Education
Strategy
Children of Seasonal Migrants
Progress in 2005
AIF worked with 6 partners in three states:
- In Maharashtra with Janarth on sugar cane migrations (since 2003)
- In Gujarat, with Setu on salt pan and other mixed migrations (since 2004), with Cohesion Foundation Trust on marine salt pan migrations (2005), and with Yusuf Mehrally Centre on fisheries-related migrations (2005).
- In Orissa with Lokadristi & Vikalpa on brick kiln migrations (since 2004). The Orissa work extends to Andhra Pradesh. This year, three more NGOs based in Bolangir – Adhikar, RCDC and Jan Mukti Andolan have also been brought on board to expand coverage.
- These programs are done in partnership with the Banyan Tree Foundation and the Paul Hamlyn Foundation. In the past year, AIF is engaging with ActionAid, DFID, UNDO, ILO, and academics from JNU, TISS, IDS Sussex, and some others in India.
Broadly, the following education activities were undertaken:
- Covering migrant children through:
- Seasonal hostels in the sending areas to prevent migration of children.
- Schools at the work sites (receiving areas) for those who still migrate, and linking them to schools in the migrants’ villages (sending areas) so as to complete the education cycle.
- Bridge courses in the sending areas for children not covered by either of the above upon their return from migration.
- Strengthening government schools in sending villages, in terms of functioning and quality of teaching learning (in stages)
- Ensuring enrolment and retention of non migrant out-of-school children in the villages as well, so as to move towards universal coverage.
- Advocacy with local, district and state and central government to focus on these children, and include them in Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) planning. Trying to access SSA funds for these projects.