publications of Dr.Ambedkar's biography and anthology of his works, etc. Monitoring Committees were set up to review the enrolment of SCs and STs in higher education institutions. Department of Education was represented in the sub-Committees connected with the National Committee on celeberation of Dr. B.R.Ambedkar's centenary.

14.2.3 Minister of Human Resource Development held a meeting with the Members of Parliament belonging to Scheduled Tribes on August 30, 1991 and discussed issues relating to education and literacy of Scheduled Tribes. The Members of Parliament gave their views on various aspects of education of Scheduled Tribes. These have been brought to the notice of all concerned agencies for their implementation.

14.2.4 The thrust on removal of disparities and equalisation of educational opportunities by catering to specific needs of SCs and STs were continued. Under the schemes of Operation Blackboard, Non-Formal Education, Adult Education, etc., States were advised to give high priority to selection of blocks which have large concentration of SCs and STs. Out of the total enrolment of 18,600 students in 275 Navodaya Vidyalayas in class VI during the academic year 1991-92, the number of SC and ST students accounted for 19 per cent and 11 per cent respectively as against their population percentages of 15 and 7.5

192

respectively.

14.2.5 The scheme of upgradation of merit of SC/ST students started in 1987-88 continued to be under implementation through States/UTs. Under this scheme, remedial coaching is given in classes IX - XII, and special coaching in classes XI and XII for preparing them for competitive examinations.

14.2.6 Other facilities like reservation of seats in educational institutions (15% for SCs and 7 1/2% for STs), relaxation in qualifying marks in entrance examinations, reservation in pre-matric scholarships, freeships in Kendriya Vidyalayas, reservation in University level research fellowships, research associateships, teacher fellowships, etc., were continued.

14.2.7 The Indian Institutes of Technology operate a scheme under which candidates belonging to SCs and STs, who fail in the Joint Entrance Examinations by very slender margin of marks, are given further training and admitted to relevant courses.

14.2.8 The Special Component Plan for Scheduled Castes (SCP) and Tribal Sub-Plan fo Scheduled Tribes (TSP) of Department of Education for the Eighth Five Year Plan and Annual Plan 1992-93 were prepared. The proposed outlays under SCP and TSP of Eighth Five Year Plan account for 13.39 and 9.72 percentages respectively, of the divisible outlay of the Department of Education.

Education of Minorities

14.3.1 The Department of Education constituted a Group on Education of Minorities on July 23,1990. Its terms of reference were:

(a) To review the recommendations and suggestions made by the various Ministries/Departments of the Centre and the States, Societies and organisations in respect of Minorities Education; and

(b) To make recommendations on some measures which may be taken by the Central Government in the immediate future.

14.3.2 The Group submitted its report to the Government on January 15, 1991. An Empowered Committee was set up in March 1991 to take decisions/views on the recommendations of the group Minorities Education. The Empowered Committee submitted its report in September, 1991.

193

Coaching Classes

14.3.3 The UGC continued to implement the scheme of providing assistance to universities and colleges for coaching students from educationally backward minorities. Coaching is given for preparing the students for competitive examinations. The scheme is being implemented in twenty Universities and 33 colleges. The UGC Sub- Committee on coaching classes for minority communities has constituted a small Committee to monitor and review the progress.

Review of Textbooks

14.3.4 School text-books are being reviewed from the point of view, inter alia, of removal of untouchability, casteism and communalism. The programme of evaluation is now overseen by a national level Steering Committee.

Community Polytechnics

14.3.5 All the 41 minority concentration districtrs identified in the Programme of Action have been covered by Community Polytechnics or their extension centres.

Education of Women

14.4.1 As brought out elsewhere in the report, enrolment of girls as a ratio of total enrolment during 1990-91 is only 41.4 per cent at primary stage, 37.4 per cent at middle stage, 33.0 per cent at secondary and higher secondary stage and 33.3 per cent at Higher Education stage.

14.4.2 All-out efforts were made during the year for improving girls/women's participation in Education. Details of specific steps are presented below:

Under the Scheme of Operation Blackboard, Government of India has provided assistance since 1987-88 for creation of 93,303 posts of primary school teachers mainly to be filled by women. According to the latest reports, 69,926 posts of teachers have been filled up of which 57.39 per cent are women teachers.

Ninety per cent assistance was given for NFE Centres meant for girls,. The cumulative number of NFE Centres for girls is 81,282.

The Mahila Samakhya (Education for Women"s Equality) Project has been under implementation in the States of Gujarat, Karnataka and Uttar Pradesh with the main objective of motivating women to participate in education and providing non-formal, adult and vocational education to them.

194

By conscious action, admission of girls to the extent of 28.00 per cent in Navodaya Vidyalayas has been ensured. (Number of girls in these Vidyalayas is 22,222 as against the total of 78,149).

Special attention was given to enrolment of women in Adult Education Centres. Under the Rural Functional Literacy Programmes, out of 16.77 lakh adult illiterates enrolled, 9.14 lakh persons were women (54.50%).

195