The largest and most populous state of the country flanked by the two great rivers - the Ganga and the Yamuna is divided into 75 districts. The State has seen emergence and establishment of many faiths, rituals and cultures along its many cities. It is also one of the five states of the country that face enormous developmental challenges.
I travelled from Udham Singh Nagar to Bareilly to Lucknow to document Actionaid’s initiatives in the Right to Total Education . The unequal opportunities in education, impacts the lives of girls who are the most disadvantaged, particularly from marginalised groups such as scheduled castes, schedule tribes and Muslim minorities.
Government primary school Matkota, Gadarpur in Udham Singh Nagar was started for the families of Buksa tribal’s, displaced from Haripura Reservoir. All 27 children belong to the disadvantaged section. Except for the school building there is an absence of many basic facilities in the school. Lack of a permanent teacher and a proper link road to the school affects the quality of education. Young children walk from their villages through a difficult jungle area to reach school every day.
Sakar, a local NGO working on education rights (with support of action aid) in Dhabura, Bareilly are ensuring the mid-day meals are being provided to the children daily. This in turn has been able to attract children to a dilapidated school building with a two dedicated school teachers. The enthusiasm of the teachers make up for the lack of basic amenities at the school. The eager and joyous faces of children express the change these teachers have brought to their lives.
The Government decided to encourage child attendance in schools by distributing uniforms for each student, in primary school Faridpur, Kandhai Madhavpur, Lucknow. Young Muslim girl children still face challenges in order to access their right to basic education program. Usma started going to school because of the mid-day meal. She has slowly begun to enjoy studying and aspires to be a teacher one day.