 EDUCATION FOR WOMEN'S EQUALITY

11.1 The content and processes of education are being modified to introduce the value of women's equality at all stages of education, in formal as well as non-formal areas. The NCERT has already prepared:

- Exemplar materials for women's equality units in curricula; and

- Special modules on women's equality for use in the programme for Mass orientation of School Teachers (The existing text books are also being screened by the NCERT to avoid sexist bias).

11.2 A project entitled 'MAHILA SAMAKHYA'- "Education for women's Equality" based on NPE and POA to be implemented in ten selected districts in U.P., Gujarat and Karnataka, has been formulated. The project proposal has been prepared in cosultation with the State Govts. academic interested in women's issues and women's issue and women development workers. The main features of the project are as under:

(i) The project envisages a comprehensive programme of women's development and views the problem of women's development and views the problem's women's education as linked with overall improvement in women's status;

(ii) To substantially enhance participation of girls in elementary education, local women will be appointed as teachers, effective non-formal education programmes will be launched and the necessary inputs from other Departments will be obtained;

(iii) An activity, called Mahila Sangha Centre is envisaged essentially as a place for education, recreation and the forum for the understanding of the process of development to enable women to actively participate in it;

(iv) Special Vocational and pre-vocational programmes will be introduced in girls' secondary and higher secondary schools. These courses will be related to the work opportunities in the region. A variety of non-formal' vocational courses will also be organised;

(v) A district Resource Unit for Adult and Non-formal Education will be set up in the districts concerned. This will train AE/NFE instructors, village school teachers and other educational workers. This unit will become a part of the DIET as and when it is set up;

(vi) A Mahila Shikshan Kendra- Residential condensed course Institution will be set up in the districts covered - where facilities will be provided for 100 women to upgrade their educational qualifications;

(vii) In each project district, there will be a strong wing on women's education. Academics interested in women's development and women activists will have a dominant say in this wing. The programmes meant for women's development will be closely monitored and arrangements provided for introduction of mid-term correctives.

11.3 This project has been approved by the Expenditure Finance Committee. An appraisal mission appointed by the Government of Neatherlands has also submitted a positive report. It is expected that an agreement between the Government of India and the Government of Neatherlands will be signed shortly.

11.4 In order to implement the programme, a consultant has been appointed and autonomous societies are being registered in the three States.

11.5 Training programme for village level activists and Sahayoginis have been conducted in a few districts. The State Programme Coordinators have been selected by the Govts. of Gujarat and Karnataka. They are in the process of selecting District Coordinators.