Social capital matters
Dr Rajesh Tandon is Founder President of PRIA, New Delhi
Two months after the lockdown began, schooling for children began online. Teachers were asked to conduct online classes. They were also asked to visit hamlets of poor communities to conduct some face-to-face classes in small groups of 5-6 children in the community itself. In poor neighbourhoods in and around Bhachau (Kutch district of Gujarat), no such awareness about online education existed then. The field staff of a local civil society organization, Unnati, recognized that no education was taking place as government schools were closed due to coronavirus. The schedule for classes on DDGirnar (TV & radio) prepared by the Government of Gujarat was not known to the local community. With the support of some teachers and Sarpanchs, Unnati disseminated this information in the month of July. But it became clear soon that many kids were still not getting an education. A survey conducted with help of local citizen leaders in 30 villages around and 5 wards in Bhachau covering nearly 1000 students of grade 3-8 gave disturbing, yet predictable, results. Nearly 40% of the students, mostly belonging to poor Dalit and Muslim households, had no access to TV or smartphones. Community’s support was mobilized by those citizen leaders to enable some kids to attend classes in a neighbour’s home where TV was available; some others were supported through shared smart phones; still others were provided offline classes with support of school teachers, though conducted by local youth.