Jump to content

Ekal Vidyalaya: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎International fund raising: restored source, noted that information is self-published
removed Rao citation, adjusted to what Gautier actually said, named him since he is hardly neutral
Line 86: Line 86:
|date=August 18, 2005
|date=August 18, 2005
|accessdate=March 20, 2012}}</ref> This was stopped in 2005 by the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] Government when one of its committees reported irregularities and pursuit of anti-minority agenda in some schools.<ref name=hindu1/><ref name=telegraph/> Critics of EVF have said that the schools pursue a Hindu-nationalist agenda and generate hatred towards minorities.<ref name=tehelka1/><ref name=Chaterjee20070719/>
|accessdate=March 20, 2012}}</ref> This was stopped in 2005 by the [[United Progressive Alliance|UPA]] Government when one of its committees reported irregularities and pursuit of anti-minority agenda in some schools.<ref name=hindu1/><ref name=telegraph/> Critics of EVF have said that the schools pursue a Hindu-nationalist agenda and generate hatred towards minorities.<ref name=tehelka1/><ref name=Chaterjee20070719/>
Supporters of EVF have described the schools as harmless, and said that they do not teach hate, and that they have been the target of a campaign by media and academic networks.{{sfn|Rao et al 2003|loc=Appendix K, pp. 160–172}}{{sfn|Rao et al 2003|loc=Chapter III, Section A, pp. 27–30}}<ref name="gautier">{{cite web
The columnist [[François Gautier]] has described the schools as harmless, and said they were "doing a wonderful job for tribal children".<ref name="gautier">{{cite web
|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/11franc.htm
|url=http://www.rediff.com/news/2003/mar/11franc.htm
|title=Heed the New Hindu Mood
|title=Heed the New Hindu Mood

Revision as of 12:18, 19 May 2012

Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation
AbbreviationEVF
Formation1986
TypeVolunteer organization
PurposeEducation and primary health in tribal and rural India
HeadquartersNew Delhi, India. Houston, USA
Location
  • India, United States
Region served
India
Websitewww.ekal.org
Number of Schools38,111
Number of Students1,076,421
EKAL USA
FounderRamesh Shah
Type501(c)(3)
77-0554248
FocusEducation
Location
  • Houston, USA
Area served
India
Key people
Ramesh Shah, Ashok Danda, Vinod Jhunjhunwala
Websitehttp://www.ekal.org/

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (literally Foundation of Solo Schools) is a non-profit organisation involved in education and village development in rural areas and tribal villages of India.[1][2] It is the largest grassroots, non-government education initiative in India with presence in over 37,000 villages providing free education to more than one million children.[1][3] The foundation's model of operation is single-teacher schools, with the premise of "Ek Shikshak, Ek Vidyalaya" meaning "one teacher for every school."[4][2] The individual schools, known as Ekal Vidyalayas, have local teachers who teach in the regional language using various modes like story-telling, folk dramas, and folk songs.[2] The schools also impart moral education, health care education and organic farming techniques.[5][6][7]

EVF is actively involved in fundraising activities in several countries outside India, most notably the United States. The foundation's mission is to open 100,000 schools and eradicate illiteracy from rural and tribal India by 2015.[8][9] EVF is associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh.[10][11][12]

The Ekal Vidyalaya schools were assisted by the NDA Government from 1999–2000 onwards.[13] This was stopped in 2005 by the UPA Government when one of its committees reported irregularities and pursuit of anti-minority agenda in some schools.[14][13] Critics of EVF have said that the schools pursue a Hindu-nationalist agenda and generate hatred towards minorities.[10][15] The columnist François Gautier has described the schools as harmless, and said they were "doing a wonderful job for tribal children".[16]

Establishment and Growth

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (EVF) was established in 1986 by Rakesh Popli, a US-returned Indian nuclear scientist, and his wife Rama Popli, a child education specialist.[4] The couple established the foundation's first single-teacher school in Gumla in Jharkhand (then a part of Bihar).[4] In two years' time, the movement was more successful than expected and in 1989, 60 single-teacher schools were started simultaneously in Dhanbad. By 1995-1996, the foundation was running 1,200 schools in Jharkhand.[4][17]

As of April 2008, there were more than 23,000 schools run by EVF, including 2,100 schools in the North Eastern states.[4][18] The number of schools grew to 27,000 in 2010 and 34,000 in 2011.[1][19] EVF's goal is to reach 100,000 villages in the India's tribal belt by 2015.[20]

EVF is associated with the Hindu nationalist organizations Vishva Hindu Parishad and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).[10][11]

People

Some prominent people who have been on the board of trustees of the foundation include B. K. Modi, founder of ModiCorp, Justice P. N. Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India; L. M. Singhvi, former High Commissioner for India in the United Kingdom; Abid Hussain, former Indian ambassador to the United States; and several eminent industrialist and celebrities.[15][21] The foundation has been headed in the past by the Subhash Chandra, the Chairman of Essel Group and the founder of Zee TV.[20] Hema Malini, Indian actress and danseuse, has served as the global brand ambassador for the Ekal Vidyalaya movement.[22]

Activities

Education

The Ekal Vidyalayas provide five years of free, non-formal education to children from the age group 5–14 years. A typical school has 30–40 students taught by a local youth who has passed grades 8 or 9 and has been specifically trained. A local organizer looks after a unit of 10 schools, called a "subcluster". Local people are also involved in higher organization levels like a "cluster" (unit of 30 schools), subarea (unit of 90 schools), and area (unit of 270 schools). The classes take place under a tree or in a hut and use informal modes like storytelling, folk dramas, folk songs and religious discourses.[2][23] In A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) this non-didactic approach has been described by Dr. Ramesh Rao and others as "assimilative and respectful of local cultural norms and belief systems".[24] Around half of the students and teachers are females, and about a fifth of the students go on to pursue higher education, some of which return to serve the foundation.[2]

EVF's philosophy is to take a holistic approach to social and economic development, providing primary school education for children, as well as healthcare, livelihoods and empowerment education for the entire village.[25] The schools are primarily organized in small villages among India's tribal groups. The local youth who are trained to operate the schools are social workers and teachers, teaching sanitation and health care, literacy and Hindu nationalism.[26] Each school is run on an annual budget of around 16,000 Indian rupees. At the national level, the schools are organized by Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of India. Regionally, Ekal Vidyalayas are run by the Friends of Tribals Society (FTS) and Bharat Lok Shiksha Parishad (BLSP) NGOs and by state-level groups such as Janahitha in Andhra Pradesh and Bharatiya Janseva Sansthan in Gujarat.[27][28][29] In addition to teaching children, the schools hold weekly sessions for the village populace to discuss issues like rural development, health and awakening.[27]

Other activities

Along with literacy, Ekal Vidyalaya schools also impart moral education.[5][6] EVF works in tribal areas on health care education with the emphasis on hygiene, treatment of general diseases, maternal and child care. The foundation operates 11,450 health centers in India for people living in rural and tribal India.[7] The foundation distributes medicines to children for the treatment of various diseases.[6] The schools also run a rural development scheme under which use of organic fertilizers is promoted in place of chemical fertilizers.[6] Professional training in agriculture and vermiculture is provided.[23] In May 2011, EVF launched the Vermi Compost Project, a pilot project with an aim to introduce self-sustaining practices in 100 poor villages of Orissa and Maharashtra.[30] In December 2011, the Ekal Vidyalaya staff resolved to raise voice against addiction in rural areas.[31]

International fund raising

United States

The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA (EVF USA) is active in fundraising. In June 2008, the Atlanta chapter entertained guests with a music program at a fundraising event.[32] In May 2009, the Southern California chapter launched its annual fundraising drive.[33] A benefit concert in Chicago in July 2009 raised $160,000.[34] In September 2009, the San Diego chapter raised about $14,000 at a cultural event featuring music and dance.[35] The organization announced that a similar event in Dallas in November 2009 had been very successful.[36] In May 2010, a fundraising concert in Chicago was attended by over 600 people and raised pledges of $82,525.[37] The same month, Ekal Vidyalaya raised almost $500,000 from five charity shows in the mid-Atlantic region.[19] In April 2011 EVF USA reported that it had 34 active chapters and supported 9,500 out of the 34,343 Ekal Vidyalayas in India. The foundation raised 3.5 million USD in 2010. EVF USA organizes fundraising programs in 45 cities in the United States, which feature Indian singers or marathons.[38]

Other countries

EVF Australia was set up in 2004 and as of March 2006 had sponsored 85 schools.[39] In 2006, the National Hindu Students Forum (UK) selected Ekal Vidyalaya as the main recipient of fundraising during its annual Sewa Week drive.[40] EVF has around 1,000 donors in Hong Kong.[23]

Recognition and Awards

Recognition

Avinash Kaushik, American entrepreneur and author, wrote that foundations like the Smile Train, Doctors Without Borders and Ekal Vidyalaya have done "incredible work" and "they make the world a better place".[41] Digital Learning, a magazine on education, described the non-formal education experiment by EVF in Jharkhand from 1986 to 1995–96 as "extraordinary", noting that literacy rate in Jharkhand doubled in this period, and diseases caused by unhygienic practices, witchcraft and alcoholism declined sharply.[23] The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM), a program for health care in rural India run by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, approached EVF for imparting healthcare training to women. EVF developed the women-centric "Asha" programme for NRHM in response.[23]

According to A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF), Yvette Rosser, American author and scholar, wrote that the Ekal Vidyalaya program has done "incredible work" and "brought literacy to millions of India's children who otherwise would not know how to read and write".[42] Dr. Raman Singh, the Chief Minister of Chhatisgarh, praised the work done by Ekal Vidyalayas run by the FTS in 2500 tribal villages of the state in spreading education.[12] In 2009, Yoga guru Swami Ramdev said at the Ekal International Conference in Delhi that the Ekal Vidyalayas are a medium for definite service to God.[43]

Awards

  • 2009. The 7th Meri Dilli Award (My Delhi Award) in the field of literacy by the NNS Media Group, conferred by Yoganand Shastri, the Speaker of the Delhi Legislative Assembly.[38][44]
  • 2008–09. Best NGO Award for transparency and administration.[45][46]
  • 2007–08. Utkrishtata Samman (Highest Award) by Bharat Vikas Parishad (India Development Council), conferred by retired Indian judges for "for excellent services towards empowerment of Vanvasis and villagers."[38][47]

Controversy and criticism

Suspension of government funding

In 2005, a report prepared by an enquiry committee of the Indian Ministry of Human Resource Development found that in some Ekal Vidyalaya schools the names of enrolled students had been copied from registers of government-run schools. The schools did not provide reading and learning material, and used funds to "generate hatred toward minorities, and condition the minds of children". The report said the FTS was "misusing these funds, and using the grants for creating disharmony amongst religious groups and creating a political cadre". In May 2005 the Indian government stopped grants to the schools based on this report.[14] Quoting from the report in the The Milli Gazette, Mukundan C. Menon noted that the English booklet used to teach second year students in Jharkhand omitted six letters of the alphabet. Menon said the reason was names of Hindu Gods beginning with these letters are not common.[48]

Criticism

In 2002, Sabrang Communications and South Asia Citizens Web published a report named The Foreign Exchange of Hate - IDRF and the American Funding of Hindutva on utilization of funds by India Development and Relief Fund. The report alleged the VHP-run Ekal Vidyalaya schools had the goal of "Hinduizing" tribals and spreading hatred against Indian minorities.[49][50] In 2005 John Dayal, then president of the All India Catholic Union (AICU) and a member of the National Integration Council expressed concern that the schools were spreading hatred towards members of the Christian minority, in order to "prevent conversions of tribals to Christianity by missionaries."[15] In a 2008 article Angana Chatterji, associate professor of anthropology at California Institute of Integral Studies, identified Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA as one of the charities in the US that had allocated money "disproportionately directed to Hindutva-affiliated groups".[51] In an article in the Daily Times of Pakistan, Khalid Hasan described the Ekal Vidyalayas as having a "curriculum steeped in instilling hatred against non-Hindu religious minorities".[52] Rights activists have claimed that the schools pursue a Hindu-nationalist agenda and generate hatred towards non-Hindu minorities such as Christians.[10]

Response to Criticism

In a March 2003 report titled A Factual Response to the Hate Attack on the India Development and Relief Fund (IDRF) published by Friends of India, Ramesh Rao, professor of Communication at Truman State University, and other authors wrote that "there has been a concerted campaign against the Ekal Vidyalayas by a combination of media and academic networks ... try as they might, they really cannot find anything wrong with the schools".[53] The report quoted Yvette Rosser as saying that "the ladies and gentlemen in the villages who teach in Ekal Vidyalaya schools are not teaching hate".[42] The report also noted that several other authors have praised the schools' role in providing literacy to millions of children, and stated that the schools do not teach hate and have been the target of a campaign by media and academic networks.[42][53] According to Prakash Sharma, media convener of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, "The Ekal vidyalayas are our effort to reach the most deprived areas of the country. Christian missionaries get funds from all over the world: the entire Christian empire backs them. Ours is a completely indigenous effort".[10] François Gautier, French author and journalist, described the Ekal Vidyalayas as "a harmless programme doing wonderful job for tribal children", and questioned why organizations raising funds for them were attacked.[16]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c "Galveston celebrates 'Enchantment of India'". The Times of India. February 21, 2011. Retrieved September 9, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e Sharma, Radhika (December 2, 2002). "The Gift of Education". India Currents. Retrieved March 8, 2012.
  3. ^ Indo-Asian News Service (September 10, 2008). "मुफ्त शिक्षा देता एक शिक्षक का विद्यालय" (in Hindi). Josh 18. Retrieved September 9, 2011. देश के 27 हजार गांवों के आठ लाख वनवासी बच्चों को एकल विद्यालय फाउंडेशन मुफ्त शिक्षा उपलब्ध करा रहा है। (Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation is making free education available to 11,00,000 students in 37,000 villages of the country. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b c d e Visfot.com (April 15, 2008). "शिक्षा और विकास का एकल प्रयास" (in Hindi). Visfot.com. Retrieved September 9, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b Trakull, Gaurishankar (February 27, 2012). "अ, आ के साथ संस्कार भी सिखाएंगे सरकारी स्कूल". Dainik Bhaskar (in Hindi). Retrieved March 5, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ a b c d Fazilka Correspondent (February 10, 2012). "एकल विद्यालय में बच्चों को मिलते अच्छे संस्कार". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved March 5, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ a b VRN (August 28, 2009). "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Chicago holds fundraising concert". NRI Today. Retrieved March 10, 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  8. ^ "Mission". Ekal.org. January 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  9. ^ "History". Ekal.org. Retrieved March 10, 2012.
  10. ^ a b c d e Vishnu, G (20 April 2011). "Sangh owns one of the fastest growing education projects". Tehelka. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  11. ^ a b Dhar 2004.
  12. ^ a b "वनबंधु परिषद वनांचलों में कर रहा है शिक्षा का प्रचार-प्रसार: डॉ. रमन सिंह" (in Hindi). Public Relations Department, Government of Chhattisgarh. January 25, 2012. Retrieved March 17, 2012. मुख्यमंत्री ने समाज सेवी संस्था वनबंधु परिषद द्वारा आदिवासी अंचलों में शिक्षा के प्रचार-प्रसार के लिए किए जा रहे कार्यो की प्रशंसा की। {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  13. ^ a b "Schooling at a different level". The Daily Telegraph. August 18, 2005. Retrieved March 20, 2012.
  14. ^ a b Joshua, Anita (May 19, 2005). "Centre stops grants to `one-teacher schools'". The Hindu. Chennai, India. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  15. ^ a b c Chaterjee, Jacob (July 19, 2005). "AICU president suspects Hindu charitable trust of forming anti–Christian schools for Indian tribals". Christian Today. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  16. ^ a b François, Gautier (March 11, 2003). "Heed the New Hindu Mood". Rediff.com. Retrieved March 5, 2012.
  17. ^ "About Us". Friends of Tribals Society. Retrieved 2010-02-16.
  18. ^ "Urban-rural exchange in Ekal conference". The Telegraph. April 7, 2008. Retrieved February 13, 2010. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  19. ^ a b "Ekal collects $ 420,000 for tribal schools". Rediff News. June 11, 2010. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  20. ^ a b "Essel Cares: Ekal Vidyalaya". Essel Group. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
  21. ^ Rao et al 2003 & pp. 27–28.
  22. ^ "Hema to campaign for Ekal schools, BJP". The Times of India. October 17, 2003. Retrieved 17 March, 2012. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  23. ^ a b c d e "Ekal Vidyalaya: 'One Teacher, One School, One Village'" (PDF). Digital Learning. IV (7). NOIDA, Uttar Pradesh, India: Elets Technomedia Pvt. Ltd.: 53–54 2008. ISSN 0973-4139. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  24. ^ Rao et al 2003, p. 7.
  25. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation". Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation. Retrieved 2010-02-15.[unreliable source?]
  26. ^ Spring 2008, p. 158.
  27. ^ a b Correspondent, Navada. "अब आयी एकल विद्यालय की अवधारणा" (in Hindi). Prabhat Khabar. Retrieved September 10, 2011. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help); Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya aims at taking the school to the children". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2007-07-16. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  29. ^ "EKAL VIDYALAYA MOVEMENT". Ekal Vidyalaya India. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  30. ^ DC Reporter (May 11, 2011). "NGO launches programme to help with farming practices". Development Channel. Retrieved September 10, 2011.
  31. ^ Fazilla Correspondent (December 30, 2011). "एकल विद्यालय स्टाफ ने लिया बुराइयों के दमन का प्रण". Dainik Jagran (in Hindi). Retrieved March 5, 2012. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  32. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation reaffirms peoples' faith". Atlanta Dunia. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  33. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya to Hold Fundraising Program". India Journal. Retrieved 2010-07-24. {{cite web}}: Text "Apr 23, 2009" ignored (help)
  34. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya benefit concert raises $160,000". IndiaPost. 2009-07-24. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  35. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya Holds Fundraiser in San Diego". India Journal. Sep 24, 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  36. ^ "Ekal Dallas Gets One Step Closer to Achieving Mahatma Gandhi's Dream of a Literate India". IssuesWire. Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation of USA. November 11, 2009. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  37. ^ Suresh & Usha Bodiwala (2010-05-28). "Faith and philanthropy is all set to get a new meaning with Ekal Vidyalaya charitable musical concert at Chicago". TribLocal. Retrieved 2010-07-24.
  38. ^ a b c "Ekal Foundation Reports Higher Donations in 2010". Indo American News. April 22, 2011. Retrieved 2012-05-19.
  39. ^ "The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation (EVF)" (PDF). NEWS LETTER Vol.5 Jan - Mar 2006. Hindu Council of Australia Ltd. Archived from the original (PDF) on September 13, 2009. Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  40. ^ "NHSF National Charity 2006-07 - Saraswati Vidyalaya". National Hindu Students Forum (UK). Retrieved 2010-02-15.
  41. ^ Kaushik 2009, p. 9.
  42. ^ a b c Rao et al 2003, Appendix K, pp. 160–172.
  43. ^ "दिल्ली में तीन दिवसीय एकल अन्तरराष्ट्रीय सम्मेलन - धरती की ताकत जगाने का प्रयास - अरुण कुमार सिंह" (in Hindi). Panchjanya. November 15, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2012. इसका उद्घाटन प्रसिद्ध योग गुरु स्वामी रामदेव ने किया। इस अवसर पर उन्होंने एकल विद्यालय को ईश्वर की साकार उपासना का माध्यम बताया। {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  44. ^ "Vijay Maru bags Meri Delhi Award-2009". Vaish Sansar. December 19, 2009. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  45. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya NJ chapter raises $320,000 for schools in India's tribal areas" (PDF). The South Asian Times. 4 (10). Hicksville, New York, USA: 6. 2008. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  46. ^ "NJ Chapter of Ekal Vidyalaya raises $320,000". NRI Today. June 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012. {{cite news}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |work= (help)
  47. ^ "Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation Receives Bharat Vikas Parishad (BVP) Utkrishtata Samman". Sewa Sandesh. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  48. ^ Menon, Mukundan C (2 October 2005). "Another Blow to VHP". The Milli Gazette. Retrieved 2010-12-18. ... only the names of Hindu Gods [sic] were used to teach English alphabet. ... A for Arjun, B for Brahma, C for Cow, D for Dhruva,.G for Ganesh, H.for Hanuman,.J for Jambavan,.M for Mahadev,.O for Om,.R for Ram,.T for Temple, U for Uma. ... Ironically, the letters 'E', 'F', 'Q', 'W', 'X' and 'Z' simply does [sic] not exist in this booklet. ... Reason? No names of Hindu Gods beginning with these letters are readily available!
  49. ^ Tow, William T.; Chin, Kin Wah (2009). ASEAN, India, Australia: towards closer engagement in a new Asia. Institute of Southeast Asian Studies. p. 289. ISBN 981-230-963-2. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  50. ^ Kurien, Prema A. (2007). A place at the multicultural table: the development of an American Hinduism. Rutgers University Press. p. 151-153. ISBN 0-8135-4056-9. {{cite book}}: Invalid |ref=harv (help)
  51. ^ Angana Chatterji (Oct 04 2008). "It's still religion, stupid". Indian Express. Retrieved 2010-12-18. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  52. ^ Hasan, Khalid (November 9, 2008). "Yet another controversial Obama appointment". Daily Times (Pakistan).
  53. ^ a b Rao et al 2003, Chapter III, Section A, pp. 27–30.
Sources
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ekal_Vidyalaya&oldid=493332056"