GIFT THE GIFT OF EDUCATION TO AN UNDER-SERVED GIRL

Access to skill training – economic opportunities for women

 Empowering community specially women, adolescent girls through Gyantantra Digital Dost – Literacy India`s Holistic software which is multimedia based covers a curriculum for primary education) and Vocational Training like computer Education (CCC, a certified course), Tailoring, weaving as Vocation to provide employability and sustainable livelihood opportunity.

About Village – Jawar , Tehsil- Monoharthana , District: Jhalawar, Rajasthan

 Overview:  Jawar is small village located in Manohar Thana Tehsil of Jhalawar district, Rajasthan with total 410 families residing. The Jawar village has population of 2246 of which 1107 are males while 1139 are females as per Population Census 2011.  The village population having Schedule Caste (SC) 12% while Schedule Tribe (ST) were 5 % of total population in Jawar village. In Jawar village out of total population, 1213 were engaged in work activities. 90 % of workers Main Work (Employment or Earning more than 6 Months) while 17.56 % were involved in Marginal activity providing livelihood for less than 6 months. Of 1213 workers engaged in Main Work, 460 were cultivators (owner or co-owner) while 380 were Agricultural labourer. 

Most of the villages under Manoharthana Talukas are small and having employment issues. Most of the population engaged in marginalized work. Sadla and Manoharthana are two areas also in Rajasthan in Jhalwar district. These two areas are different in natural vegetation compared to desert lands of other parts of Rajasthan. It has substantially greener land . The area is historically rich and also blessed with monsoon rains. It is located on the borders of Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh, considerably 3 Km distance from Madhya Pradesh. The nearest Railway station is Kota which is at a distance of 200 KM from Manoharthana. The taluka head quarter of Manoharthana is in the old fort of Bhil King. The taluka has four main gates till date and total habitation build-up within the fort area.

The analysis showed that this area is suffering from scope of higher education, the nearest college is about 50km away. The lack of access and opportunities for livelihoods forced the inhabitants for migration. Male folks are dependent on agriculture, however it is seasonal. Few are engaged into tobacco manufacturing. Few families are weavers but they cannot run weaving as they failed to compete with modern system. Women are basically engaged into domestic chores.

 Realizing the need for development, Literacy India started its operation to offer convenience of education and also provision of sustainable livelihoods through proper training. General analysis and observations show that there are hidden talents for stitching and tailoring in this village and nearby villages, just a proper training to make them skilled is required. Women are also interested to take part in stitching & tailoring programme to support their families.

 Choices for earning a decent living. 

Literacy India did the baseline survey to start the vocational training project to create sustainable livelihood and income generation program.  The baseline analysis showed that the lack of access and opportunities for livelihoods forced the inhabitants for migration in search of work. Male folks are dependent on agriculture, however it is seasonal. Women are basically engaged into domestic chores. Realizing the need for development, Literacy India started its operation to offer convenient education and also provision of sustainable livelihoods through proper training. General analysis and observation shows that there is always hidden talent for stitching and tailoring in this village and nearby villages as well, just a proper training to make them skilled is all it required. Women are also interested to take part in stitching & tailoring programme to support their families. Typical an average student of Stitching saves close to Rs.500/- a month if they stitch their own clothes and also take orders from the community, working from home without any overhead cost, the woman beneficiary can earn close to Rs 1500 to Rs 2000/ a month which can help a house hold in a rural surroundings a great deal.

 Literacy India Learning Centre Jawar , Sadla & Manoharthana

Literacy India learning center consists of ICT based Digital learning for children, Karigari Vocational Training of Tailoring & Stitching, Weaving for community both men and women, Computer Learning  courses for youth, Proving Agriculture techniques for both men and women farmers. The centralized objective of the program is to provide Education for Children and Livelihood Skill training for the community, so that they are able to earn sustainable livelihood. 

A quick glance of activities undertaken during Period 

• Survey and identification of beneficiaries
• Assessment of skill for beneficiaries
• Set up with equipment’s and required particulars to initiate the project
• Human resource- recruitment of trainers
• Regular ongoing training for every centers
• Regular centre visit and review meetings
• Need assessment of community
• Skill mapping of beneficiaries

 Impact of the project:

• Out of 24 enrolled women 22 attended the classes regularly
• 6 have started working actively in the community.
• They are able to earn 1000-1500 per month and it decent amount for rural area.
• Knowledge and skill upgrade among the trainees.
• 24 children enrolled under GDD (Digital Education) for two batches at Sadla.
• Children achieved successfully academic level.
• Block development officer has permitted to work in the Govt. school directly to reach more children and increase impact.

 Outcomes and Impact

•  Community bonding established
• Community response increased leading to mobilization
• Changes in awareness, knowledge, skills observed
• Increase in the number of people reached (directly & indirectly)
• Changes in behaviour & community capacity
• promotion 

 Way Forward

• Planning and execution for advance training of skilled beneficiaries 
• Women’s financial literacy workshops are planned for next  quarters
• Motivating more Grown up Girls into Livelihood opportunity programs
• Facilitating women, to start own business in entrepreneurship model through which the community get benefited. 
• Assisting beneficiaries into revenue generation activities.
• Providing more access and Job orientation exposure. Survey for new beneficiaries to continue the project activities

 Overall Impact of project:

• For the beneficiaries
• Better employability & mobility
•  Higher productivity, wages and less exploitation
•  Identity, improved social status & Pride
•  Easier to get loans for self-employment from various financial Institutions

 For the organization

• Improved Quality & Productivity
•  Less downtime
• Compliance with Quality Assurance systems
•  Availability of skilled workforce helps in getting work done

  Stories of support:

  Name: Savitri  ( Name changed)  Age: 40        Location : Jawar Rajasthan

Savitri is a 40 year old women and lives with her family in Jawar. She left the school due to poor financial condition of the family. She has a sharp mind and quick learning skill. She joined Literacy India learning center in March   2015 now she has completed her 5 month course and simultaneously started work at home.  She is able to stich variety of cloths and shopping bags also after completion of training is willing to start small shop at home. She has started the process and have potential to start home based business.

 Name: Aarti (Name changed) Age: 12 Class IV

Aarti Kamari, age 12 belongs to small village of Sadla, Rajasthan, her father is driver and mother is house wife. Aarti enrolled in Gyantantra Digital Dost Programme in February 2015.  As per Pre-Assessment her math was average, she able to do three digit addition with carry, but she has problem in subtraction although she not able to read and write two letter word in English, not able to read paragraph properly.  After completion of program, she was able to read language Hindi with fluency

Aarti is fast learner, energetic and very dynamic in class, she is currently going to Govt. school in Grade IV and side by side she also taking Gyantantra class, Literacy India empowered her and now feel confident. After attending six month Gyantantra Digital Class, she can recite and easily read and write the English small sentences. In future she aspires to be teacher to help other to rise and shine.

Links:

• Literacy India Project Nandini