Research Scholar, CMJ University, Shillong, Meghalaya

India, a country considered a second populated country in the world happens to lack in education and this being the cause for its backwards. It’s seen as stumbling obstruction towards its achievement inclusive development. “India has about 550 million people under the age of 25 years out of which only 11% are enrolled in tertiary institutions compared to the world average of 23%.”- Statistics given in a symposium conducted by Jazan University. The education system utilized in the modern era is being criticized and the reason being the lack of relevance of the material contributing less to the development of the Nation as a whole. When one thinks about the Educational policy of that of the Ancient India, in the name of Gurukuls, it happened to be of high respect where the students were taught the subject of their relevance. Basically any system happens to undergo criticism. With the educational it’s the same and the allegations happen to come from parents, teachers and students. As far as the students are concerned they feel that they are overloaded and overburdened. Teachers feel that they have to update themselves and for which they aren’t paid enough. And then comes the paying lot and they are the parents who feel that their child isn’t getting 99.99% of which they take so much pains. Educational system has been divided in many levels like the pre- primary level, primary level, elementary education, secondary education, under graduate level, post graduate level. The foundation starts from the primary level and through it the students get into secondary level, which happens to decide their graduation. The ancient India had well known and important Universities like Taxilla, Vikramshila and Malinda where in many students stay and gain Knowledge. And in the present India the most tempting part of Indian educational system is that it has many foreign students coming down to many prestigious institution such as Institute of technology [IIT], Indian Institute of Management [IIM], Indian Institute of Science, National Law Schools, Jawaharlal University and many more.

Distance Education proves to be a boon to the working professionals and housewives who had to quit their education for some crucial reasons. And there are many financial aids provided for economical backward community. The thought of caste always rules the country, even though India is a secular and democratic country, but. The Forward caste remains the caste for certain reservations and the backward caste or say Scheduled caste or the scheduled Tribe deprived of the same. The lists of reservations are subject to changes from time to time depending on the social, economic or educational needs. There was need for education and skill development of the SC community in order to elevate them from the grounds of poverty. The decadal changes of the growth of the level of SC /ST education show the level of literacy in India. The following figure shows the percentage of literate and illiterates in SCs and STs in India: The below chart shows the percentage of literates in Scheduled Caste’s in rural and urban areas: The below chart shows the percentage of illiterates in Scheduled Tribe’s in rural and urban areas: The percentage of literates of SCs has increased from 10.27% in 1961 to 23.76% in 1991. The literate males was 16.96% in 1961 which reached 49.91% during 1991 leaving thereby a gap of more than 50% illiterate population to be covered under the programmes of literates (Chatterjee, 2000). The percentage of literates of females in SCs was 3.29% during 1961 which reached to 20.47% during the period 1961-1991. The percentage of literates of STs was 8.53% during 1961 which, now reached to 29.60% during 1991. During the year 1961 STs of males was having literacy 13.83% which increased to 40.65% during the year 1991. The STs of females was 3.16% during 1961 which increased to 18.19% during the year 1991 leaving thereby a gap of more than 80% illiterate females to be covered under programmes of literates (Beetle, 2000). A comparative table of SCs and STs Percentage of literates in rural-urban areas is given below:- The literacy level of SC / ST indicates the inter – state variation also. The highly literary state in India happens to be Kerala in both male and female followed by Tirpura, Maharashtra, Gujarat and so on. The SC / ST lag usually behind their non- SC/ST counterparts. Usually the SC children attain their education till their primary level and sixty percent of them drop down, whereas the non – SC/ ST go further with their higher studies. And going further twenty percent complete their secondary education and the rest twenty trying to complete their graduation. On the contrary with the non - SC almost 75% continue with their secondary and ninety percent their graduation, this being irrespective of urban or rural, male or female etc. Inspite of the decline of the drop outs of these SC in the last few decades the gaps between the SC and non – SC also seemed to have widened this happens to be a clear indications that it is because of the school retention methods differently allocated for the SC and non SC. None can deny the fact that the constant drop out or lack of SC children in higher education is basically due to their poverty and discrimination. Though at large scale the discrimination has ruled out by the government but it still occupies a major space in the minds and hearts of people around. After higher education the non – SC venture into business either within the family or outside and very few struggle as their background being strong from their ancestors. In comparison to the non – SC the children of the SC/ ST background have to form their own world by lots of struggles as they usually lack the pamper of the family background like their counter parts In order to bring more number of students to schools especially those under poverty line mid – day meal were introduced by the Government. They make it a point that the SC/ST community gets the major benefit if they reserve few seats for them and above all to make education easier at this level the routine pattern of judging the students knowledge in 3 hrs was also not considered as necessary till primary

As already discussed it is the poverty due to which the children of SC/ST are not able to compete unlike their counterpart. So the major thing to be dealt will be to help them to come out of this poverty line. Due to this many children leave their studies and prefer to go to hunt for a job and some don’t do higher studies due to the fee structure. It would be of great help for these children through some monetary help from banks or few non- profit oriented organizations. The government also should seclude a sum for this purpose. Apart from money there happens to be an essential thing which is required for the Dalit community students to increase their self – confidence and that is the non – discrimination of the SC from the non – SC. This can be expected from institutions only. Though the SC is been given few reservations but the institution fails to follow it to the extent it is supposed to. Students to be carefully identified so that the resource offered by the government is mainly utilized which will in turn provide valuable impact to the fellow students. Along with this special coaching should be provided for the SC / ST class to clear few exams, and these coaching classes to be absolutely free of cost. No one from the educational background to be sensitive to the caste system, rather there should be no way or no path through which the caste system move between the knowledge grounds. Many SC students happen to compare themselves in terms of books, dress living extra with the forward class children and this always shows a major devasting difference and it is the great need of the Dalit children to stand by in the eyes of their non – Dalit friends. There should be a positive discrimination for the Dalit in the admissions in schools, colleges or at the place of their work. The Government should roll out some baseline data to find out if firms and institutions stick to the order levied on them. The Government should also see to it that there is a decent amount of incentive provided to the families of a Dalit child in rural areas so as make it more easy for the family for their livelihood. The foundation of every country becomes stronger only by the youth community and the youth community’s strength lies in the hand of their education. It is assumed that their education in future will give them financial security in the form of job they acquire. To make this come true the education system should undergo a drastic change. This change is required because the education at present gives only The last important requirement of a SC / ST student is a place to stay. Government has come forward with hostels to provide accommodation with facilities so that the students can have a peaceful atmosphere to study.

Any meaningful answer should be based on the provision of Education for the Dalit in India. There can be few complications in order to bring it to action, but facing them and successfully coming out with proper solution. The Government has come out with few policies in order to make the SC/ ST’s educations journey more smooth and easy. To state a few of them will be, free access of the minority community in all non –minority institutions. There happens to be no different colour forms to indicate the caste of an applicant but few institutions do possess them not to decline admission but to give more privilege and reservations to the underprivileged community in the basis of monetary. Along with the monetary assistance there happen to be reservations on seat also. The SC/ ST community is given around 65% of seat reservation and in few states even more. The below table shows the literacy rates and scheduled caste and scheduled tribes population:

members are not aware of the benefits they can gain so an officer is been allocated so as to inform them and given them awareness on the same. Different Cell has been made responsible and they circulate brochures and pamphlets so as to educate the targeted crowd. An anti- discrimination Cell also swing in action for this. Mid – Day scheme has increased the enrolment of children in Primary level. However cooperation is being expected from the teachers as the small minds are attending the school not only for the development of their soul but also of that of their body. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan – SSA supports or say helps these groups for the accommodation of theirs to be hygienic and beneficial. Text books, workbooks and raw materials for their education should be provided by the Governmental institutions at nominal and affordable prices and mostly free. Along with the text books, bags, notebooks and even school uniforms are provided for free for students who are in government firms and for others as much as possible at nominal price. No wonder even footwear also be a part of the free gifts. The below table shows the Increase in Literacy rate of Total Population SC/ST during 1961-1991: Funds are provided to the students based on their marks in the name of scholarships so as to encourage the students to work hard as so as to make it possible for them to complete their dreams with the little monetary assistance they gain. In order to encourage the family of the unprivileged class monetary help for them also is given so that they don’t force their young ones for child labour. As the increase in education among the SC / ST happens so as the increase in drop outs. To bring down the drop out levels proper awareness to be provided about the higher level of education so that the increase is constant and there is great use of o many policies levied by the Government.

The goal in order to build the Nation, India has been committed to provide free education and compulsory education to all the children and making it a right for policies from the growth of SC/ ST group. The scheme of post – matric scholarship prevails to be the highlight of various government efforts in the field of education. Education in India is being provided by private and public sectors maintained by Central, State and private institutions. The new right has been legally provided and it is to ensure that all children get access to education and once the students get enrolled then the school automatically gives assurance for quality education so that the particular students get the required education and get placement and further be sure of getting a decent life style in the forthcoming years. Along with proper education the food, shelter and financial assistance is been taken care of by the Government directly or by non – profitable organization and sometimes the media and the rich personalities come forward for the assistance and the growth of few villages on the whole or in parts. There are many who come forwards to take care of students who are not able to take their education further ahead but possess great capacity and potentiality. As far as the reservation for women is concerned it’s given more preference than the male and about 33% reservation happens to be at their par. Separate hostel facility with much care is at their hand. And there happens to be a special officer taking care that, these programs reach the right candidate at right time. Special tuitions and nurturing been given o the Dalit as a part of social work by few well – known and well organized associations. Only thing to be taken care is that these tuitions give them a lot more than education like personality development, leadership qualities, soft skills etc.

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