Day 17 – Q 5.Gender equity and social inclusion of disadvantaged groups remain one of the key challenges of education policy in India. Comment. Also examine the initiatives taken by the government to address this challenge.

5. Gender equity and social inclusion of disadvantaged groups remain one of the key challenges of education policy in India. Comment. Also examine the initiatives taken by the government to address this challenge. 

लिंग समानता तथा वंचित समूहों के सामाजिक समावेश को सुनिश्चित करना भारत में शिक्षा नीति के प्रमुख चुनौतियों में से एक है। टिप्पणी करें। इस चुनौती को हल करने के लिए सरकार द्वारा उठाए गए कदमों की भी जांच करें।

Approach

Mention about the importance of “Inclusive Education” for the social economic fabric of Indian Democracy. Make sure your answer is not just women centric but covers – different “Vulnerable Sections” of the society and their relation of being vulnerable due to lack of education and factors for the same. Try to categorize your answer into different sub headings for lack of education, such as 1) Access 2) Afford ability 3) Equity4) Quality.

Also in the latter part analyze the different Government initiatives, implications of the same and ways to improve the reach of Government initiatives to improve “Gender Equity” and “Social Inclusion”

Answer

It is said that inclusive, good quality education is a foundation stone for dynamic and equitable societies. The Socio economic fabric of the society is determined by the way the society treats the most underprivileged and vulnerable sections. Lack of equitable education to all sections of the society – would make India, not take the full advantage of its Demographic Dividend, lack in developing its human resource and eventually lie behind the ladder of development. India needs to have well educated and literate youth, who would stand as “Pillars of its Development”

Article 21A of Indian Constitution being a fundamental right, ensures free and compulsory education for all children up to the age of 14. Articles 29 and 30 also gives certain educational and cultural rights to minorities. Moreover, DPSP, according to article 45 makes a provision for Free and Compulsory education up to the Age of 14 to be given by the state. However, in spite of the magnanimous importance of education in the progress of India and various provisions in the Constitution regarding the same – “Accessible, Equitable, Affordable and Quality Education” to all sections of the society remains a matter of concern, increasing the gap between India and Development. The different sections of the society, lagging behind in terms of “inclusiveness into the mainstream” are- 

1. Women
2. Population of the SC and ST community.
3. Rural vs Urban disparity.
4. Physically Challenged People
5. Trans-genders.       

The Reasons leading to the lack of education to all sections of the society can be categorized as follows-

1)Access 

• Women
• • Lack of Infrastructure such as Roads, toilets, safe transport, proper school buildings, benched and chairs etc.
  • Mental glitch due to Patriarchal mindset- not seeing female education as rewarding, also due to stereotyping the hindrances in women education due to gender crimes such as rape, molestation etc. Low awareness and taboo related to menstrual hygiene also remains a important hindrance.
  • Caste Hierarchy –women from certain high caste as considered to be receiving the fruits of education to a larger extent, than women of lower caste.
• Disabled Population.
  • Lack of Disable friendly infrastructure – lack of books in braille script, lack of ramps in public buildings especially schools and colleges is a major concern.
  • Mental hurdle  and insecurities in the minds of the parents of disable students , keeps them away from the access to education.
  • Mental Health considered to be aberration – receive step motherly treatment , also the societal sensitivities related to the same seems to be lacking from the social fabric of India.
• Population of SC and ST community.
  • In spite of the affirmative action provided by Indian Constitution, huge population of the SC and ST community is away from the benefits of education – due to caste based hierarchies, difference in treatment vis-a-vis the upper castes.
  • Mainly Agricultural community – is more focused on ‘More hands for Work’ approach and deliberately keep the children out of mainstream education. 

2) Afford ability

• Quality and Afford ability are said to be inversely proportional to each other.
• Agricultural Debts, Droughts , etc put education backwards in the priority of spending of rural families
• Income Inequities in different sections of the Society and difference in Rural and urban – earning and spending potential – shows its effect on spending with respect to education.
• Gaps in Reach of Government Schemes and Scholarships to the needed.  

3)Equity 

• It is the measure of achievement, fairness and opportunity in Education.
• It states that factors specific to one’s personal conditions should not interfere with the Potential of Academic success.
• However, In India – equity remains compromised due to-
• • Patriarchal Mindset
  • Caste Based Hierarchies
  • Regional Disparities.
  • Societal fabric.
• Faulty Parameters – Adolescent psychology is not given due importance, Learning is equated with grades and percentages in exams, there is an increased stress and burden of learning, Employability has become the sole objective of learning.
• Lack of Sensitivity also remains are major reason for the same.
• More Quality in Private Schools – but lack of Inclusiveness and Profit based approach and hidden costs make them a inappropriate means to achieve quality education for all sections of the society.
• Marketization of education- It is argued that choices increase in market place and it brings in functional discipline. But, freedom of choice require informed decision making. It is only possible when the system is fair and provides space for it.

The Different Government Programmes started by the Government with respect to the same are – 

1.  Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan – For effective implemention of Article 21 – to provide free and affordable education to all upto the age of 14.
2. Beti Bachao Beti Padhao Yojana- Huge campaign launched for Saving and Educating the girl child in Gender Critical districts.
3. Ujjawala Yojana – To counter trafficking and ensure rescue and rehabilitation of sexual exploitation victims.
4. Jigyasa Initiative – To connect School Students and Scientists.
5. SABLA scheme – All round development of adolescent girls and making them self-reliant.
6. Online Initiatives like 
   1. SWAYAM 
   2. SWAYAM prabha
   3. Shaala Darpan
7. Schemes for Minorities 
   1. Seekho aur kamao – For Skill development and employability of MInorities
   2. USTTAD – To upgrade skills and training for traditional arts.
   3. Padho Pardesh – To give educational loans to study abroad.

Inspite of different initiatives of the Government for Women, Minorities and Disabled – the obstacles of Last Mile Connectivity, cutting edge Corruption, Inclusion and Exclusion errors, Infrastructural bottlenecks makes it a hindrance for the initiatives to reach the masses. Thus, “Affordable, Equitable, Accessible, Inclusive and Quality” education though achieving progress, yet India need to go a long way to achieve the true utilization of its democratic potential.