VARHAD now has under its umbrella, a group of local non-governmental organizations and CBOs (Community Based Organizations) to work in tandem with each other, towards the progress of marginalized youth and illiterate communities.
The community-based work developed by VARHAD is entirely supported and looked highly upon, by all the local communities.
We have a network of over twenty-five local NGOs and CBOs within the district of Amravati.
VARHAD provides technical support and capacity building for their effective functioning, to address various social issues, owing to its immense experience in the area of the (CJS) Criminal Justice System.
This network has a common pre- decided social work agenda apart from the agenda of each individual organization. It also addresses issues of vulnerable groups susceptible to criminal activities.
Some common agendas include making the common masses aware of their constitutional and legal rights and empowering them to access these rights through various mechanisms.
This network also involves itself in eradicating illiteracy, overall progress of rural and marginalized communities, by providing them a decent livelihood hand in hand with socially responsible corporate organizations.
FOCUS AREAS
MITRA has already begun its operations by providing much needed vocational training at five marginalized slum areas, within the Amravati district. These vocational centers, enjoy full occupancy since its recent inauguration.
While employment would remain one of its major focuses, MITRA also plans to fiercely lobby for improved educational opportunities for deprived children.
We want to increase awareness amongst the poor and marginalized population as regards their constitutional right to free, primary education (of good quality).
Right to Education is a fundamental and human right, and every child must have access to relevant education.
In today’s day and date, it is reasonable to assume, that being successful in the world is not possible without adequate written and spoken fluency in English.
Our plan is to bring attention to the colossal wastage of government resources in running local Marathi, Urdu and even Hindi medium schools. We have statistics to prove that there are more than 60 municipal schools around Amravati, each of which have an occupancy rate of less than 25%.
For example, most state run schools have an average of approximately 26 classrooms per building, and a capacity to educate 5000 students at a time. The current scenario is that only 3-4 classrooms per school, are in use. This means that majority of the State funds are being allocated towards paying teachers salaries, and not towards reaching and teaching the maximum number of children.
The reason for these classrooms lying empty is that they do not offer good quality education in the English medium. Hence even under-privileged families (including domestic workers) struggle to send their wards to expensive private educational institutions.
The reason for the poorest of the poor seeking private institutions is their hope of improving the lives of their children, through access to the English language, which is regarded as the big ticket to success.
Municipal corporations at the Zilla Parishad or State level should provide quality education to all kids, so that their mothers who sometimes earn as little as 2000 per month doing domestic jobs, need not spend a significant chunk of their earnings on private institutions, for what is their fundamental right.
MITRA demands compulsory and free ‘English medium’ education for all children, in government aided schools, in accordance with the Right to Education Bill passed by the Indian Government, a few years ago.
One of MITRA main objectives includes the access of good quality education those who cannot afford to pay for it.
It aims to sensitize the masses, and make the government aware that while languages such as Urdu, Hindi, Marathi will continue to be taught in their schools, the major focus will be on changing the medium of instruction to English.
Immediate steps:
Besides lobbying for changes mentioned above, MITRA plans provide immediate access by partnering with the Municipal Corporation to provide high quality education. The aim is to immediately utilize the current wasted infrastructure at government run institutions, until further legislation is passed.
