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Tamil Nadu

NGO running school for tribals in tight corner

S. Natarajan

Waiting for food charge arrears of Rs.17.60 lakh

Tribal students from Jawadu Hills forced to stay at hostels
Hostel can be run only if government sanctions grant for additional students at an increased rate

JAMUNAMARATHUR: The Society for Rural Development (SFRD), a non-governmental organisation that runs a government-aided school to educate tribal students of Jamunamarathur in Jawadu Hills, is facing a financial constraint. It is waiting for the State government to release food charge arrears of Rs.17.60 lakh for two academic years for the tribal students who have been staying in a hostel run by the organisation.

K. Arjunan, secretary, SFRD, said that the NGO would be forced to close down the hostel if the funds were not released immediately. The organisation had helped to increase the literacy rate among the tribals of Jawadu Hills.

The Secretary of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department in 1998 extended 50 per cent educational grant to the SFRD. Subsequently, in 2005, the department extended 100 per cent educational grant, based on the recommendation of the Tiruvannamalai Collector. The department realised that if the grant was not released, the SFRD would be forced to close down the school, which, in turn, would affect the education of the tribals.

There are 1,462 students studying in the school.

Mr. Arjunan said the school was situated in a reserved forest area. Most of the villages in the Jawadu Hills were not connected by road. Hence the students were forced to stay in the hostel to pursue education. Taking note of the situation, the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department had sanctioned hostel facility for 200 tribal students in 2005. Accordingly food charge amount of Rs.200 a month was sanctioned for each of the 200 students staying in the hostel run by the SFRD. Hence, a sum of Rs. 4 lakh was sanctioned for the academic year 2005-2006.

Subsequently the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department sanctioned hostel facility for an additional 200 students. Added to this, in 2006, the food charge for each student was increased from Rs.200 to Rs.300 a month. A Government Order, issued by the department, said that it had been decided to increase the food charge for the resident students of the SFRD on a par with the government-run hostels for the tribal students. Though the food charge had been increase by Rs.100 per student, the State government had, so far, not released the additional amount.

Mr. Arjunan said that the State government was not releasing the additional funds despite repeated representations. Similarly, request had been made to the authorities concerned to extend other facilities such as uniform, lab, computer, warden, cook, night watchman, gas connection and electricity charge. But no action was taken.

He said that in 2007 a GO was issued whereby from the academic year 2007-2008 the resident students in the SC/ST hostels were entitled to a food grant of Rs.400 each, every month. SFRD resident students were also entitled to enjoy this benefit. The NGO would be in a position to run the hostel only if it received grant for additional students at an increased rate. At present there were a total of 405 students in the hostel. The State government had to release arrears amount of Rs.17.60 lakh for two academic years 2006-2007 and 2007-2008.

Mr. Arjunansaid, “ the government should realise that the hostel facility is a must to strengthen the tribal education in Jawadu Hills. If this facility is not provided, there will an increase in the dropout rate.”

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