Katkari Educational Centers

Project Brief: SAC runs NFEs for the Katkaris - one of India's most backward communities
Project Type: Non-Formal Educational Centers (description)
Primary Focus: children of dalits/tribals (description)

Secondary Focus: other

Area: Rural
Supporting Chapter Contact: Boston
Status: completed - requirements ended
Project Steward: Anurag Sharma
Project Partner(s): Guruswamy Kumaraswamy
Other Contacts: Venugopal Premnath
Project Address: , A-12/11,Kendriya Vihar Co-operative Housing Society Ltd.,,Kharghar,,Navi Mumbai,
MAHARASHTRA 
Tel: 022-7651718
Stewarding Chapter: Boston
Jun 2004BostonUSD 3100
Mar 2004BostonUSD 1550
Jun 2002BostonUSD 1250
Jan 2002BostonUSD 1250

Total = $7150

Katkaris –a background
One of three tribes in Maharashtra (other two being Gond and Kolam) identified by the Ministry of Welfare as a primitive tribal group . Population concentrated in Thane and Raigad districts in Maharashtra. The Katkaris have been listed as primitive tribal groups due to very low level of literacy, stagnant population, pre-agricultural stage of existence and economic backwardness. Literacy rate 7 to 8 % (1% among females).
Katkaris earn their living by working as landless agricultural labourers by taking fields on lease, fishing from the nearby river and working as construction labourers.
Among the Katkari children who go to the govt. schools, the dropout rate is very high because of various reasons related to their specific socio-economic conditions. They are discriminated against in the schools in the name of their tribe in a constant atmosphere of dominance of the so-called mainstream culture.

Promote education in the Katkari tribal villages
SAC (STUDENTS ACTION COMMITTEE) – a background Formed when students from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) came together to fight against the unfeasible Mumbai – Pune Expressway project which caused the illegal forced displacement of Katkari tribals in the Khalapur taluka of Raigad district in Maharashtra. THE MISSION OF SAC is empowerment of poor and oppressed sections of society through non-violent struggle for the basic rights as given by the Constitution along with continuous constructive activities. Alternative school for providing education actually related to life which will ensure fulfillment of basic needs of life such as food, clothing, shelter, employment, heath facilities has been started by the organisation SAC is working in Khalapur taluka of Raigad district of Maharashtra mainly with the Katkari and also with the Thakar tribal community.

Update: SAC is now called Lok Sangram Samiti
Photos available at Asha-Pune website:
http://us.geocities.com/ashapune/


Current Status

  • Project approved for year 2002. $2500 committed for the year.
  • Jan 2002: Project start, $ 1250 given
  • June 2002: Six monthly review, Report recd from SAC, $1250 given
  • 13 July 2002: Discussions with Mahendra Singh (SAC) at Pune
  • July-Aug 2002: Review visits planned by Vijay Mokashi (around 15 July 2002) and Asha-Pune (3 Aug 2002) separately
  • Feb-Apr 2003: Site visit report and school status report by Asha-Pune
  • Sep-Oct 2003: New proposal received for 2003-04