Out of School Children: A Compilation on the Educational Status of Maharashtra’s Nomadic and Denotified Tribes

Between 2006-07 and 2013-14, a total of 22.69 lakh children were not enrolled in schools, indicating a significant number of children deprived of education for eight years. Despite the implementation of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education Act on April 1, 2010, approximately 6.07 lakh children remained out of school between 2010-11 and 2013-14.

According to UNICEF data from May 2009, 41 per cent of children in Maharashtra had dropped out of school while 59 per cent had never been enrolled in school.

The dropout rate among students belonging to Nomadic Tribes (NT) and Denotified Tribes (DNT) was higher compared to other minority communities. According to the survey conducted by Sangharsh Wahini, 75 per cent of children from NTs and DNTs who resided in pal podas or Pardhi bedas have never had the opportunity to attend school.

In the year 2013-14, a total of 117,369 children from NT and DNT communities dropped out of school, the report states. The rate of dropouts is higher in secondary and higher secondary classes compared to primary classes.

The report notes that 27 per cent of children are out of school due to poverty. It adds that 15.6 per cent of children are engaged in domestic work, assisting their parents in work, taking care of siblings, or contributing to household responsibilities. Further, parents considering education unimportant accounts for 5.09 per cent of children being out of school. Around 8.12 per cent children suffer from disabilities or poor health preventing them from attending school whereas 7.61 per cent lack interest in studying.

The average age of marriage for girls in the country is 17.4 years, the report notes. The percentage of teenage (15-19 years old) mothers is 19.1 per cent in rural areas and 8.7 per cent in urban areas. Early marriage is one of the main factors for the high dropout rate among girls – 46 per cent.

The report found that the dropout rates among children from NT, DNT, and Muslim communities were higher due to social exclusion, poverty, socio-economic status and migration.

Noting violations of the Right to Education Act, the report says that 31,377 schools in Maharashtra (30.3 per cent) lacked female teachers. The Act guidelines advocate for a minimum of 50 per cent female teachers, but records indicate that only 43.1 per cent of the employed teachers are women, the report adds.

The report suggests the development of a ‘child tracking system’ which can trace children of school-age who are not enrolled or have dropped out. It also recommends provision of government scholarships for students from the NT/DNT communities.

Advocating for a mobile education system for nomadic communities, the report also speaks for the betterment of their socio-economic status by developing economic schemes and increased representation in government bodies.

Focus and Factoids by Daanish Narayan.