The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : A literacy revolution of sorts

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Saturday, Jun 21, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

A literacy revolution of sorts

SHG women progress from ‘survival’ to ‘quality’ life

Demand higher education in
SERP-run schools
Income levels of SHG members
take a leap

HYDERABAD: The success story of self help groups (SHGs) in the State has, no doubt, gone a long way in financial empowerment of women, particularly those from the under-privileged sections.

But, the ever-increasing magnitude of the collective action by these SHGs and their federations is putting pressure on the education sector in the State. The SHG members who were hitherto worried about their survival are now concentrating on investing in their children’s education.

As a result, the demand for introduction of higher education at Intermediate and college levels as well as vocational courses in the residential schools run by Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) has gone up significantly. And, the parents are not hesitating to send their girl children to private schools if the facilities in the government schools are not up to the mark.

Success rate

The 88 schools set up as part of a World Bank project comprising 41,000 girls have attracted attention by achieving results in excess of 95 per cent, higher than the government schools and a majority of the children are opting for higher education. Drop-out rate in these schools has come down from 14.8 per cent to 4.3 per cent in the past six years.

“Teachers are under pressure as the parents of these girls are demanding them to perform. The SHG members don’t mind spending Rs. 250 to Rs. 300 a month on the education of their wards in private schools if the facilities in the government-run schools are not adequate,” SERP Chief Executive Officer T. Vijay Kumar told The Hindu.

Though enrolment in schools and the magnitude of their operation appears to be smaller, the change in the lives of women who are now looking for quality life from the earlier worries about survival presents the ‘big picture’. Banks too were coming forward to provide money to the tune of Rs. 5 lakh to these groups, compared to an average of Rs. 50,000 elsewhere in the country, to repay their debts and invest in children’s education.

“It is now for the government to respond and live up to the expectations of the 88-lakh-member-strong SHG movement,” he said.

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Andhra Pradesh