Adivasis constitute nearly 9 percent of India’s population. Their under-achievements in education is an issue of concern especially for decision makers in government, both at state and central government levels. According to the 2011 census there is almost a 14 percentage point gap between the literacy rates of Adivasis and other communities in India. Although there is an improvement in their enrollment in schools, the dropout rate continues to be very high. 

Between grades one to nine approximately 70% of these children leave the school which is 20% higher than the national average for the whole population. Nearly 50 percent of children from this social group drop out while transitioning from primary to secondary grades (based on the educational status recorded in the census in 2011). Nearly 80 percent of them stop education when they are in grade 10 i.e only 20 percent appear for the high-school examination.

There are also other challenges like there was a time when there were not enough schools closer to Adivasi hamlets. However that situation has changed over time. There are other constraints which persist. The fact that Adivasis in many parts of the country speak a language different from the one that is used as the medium of instruction in school is one important challenge. However in Maharashtra, the language is not a serious constraint as in other locations since there is a significant overlap between the language of Adivasi people and that of the mainstream population. There may still be a need to follow a bi-lingual instruction here.

In addition, these children may not get enough support at home for their studies since most of them are first-generation learners. Secondly, there are not many school teachers from Adivasi communities in certain Indian states. All these difficulties need to be reckoned while thinking about the ways to provide an appropriate and quality `schooling’ for Adivasi children. The challenge of providing quality education to Adivasi children exists in Palghar, a district of Maharashtra, India. 

The Zilla Parishad school conducts classes for the Adivasi children till Standard VII. To continue their education they need to travel long distances and hence most of these children drop out of education. Considering the situation, a local NGO Late Balu Dohale Shikshan Sanstha, took up the cause and has been conducting classes from Std VIII to Std X in Vikramgad taluka of Palghar district since 2001. This NGO also has plans to conduct classes for XI and XII standard students and is in the process of setting up the required infrastructure for the purpose. Initially when it started this education initiative for Adivasi children it used to conduct classes for children in temporary shelters due to lack of funds. However it has constructed a residential school for Adivasis in the year 2017 with financial support from local well-wishers. Currently there are close to 151 Adivasi children in this school out of which 114 children (65 girls and 49 boys) stay in the hostel. 

Late Balu Dohale Shikshan Sanstha is an NGO that takes care of food, clothing, books, stationary and medical needs of all the 114 Adivasi children staying in the hostel. The residential school so far has been able to manage its operations so far due to financial support from well-wishers and government grants for 20% of the teacher’s salary.

However the Corona pandemic has created problems for the residential school as funds from well-wishers have completely dried up and it needs minimum funds of Rs. 6,00,000 (Rupees Six lakh only) to restart the school and continue the operations for next four months.

You can end the difficulties faced by these innocent kids. Please support Late Balu Dohale Shikshan Sanstha to continue its operations so that there is no abrupt end to the educational dreams of these poor Adivasi children in Palghar district of Maharashtra.

Late Balu Dohale Shikshan Sanstha is an NGO based in Palghar district of Maharashtra working for the cause of education of Adivasi children since the year 2001. Since 2017 it has been running a residential school. Most of the children in this school come from the hilly belts of Vikramgad taluka and belong to rural poor communities.