Ekal Vidyalaya

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation
Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation
The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Logo
Abbreviation EVF
Motto A People's Movement
Formation 1986
Type Volunteer organisation
Purpose Education and primary health in tribal and rural India
Headquarters New Delhi, India. Houston, USA
Location
  • India, United States
Region served
India
Website www.ekal.org
Number of schools 65,177[1]
Number of students 1,775,467
EKAL USA
Founder Ramesh Shah
Type 501(c)(3)
77-0554248
Focus Education
Location
  • Houston, USA
Area served
India
Key people
 Ramesh Shah, Ashok Danda, Vinod Jhunjhunwala
Website http://www.ekal.org/

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (literally Foundation of Solo Schools) is a non-profit organization involved in education and village development in rural areas and tribal villages of India.[2][3] It is the largest grassroots, non-government education initiative in India with presence in 51,717 villages providing free education to more than one million children.[2][4]As the name suggests, the model of operation of the Foundation is a single-teacher based school, with the provision of "Ek Shikshak, Ek Vidyalaya" that means "one teacher for every school."[3][5] The individual schools, known as Ekal Vidyalayas, have local teachers who teach in the regional language in various interesting ways using different modes like story-telling, folk dramas, and folk songs.[3] The schools also impart moral education, health care education and organic farming techniques.[6][7][8]

Tata Dhan Academy with Professor Seshadri of the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore recently performed social impact study praised EKAL schools for providing holistic education to children in remote villages.[9] [10]

EVF is actively involved in fund-raising activities in several countries outside India, most notably the United States. The foundation's mission is to open 100,000 schools and eradicate illiteracy from rural and tribal India by 2015.[11][12] A March 2003 report named A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) states that several authors, state governments and social organisations have praised EVF's role in bringing literacy and empowerment to millions of children in rural and tribal areas of India.[13][14] EVF is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.[15][16]

The Ekal Vidyalaya schools were assisted by the NDA Government from 1999–2000 onwards.[17] This was stopped in 2005 by the UPA Government when one of its committees reported irregularities and pursuit of anti-minority agenda in some schools.[17][18] Critics of EVF have said that the schools pursue a Hindu-nationalist agenda and generate hatred towards minorities.[15][19] According to A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), supporters of EVF have stated that the schools do not teach hate, and that they themselves have been the target of a campaign by media and academic networks.[13][20]

Establishment and growth

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (EVF) was established in 1986 by Rakesh Popli, a US-returned Indian nuclear scientist, and his wife Rama Popli, a child education specialist.[5] The couple established the foundation's first single-teacher school in Gumla in Jharkhand (then a part of Bihar).[5] The movement was successful within two years and, in 1989, 60 single-teacher schools were started simultaneously in Dhanbad. By 1995–1996, the foundation was running 1,200 schools in Jharkhand.[5][21] In the 1990s, global support networks were established. The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India was officially registered in 2000 and the EVF-USA was registered soon after.[22]

As of April 2008, there were more than 23,000 schools run by EVF, including 2,100 schools in the North Eastern states.[5][23] The number of schools grew to 27,000 in 2010, 34,000 in 2011 and 51,717 in 2013.[2][24] EVF's goal is to reach 100,000 villages in the India's tribal belt by 2015.[25]

EVF is associated with the Hindu nationalist organisations Vishva Hindu Parishad, which is in turn a member of the Sangh Parivar, the family of organisations run by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).[15][16] A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) points out that some who have been on the board of trustees of the foundation include B. K. Modi, the founder of ModiCorp, Justice P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India; L. M. Singhvi, former High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom; Abid Hussain, former Indian ambassador to the United States.[19][26] The foundation was headed in the past by Subhash Chandra, the Chairman of Essel Group and the founder of Zee TV.[25] Hema Malini, Indian actress and danseuse, has served as the global brand ambassador for the Ekal Vidyalaya movement.[27]

Activities

Education

The Ekal Vidyalayas provide five years of free, non-formal education to children from the age group 6–14 years. A typical school has 30–40 students taught by a local youth who has passed grades 8 or 9 and has been specifically trained. A local organizer looks after a unit of 10 schools, called a "subcluster". Local people are also involved in higher organization levels like a "cluster" (unit of 30 schools), subarea (unit of 90 schools), and area (unit of 270 schools). The classes take place under a tree or in a hut and use informal modes like storytelling, folk dramas, folk songs and religious discourses.[3][28] In A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) this non-didactic approach has been described by Dr. Ramesh Rao and others as "assimilative and respectful of local cultural norms and belief systems".[29] Around half of the students and teachers are females, and about a fifth of the students go on to pursue higher education, some of which return to serve the foundation.[3]

EVF's philosophy is to take a holistic approach to social and economic development, providing primary school education for children, as well as healthcare, livelihoods and empowerment education for the entire village.[30] The schools are primarily organized in small villages among India's tribal groups. The local youth who are trained to operate the schools are social workers and teachers, teaching sanitation and health care, literacy and Hindu nationalism.[31] Each school is run on an annual budget of around 20,000 Indian rupees. At the national level, the schools are organized by Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India. Regionally, Ekal Vidyalayas are run by the Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) and Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad (BLSP) NGOs and by state-level groups such as Janahitha in Andhra Pradesh and Bharatiya Janseva Sansthan in Gujarat.[32][33][34] In addition to teaching children, the schools hold weekly sessions for the village populace to discuss issues like rural development, health and awakening.[32]

Other activities

Along with literacy, Ekal Vidyalaya schools also impart moral education.[6][7] EVF works in tribal areas on health care education with the emphasis on hygiene, treatment of general diseases, maternal and child care. The foundation operates 11,450 health centers in India for people living in rural and tribal India.[8] The foundation distributes medicines to children for the treatment of various diseases.[7] The schools also run a rural development scheme under which use of organic fertilizers is promoted in place of chemical fertilizers.[7] Professional training in agriculture and vermiculture is provided.[28] In May 2011, EVF launched the Vermicompost Project, a pilot project with an aim to introduce self-sustaining practices in 100 poor villages of Orissa and Maharashtra.[35] In December 2011, the Ekal Vidyalaya staff resolved to raise voice against addiction in rural areas.[36]

International fund raising

United States

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA (EVF USA) is active in fundraising. In June 2008, the Atlanta chapter entertained guests with a music program at a fundraising event.[37] In May 2009, the Southern California chapter launched its annual fundraising drive.[38] A benefit concert in Chicago in July 2009 raised $160,000.[39] In September 2009, the San Diego chapter raised about $14,000 at a cultural event featuring music and dance.[40] The organisation announced that a similar event in Dallas in November 2009 had been very successful.[41] In May 2010, a fundraising concert in Chicago was attended by over 600 people and raised pledges of $82,525.[42] The same month, Ekal Vidyalaya raised almost $500,000 from five charity shows in the mid-Atlantic region.[24] As of 2010, EVF USA had 34 active chapters and supported 9,500 out of the 34,343 Ekal Vidyalayas in India. The foundation raised US$3.5 million in 2010. EVF USA organises fundraising programs in 45 cities in the United States, which feature Indian singers or marathons.[14]

Other countries

EVF Australia was set up in 2004.[43] It received the Tax exemption for donation in 2007. As of June 2015 EVF Australia has sponsored 850 Ekal schools. In 2006, the National Hindu Students' Forum (UK) selected Ekal Vidyalaya as the main recipient of fundraising during its annual Sewa Week drive.[44] EVF has around 1,000 donors in Hong Kong.[28]

Recognition and awards

Recognition

EVF's single-teacher school concept and their contribution towards literacy and empowerment in the rural and tribal areas have been praised by several state governments and social organisations in India.[14] Avinash Kaushik, American entrepreneur and author, wrote that foundations like the Smile Train, Doctors Without Borders and Ekal Vidyalaya have done "incredible work" and "they make the world a better place".[45] Digital Learning, a magazine on education, described the non-formal education experiment by EVF in Jharkhand from 1986 to 1995–96 as "extraordinary", noting that literacy rate in Jharkhand doubled in this period, and diseases caused by unhygienic practices, witchcraft and alcoholism declined sharply.[28] The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), a program for health care in rural India run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, approached EVF for imparting healthcare training to women. EVF developed the women-centric "Asha" programme for NRHM in response.[28]

According to A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), Yvette Rosser, American author and scholar, wrote that the Ekal Vidyalaya program has done "incredible work" and "brought literacy to millions of India's children who otherwise would not know how to read and write".[13] Raman Singh, the Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh, praised the work done by Ekal Vidyalayas run by the FTS in 2500 tribal villages of the state in spreading education.[46] In 2009, Yoga guru Swami Ramdev said at the Ekal International Conference in Delhi that the Ekal Vidyalayas are a medium for definite service to God.[47]

Awards

  • 2009. The 7th Meri Dilli Award (My Delhi Award) in the field of literacy by the NNS Media Group, conferred by Yoganand Shastri, the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.[14][48]
  • 2008–09. Best NGO Award for transparency and administration.[49][50]
  • 2007–08. Utkrishtata Samman (Highest Award) by Bharat Vikas Parishad (India Development Council), conferred by retired Indian judges "for excellent services towards empowerment of Vanvasis and villagers."[14][51]

Controversy and criticism

Suspension of government funding

In 2005, a report prepared by an enquiry committee of the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development found that in some Ekal Vidyalaya schools the names of enrolled students had been copied from registers of government-run schools. The schools did not provide reading and learning material, and used funds to "generate hatred toward minorities, and condition the minds of children". The report said the FTS was "misusing these funds, and using the grants for creating disharmony amongst religious groups and creating a political cadre". In May 2005 the Indian government stopped grants to the schools based on this report.[18] Quoting from the report in The Milli Gazette, Mukundan C. Menon noted that the English booklet used to teach second year students in Jharkhand omitted six letters of the alphabet. Menon said the reason was names of Hindu Gods beginning with these letters are not common.[52]

Criticism

In 2002, Sabrang Communications and South Asia Citizens Web published a report named The Foreign Exchange of Hate – IDRF and the American Funding of Hindutva on utilisation of funds by India Development and Relief Fund. The report alleged the VHP-run Ekal Vidyalaya schools had the goal of "Hinduizing" tribals and spreading hatred against Indian minorities.[53][54] In 2005 John Dayal, then president of the All India Catholic Union (AICU) and a member of the National Integration Council expressed concern that the schools were spreading hatred towards members of the Christian minority, in order to "prevent conversions of tribals to Christianity by missionaries."[19] In a 2008 article Angana Chatterji, associate professor of anthropology at California Institute of Integral Studies, identified Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA as one of the charities in the US that had allocated money "disproportionately directed to Hindutva-affiliated groups".[55] In an article in the Daily Times of Pakistan, Khalid Hasan described the Ekal Vidyalayas as having a "curriculum steeped in instilling hatred against non-Hindu religious minorities".[56] Rights activists have claimed that the schools pursue a Hindu-nationalist agenda and generate hatred towards non-Hindu minorities such as Christians.[15]

Response to criticism

In response to the 2002 report published by Sabrang Communications, in March 2003 Ramesh Rao, professor of Communication at Truman State University, and others wrote a report named A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF). In this report, they wrote that "there has been a concerted campaign against the Ekal Vidyalayas by a combination of media and academic networks ... try as they might, they really cannot find anything wrong with the schools".[20] According to Prakash Sharma, media convener of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, "The Ekal vidyalayas are our effort to reach the most deprived areas of the country. Christian missionaries get funds from all over the world: the entire Christian empire backs them. Ours is a completely indigenous effort".[15] François Gautier, French author and journalist, described the Ekal Vidyalayas as "a harmless programme doing wonderful job for tribal children", and questioned why organisations raising funds for them were attacked.[57] A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) quotes Yvette Rosser as saying that "the ladies and gentlemen in the villages who teach in Ekal Vidyalaya schools are not teaching hate".[13] A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) notes that several other authors have praised the schools' role in providing literacy to millions of children, and stated that the schools do not teach hate but have themselves been the target of a campaign by media and academic networks.[13][20]

See also

References

  1. ↑ https://www.ekal.org/
  2. 1 2 3 "Galveston celebrates 'Enchantment of India'". The Times of India. 21 February 2011. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Sharma, Radhika (2 December 2002). "The Gift of Education". India Currents. Retrieved 8 March 2012.
  4. ↑ Indo-Asian News Service (10 September 2008). "मुफ्त शिक्षा देता एक शिक्षक का विद्यालय" [Single-teacher school providing free education] (in Hindi). Josh 18. Retrieved 9 September 2011. देश के 27 हजार गांवों के आठ लाख वनवासी बच्चों को एकल विद्यालय फाउंडेशन मुफ्त शिक्षा उपलब्ध करा रहा है। (Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation is making free education available to 11,00,000 students in 37,000 villages of the country.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Visfot.com (15 April 2008). "शिक्षा और विकास का एकल प्रयास" [Solo effort for education and development] (in Hindi). Visfot.com. Retrieved 9 September 2011.
  6. 1 2 Trakull, Gaurishankar (27 February 2012). "अ, आ के साथ संस्कार भी सिखाएंगे सरकारी स्कूल" [Schools to teach good morals in addition to the alphabet]. Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Fazilka Correspondent (10 February 2012). "एकल विद्यालय में बच्चों को मिलते अच्छे संस्कार" [Good morals imparted to children in Ekal Vidyalayas]. Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  8. 1 2 VRN (28 August 2009). "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Chicago holds fundraising concert". NRI Today. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  9. ↑ "Providing holistic education to children". CNN-IBN. 2 May 2012. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  10. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalayas help increase attendance". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2 May 2012. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 2 May 2012.
  11. ↑ "Mission". Ekal.org. January 2011. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  12. ↑ "History". Ekal.org. Retrieved 10 March 2012.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Rao et al 2003, Appendix K, pp. 160–172.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ekal Foundation Reports Higher Donations in 2010". Indo-American News. 22 April 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  15. 1 2 3 4 5 Vishnu, G (20 April 2011). "Sangh owns one of the fastest growing education projects". Tehelka. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  16. 1 2 Dhar, Aarti (18 March 2004). "Making inroads into the tribal belt". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Archived from the original on 4 February 2009. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  17. 1 2 "Schooling at a different level". The Daily Telegraph. Calcutta, India. 18 August 2005. Retrieved 20 March 2012.
  18. 1 2 Joshua, Anita (19 May 2005). "Centre stops grants to `one-teacher schools'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  19. 1 2 3 Chaterjee, Jacob (19 July 2005). "AICU president suspects Hindu charitable trust of forming anti–Christian schools for Indian tribals". Christian Today. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  20. 1 2 3 Rao et al 2003, Chapter III, Section A, pp. 27–30.
  21. ↑ "About Us". Friends of Tribals Society. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  22. ↑ Tukdeo 2011, p. 85.
  23. ↑ "Urban-rural exchange in Ekal conference". Calcutta, India: The Telegraph. 7 April 2008. Retrieved 13 February 2010.
  24. 1 2 "Ekal collects $420,000 for tribal schools". Rediff News. 11 June 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  25. 1 2 "Essel Cares: Ekal Vidyalaya". Essel Group. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  26. ↑ Rao et al 2003, pp. 27–28.
  27. ↑ "Hema to campaign for Ekal schools, BJP". The Times of India. 17 October 2003. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  28. 1 2 3 4 5 "Ekal Vidyalaya: 'One Teacher, One School, One Village'" (PDF). Digital Learning. NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India: Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd. IV (7): 53–54. July 2008. ISSN 0973-4139. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-06-28.
  29. ↑ Rao et al 2003, p. 7.
  30. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation". Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  31. ↑ Spring 2008, p. 158.
  32. 1 2 Correspondent, Navada. "अब आयी एकल विद्यालय की अवधारणा" [Here comes the concept of Ekal schools] (in Hindi). Prabhat Khabar. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  33. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya aims at taking the school to the children". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 16 July 2007. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  34. ↑ "EKAL VIDYALAYA MOVEMENT". Ekal Vidyalaya India. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  35. ↑ DC Reporter (11 May 2011). "NGO launches programme to help with farming practices". Development Channel. Retrieved 10 September 2011.
  36. ↑ Fazilla Correspondent (30 December 2011). "एकल विद्यालय स्टाफ ने लिया बुराइयों के दमन का प्रण" [Ekal Vidyalaya staff resolves to fight against evils]. Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  37. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation reaffirms peoples' faith". Atlanta Dunia. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  38. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya to Hold Fundraising Program". India Journal. 23 Apr 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  39. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya benefit concert raises $160,000". IndiaPost. 24 July 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  40. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya Holds Fundraiser in San Diego". India Journal. 24 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  41. ↑ "Ekal Dallas Gets One Step Closer to Achieving Mahatma Gandhi's Dream of a Literate India". IssuesWire. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA. 11 November 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  42. ↑ Suresh & Usha Bodiwala (28 May 2010). "Faith and philanthropy is all set to get a new meaning with Ekal Vidyalaya charitable musical concert at Chicago". TribLocal. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  43. ↑ "The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (EVF)" (PDF). NEWS LETTER Vol.5 Jan – Mar 2006. Hindu Council of Australia Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 September 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  44. ↑ "NHSF National Charity 2006–07 – Saraswati Vidyalaya". National Hindu Students Forum (UK). Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  45. ↑ Kaushik 2009, p. 9.
  46. ↑ "वनबंधु परिषद वनांचलों में कर रहा है शिक्षा का प्रचार-प्रसार: डॉ. रमन सिंह" [FTS spreading education in tribal areas: Dr. Raman Singh] (in Hindi). Public Relations Department, Government of Chhattisgarh. 25 January 2012. Retrieved 17 March 2012. मुख्यमंत्री ने समाज सेवी संस्था वनबंधु परिषद द्वारा आदिवासी अंचलों में शिक्षा के प्रचार-प्रसार के लिए किए जा रहे कार्यो की प्रशंसा की।
  47. ↑ "दिल्ली में तीन दिवसीय एकल अन्तरराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन – धरती की ताकत जगाने का प्रयास – अरुण कुमार सिंह" [Three day Ekal International Conference in Delhi – Effort to awaken ground force – Arun Kumar Singh] (in Hindi). Panchjanya. 15 November 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2012. इसका उद्घाटन प्रसिद्ध योग गुरु स्वामी रामदेव ने किया। इस अवसर पर उन्होंने एकल विद्यालय को ईश्वर की साकार उपासना का माध्यम बताया।
  48. ↑ "Vijay Maru bags Meri Delhi Award-2009". Vaish Sansar. 19 December 2009. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  49. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya NJ chapter raises $320,000 for schools in India's tribal areas" (PDF). The South Asian Times. Hicksville, New York, USA. 4 (10): 6. 25 June – 1 July 2008.
  50. ↑ "NJ Chapter of Ekal Vidyalaya raises $320,000". NRI Today. June 2011. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  51. ↑ "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Receives Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) Utkrishtata Samman". Sewa Sandesh. Retrieved 17 March 2012.
  52. ↑ Menon, Mukundan C (2 October 2005). "Another Blow to VHP". The Milli Gazette. Retrieved 2010-12-18. ... only the names of Hindu Gods [sic] were used to teach English alphabet. ... A for Arjun, B for Brahma, C for Cow, D for Dhruva,.G for Ganesh, H.for Hanuman,.J for Jambavan,.M for Mahadev,.O for Om,.R for Ram,.T for Temple, U for Uma. ... Ironically, the letters 'E', 'F', 'Q', 'W', 'X' and 'Z' simply does [sic] not exist in this booklet. ... Reason? No names of Hindu Gods beginning with these letters are readily available!
  53. ↑ Tow, William T.; Chin, Kin Wah (2009). ASEAN, India, Australia: towards closer engagement in a new Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 289. ISBN 981-230-963-2.
  54. ↑ Kurien, Prema A. (2007). A place at the multicultural table: the development of an American Hinduism. Rutgers University Press. pp. 151–153. ISBN 0-8135-4056-9.
  55. ↑ Angana Chatterji (4 October 2008). "It's still religion, stupid". Indian Express. Retrieved 2010-12-18.
  56. ↑ Hasan, Khalid (9 November 2008). "Yet another controversial Obama appointment". Daily Times (Pakistan). Archived from the original on 5 August 2011.
  57. ↑ François, Gautier (11 March 2003). "Heed the New Hindu Mood". Rediff.com. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
Sources

  • Kaushik, Avinash (2009). Web Analytics 2.0: The Art of Online Accountability & Science of Customer Centricity. Hoboken, New Jersey, USA: John Wiley and Sons. ISBN 978-0-470-52939-3.
  • Rao, Ramesh; Narayanan, Komerath; Mehra, Beloo; Raman, Chitra; Ramaswami, Sugrutha; Rao, Nagendra (2003). "A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF)" (PDF). Friends of India and Authors of the Report. Retrieved 5 March 2012.
  • Spring, Joel H. (2008). Globalization of education: an introduction. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 0-415-98946-9.
  • Tukdeo, Shivali (2011). Transnationalizing Indian education: Diasporic networks, politics and participation (Ph.D.). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.