ENABLING IMPLEMENTATION OF THE RIGHT
TO EDUCATION ACT THROUGH INVOLVEMENT
OF GRAM PANCHAYATS, SCHOOL MANAGEMENT
COMMITTEES AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES
PROGRESS REPORT
APRIL 2011 – MARCH 2012
Submitted to
Sir Dorabji Tata Trust
MVF
201, Narayan Apartments
Marredpally (West), Secunderabad-500 026
(+91)-40-2780 1320, 2770 0290 (+91)-40-2780 8808 (fax)
Email: mvfindia@gmail.com
GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED
MVF
Mamidipudi Venkatarangaiya Foundation
RTE
Right to Education
CRPF
Child Rights Protection Forum
REPC
Right to Education Protection Committee
TFCR
Teachers’ Forum for Child Rights
NCPCR
National Commission for Protection of Child Rights
DEO
District Education Officer
MEO
Mandal Education Officer
SI
Sub-Inspector
MPDO
Mandal Parishad Development Officer
KGBV
Kasturba Gandhi Balika Vidyalaya
SRTC
Short-term Residential Training Centre
NRBC
Non-Residential Bridge Course Centre
MRP
Mandal Resource Person
VO
Village Organisation
MLA
Member of Legislative Assembly
VRO
Village Revenue Officer
RTI
Right to Information
UPS
Upper Primary School
HS
High School
SMC
School Management Committee
PD
Project Director
RVM
Rajiv Vidya Mission
ICDS
Integrated Child Development Scheme
CDPO
Child Development Project Officer
CD
Compact Disc
BC
Backward Caste
SC
Scheduled Caste
CWSN
Children with Special Needs
PO
Project Officer
PS
Primary School
NGO
Non-Governmental Organisation
ZPHS
Zilla Parishad High School
DSP
Deputy Superintendent of Police
APM
Asst. Project Manager
IKP
Indira Kranthi Patham
MMS
Mandala Mahila Samakhya
MPP
Mandal Parishad President
NREGS
National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme
GO
Government Order
PET
Physical Education Teacher
ZPTC
Member – Zilla Parishad Territorial Constituency
SUMMARY
The year saw two major developments – the expiry of the Gram Panchayat’s term and the formation
of the SMCs. Both of these events took place during the latter half of the year. Village Special Officers
replaced the outgoing Sarpanchs. The volunteers interacted with them regularly and introduced the
organisational agenda to them. They were also actively involved in all campaign activities. SMCs
were formed in 235 villages and the members oriented on the RTE Act, the structure of the SMC and
their roles and responsibilities in the context of effective implementation of the Act and strengthening
schools. These sessions were held separately for the members and for chairpersons.
Community meetings were held on an ongoing basis in all mandals with the REPC, the CRPF,VOs,
the TFCR, youth, adolescent girls and Child Committees to educate them on the provisions of the
RTE Act and to discuss a wide range of issues being addressed by the campaign. Key decisions were
taken on the basis of these discussions and followed up. In all, 598 orientation sessions were
organised for 13,829 stakeholders at the mandal/village levels on the RTE Act, Corporal Punishment,
Quality Education, the RTI Act, Child Marriage, Girl Child Education and rights of CWSN. 5906
children from 24 schools were also oriented on the RTE Act. Three division level orientation sessions
were also organised for 669 REPC and CRPF members in addition.
88 group motivation drives were taken up with the involvement of the volunteers, organisers and
mandal in-charges to reach out to child and bonded child labourers. 118 children were reached out to
in this manner. Officials of the Labour and Revenue Departments, MPDOs, MEOs and Panchayat
Secretaries also took part in enforcement drives to reach out to such children. The REPC and the
CRPF supported all campaign activities taken up by the volunteers. Efforts were also made to reach
out to immigrant children. Issues relating to school infrastructure were highlighted through the media.
821 petitions were submitted to the Education Minister, the NCPCR and officials at various levels in
the context of violation of the RTE Act. The officials responded positively in some cases and took
steps to improve school infrastructure. 272 rallies were held with the participation of 49,219 people.
Slogans were written at 3250 public locations to highlight issues being addressed by the campaign. A
campaign CD brought out by the government was telecast in 46 villages to reach out to community on
the RTE Act. 34,000 campaign pamphlets, including 13,500 sponsored by community, were
disseminated. Nearly 11,000 people witnessed 46 cultural performances taken up as part of the
campaign.
The REPC and the CRPF undertook 232 school monitoring visits in two spells and shared the
outcomes with head teachers and suggested ways and means of improving their performance. They
regularly visited hostels of the project area and took problems that they had identified during their
school and hostel visits to the notice of officials. The CRPF played a key role in raising funds of more
than Rs.Seven Lakhs from community groups for school development. 181 people from across the
length and breadth of the country visited the implementation site to have a firsthand idea of the
intervention.
The volunteers, the REPC and the CRPF participated in school enrolment drives at the
commencement of the new academic year to ensure that all children were sent to school in
accordance with the provisions of the RTE Act. 1273 boys and 1502 girls aged 6-8 were directly
enrolled in school. 828 boys and 190 girls that were irregular to school were also followed up to the
exams. An intensive campaign was launched to wean away children from private to government
school, covering 1181 children in the process. The Residential Bridge Course Camp that was
operational in Aloor village of Chevella mandal was closed down in line with the norms of the RTE
Act. 60 girls that had been enrolled there were shifted to local schools.
33 out of a total of 55 child marriages that had been proposed were prevented through the joint efforts
of the volunteers, the ICDS and the CRPF. More than 1000 adolescents and adults were oriented on
the ill effects of child marriage in Chevella during March 2012. Invitees included representatives of the
NCPCR and officials of the police department. 2220 adolescent girls participated in various
competitions held as part of National Girl Child Day at the school and the mandal levels.
60 review meetings were convened at the Panchayat level to address issues relating to education.
Erstwhile Panchayat members also undertook 15 monitoring visits to school. They raised a total of
169 issues during mandal level General Body meetings in addition. Data relating to children aged 514 years are being displayed in 119 Gram Panchayat offices of the project area. Births and marriages
are being registered in 1-1 and 65 Panchayats respectively.
SMCs were formed in 235 villages with 5705 members. Active members of the REPC and the CRPF
were urged to compete for the posts of vice-chairperson and members. Subsequent to the formation
of SMCs, the members were oriented on the SMC’s structure, the RTE Act and their roles and
responsibilities vis-à-vis implementation of the RTE Act. Mandal level orientation sessions were also
held for all chairpersons soon after the SMCs were formed. The members later undertook three
rounds of visits to schools under their jurisdiction. They focused on infrastructure, implementation of
the midday meal scheme and on quality education during these visits. They were joined by the REPC
and the CRPF. Mandal level meetings were convened with the participation of the visiting teams and
mandal officials to review the outcomes of the visits.
BACKGROUND OF THE PROJECT
Being out of school and denied the right to education, children are compelled to join the labor force
resulting in vulnerability, marginalization, exploitation, impoverishment, and gross violation of human
rights. It is important that children enjoy their right to education. At the same time, school going
children face challenges in terms of overcrowded classrooms, inadequate physical amenities such as
water, toilets, playgrounds, delays in issuance of textbooks, school fees and uniform and also
insensitivity, even discrimination and are often subject to insults and corporal punishment. There is
also the problem of over-reporting of children’s enrolment in schools. Indeed, it is important that
children also enjoy their rights in school.
At the level of the State, lack of institutional capacities of the education system to support a child’s
continuance in schools without any disruption, over centralization and insensitivity of the schools to
the challenges faced by the first generation learners are some of the factors that push children out of
school. At the societal level, an atmosphere that tolerates child labor, child trafficking and child
marriages and even justifies these practices as inevitable because the families are poor has an
impact on perpetuation of violence on children and denial of their basic rights including right to
education.
The recent passing of the Act on “Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education” (RTE) Act in
August 2009 makes it obligatory for the State to ensure that every child enjoys her/his Right to
Education in a school as prescribed in its Schedule. It makes it mandatory that all barriers are
addressed in the best interests of the children. More importantly, it assigns the role for Gram
Panchayats and the school management committees as local authorities to monitor and implement to
some extent the RTE Act.
It is against this background that MVF launched an intervention in 5 mandals of Ranga Reddy District
in Andhra Pradesh from April 2010 on with the below objectives:
Create a social atmosphere in favour of children’s right to education and strengthen the
education system to deliver its commitments in accordance with the RTE Act by building
capacities of Gram Panchayats and SMCs to monitor the implementation of the Act
Build capacities of NGOs and government functionaries for involvement of the community,
Gram Panchayats and SMCs in taking forward the RTE
PROGRAM FINDINGS
One of the major findings of the project during the year was that there was no effective mechanism
right from the village to the State level to redress grievances in the context of the RTE Act. The
volunteers had not expected much response to the campaign from illiterate and poor parents but were
pleasantly surprised when most of them began debating the issue in public and started pressurising
schools to enrol their children in school without demanding fees or documents of any kind. Another
key observation during the course of the year was that the government had issued guidelines for the
formation of SMCs but not adequate focus had been placed on building their capacities. The
volunteers, therefore, encouraged CRPF members with sufficient exposure to the campaign to get
associated with the SMC so that they could strengthen the Committees.
FULFILLMENT OF OBJECTIVES
There has been sufficient progress in terms of achieving the desired objectives. Though the term of
Sarpanchs has come to an end, the spirit of activism in them has not died down and they continue to
take part in all campaign activities launched by the organisation. Some ward members and CRPF
members have got associated with the newly formed SMCs and have taken upon themselves the task
of constantly monitoring school functioning. The SMC members have been largely sensitised to their
responsibilities and have been actively monitoring schools. Awareness has grown on the link between
compulsory education and child rights and there is greater demand for quality education. At the same
time, it might take some more time for the Village Special Officers that have replaced erstwhile
Sarpanchs to internalise the agenda and special focus must be placed on involving them in the
campaign to a greater extent.
PROJECT DESIGN AND IMPLEMENTATION
Publicity and Awareness on provisions of RTE Act and entitlements of children
Community Meetings
Community meetings were held on an ongoing basis with members of the REPC, the CRPF, VOs, the
TFCR, youth, adolescent girls and Child Committee members to discuss the following issues:
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Entitlements of children under the RTE Act
The role of community in implementation of the RTE Act
Petitions
Quality Education
School Infrastructure
Child Marriage
Child Labour
School Retention
Implementation of the Midday Meal
Monitoring schools and Anganwadi Centres
Migration
Birth and Marriage Registration
CWSN
Campaign pamphlets containing basic information on the provisions of the RTE Act section wise were
designed and distributed to community groups. Discussions were held on the key provisions of each
section and the members were involved in brainstorming exercises to identify gaps in implementation
of the Act. The roles of teachers, parents, local bodies, the SMC and the government were separately
discussed during these meetings.
The participants were informed that the Act had been passed more than 21 months ago but there had
been little progress in the school situation. The below issues were identified:
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Most schools lacked physical infrastructure
Most children had not been issued uniform
Stationery had not been distributed to children in nearly all schools
There was no adherence to the midday meal menu
Eggs were not being served twice a week as per the norm
The quantity of rice was insufficient
Some children had also not been partaking of the meal
Teachers were irregular in a number of cases
No facilities were available for CWSN
Children’s retention was a cause for concern in some schools
The below decisions were taken at the end of these meetings:
All villages would be freed of child labour
Efforts would be put in to prevent child marriage
Cases involving violation of the Act would to be taken to the notice of authorities at various
levels
Rallies would be held in all mandals to publicise the RTE Act
Slogans advocating child rights and the RTE Act would be written at public locations in all
villages
Campaign pamphlets containing basic information on the RTE Act would be disseminated in
all villages
CDs containing information on key provisions would be telecast in all villages
Detailed schedules were fixed for school visits by the REPC and the CRPF
Problems being faced in school would be identified and petitions submitted to the MEO during
Praja Darbar with copies marked to the Special Officer, the NCPCR State Representatives,
the DEO, the PO-RVM, the District Collector and the NCPCR
Meetings would be held with children and their parents on why children had not been
partaking of the midday meal
Lists of long absentees would be compiled and they would be followed up by the REPC, the
CRPF and VOs with the help of teachers
Children would be assessed for their learning levels and the outcomes shared with teachers
and parents with the objective of plugging these gaps
The Mandal CRPF was reconstituted in Shankarpally as a follow up of a decision taken during a
meeting held on 10th April 2011 with 78 members. 11 members have been taken on to the Body.
Motivation
Group motivation drives were taken up with teams comprising the REPC, CRPF, youth, the local
Panchayat member and the volunteer at the commencement of the new academic year. They visited
the houses of children identified as out-of-school and held counseling sessions for the children and
their parents. They were informed that the RTE Act had been passed to reach out to child labourers
and that it provided for free education, uniform and stationery. Basic infrastructure has been promised
by the government in all government schools. The losses associated with child labour were also
highlighted and the parents were informed that they were bound by the RTE Act to send their children
to school. The roles of the Gram Panchayat and the teacher were also highlighted. Lists of children
aged 5+ years and children attending private school were also compiled. An intensive campaign was
taken up to wean away children from private to government school. The merits of government schools
against private schools were also highlighted through opinion leaders. Mandal officials participated in
special drives taken up in all mandal headquarters.
6 immigrant children from Manneguda X-Roads, Pudur mandal were employed in food joints along
the main road. A team of 2 REPC members, 3 CRPF members, 1 Sarpanch and 2 ward members
spoke to the employers and informed them that the RTE Act held it illegal to employ children aged
below 14 years. 2 children were subsequently released and repatriated to Kodangal, Mahabubnagar
district and Lal Singh Thanda, Vikarabad mandal.
13 child labourers were identified in Shabad, Manmari and Mariapur in Shabad mandal. A 10-member
team comprising of Sarpanchs, 4 CRPF and REPC members each and 3 volunteers took up a special
drive and counseled the employers to free the children. They later submitted a petition along with the
children’s list to the Tehsildar, the SI of Police, the MPDO and the MEO during the Praja Darbar. 6 of
the children were eventually freed.
63 working children including 36 children working in shops, hotels, tea stalls, bakeries and mechanic
sheds and in rag picking in the mandal headquarters were identified in Vikarabad. The Labour Officer,
the Assistant Labour Officer, the CRPF, the REPC and volunteers undertook 2 special drives, during
which 19 notices were served to employers and 6 cases filed against them. 3 children were shifted to
camp at the end of this exercise.
An Assistant Labour Commissioner, 2 Labour Officers, the Tehsildar, the MPDO, the MEO, 2
Panchayat Secretaries, 2 CRPF members and 3 volunteers undertook a special drive in Chevella
town. They took along a list of 18 children and counseled their employers and parents. 7 children
were thus freed and fines ranging from Rs. 7000-20000 imposed on 4 employers. Some press
reporters were also invited to the drive The CRPF later suggested to the officials that they ought to
convene a meeting with the children’s employers. A coordination meeting was also organised with
mandal officials, the Labour department and the CRPF on 14th June, following which notices were
served to 12 employers and court cases filed against an additional 6 of them. 6 children were
withdrawn from work.
The CRPF and the REPC members petitioned to the mandal officials that 3 children were employed in
IBS Dhaba, Dontanpally in Shankarpally mandal. 2 Labour Officers, the CRPF, TFCR members, the
Sarpanch and volunteers later conducted a raid, during which 3 notices were issued and penalty
imposed on the employers. A survey of brick kilns in Shankarpally brought out that 18-school going
children were employed in the industry. They were brought back to school. Some migrant children
from Karnataka, Mahabubnagar and Orissa were also identified.
The table below provides details of the special drives and their outcomes:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Special Drives
15
24
12
7
30
88
Children freed
27
27
29
11
24
118
Newly posted District Collector Ms.Amrapali had asked the MEO of Shabad mandal to give her the list
of child labourers in the mandal but he claimed that there were no child labourers. The mandal incharge coincidentally met her during her visit to PS Aspalliguda during January 2012 and told her that
he had details of out-of-school children in the mandal. She took the list from him and convened a
meeting of head teachers on 20th January to discuss the situation with them. She was convinced that
the in-charge had provided her with the right information and later undertook visits to Aspalliguda,
Hayatabad Thanda and Pothugal Thanda. Three girls from these villages were enrolled in KGBV.
A survey of migrant children was taken up in Nagarguda, Shabad mandal with the participation of the
Sarpanch, the CRPF, the Secretary, a teacher and the REPC Convener. 18 migrant families were
identified through this exercise. 2 High School dropouts from the village were brought to school in
addition. 6 rag pickers in Patelguda, Shabad were followed up through a joint effort by the head
teacher and the organisers. 2 girls were also sent to KGBV. A list of 42 child labourers was compiled
in Madduru and submitted to the Tehsildar, who had been appointed Special Officer. He held a
Grama Sabha to discuss the issue. 3 children working in a cotton field in Madduru Thanda were freed
from work.
A boy from Nizampet Medipally, Pudur mandal began working as a wage labourer after a local lured
him with an offer of access to a personal mobile phone. He had been working for a month when the
REPC members identified his case. The boy had dropped out of Class 6. A former Sarpanch was
involved in the issue and he, along with the members, freed the boy. One of 3 girls belonging to a
family in Kothapally was molested by a local youth and all 3 girls were withdrawn from school. Some
youth and the REPC members convinced her parents to send them back to school after 2-3 sessions
of counseling. 8 tribal children that had migrated to Maharashtra from Tirumalapur Thanda were
followed up to SRTC and are presently studying in a hostel. One girl from Nancherla had dropped out
of school and wanted to get readmitted but the head teacher did not agree to this. The REPC
members arranged for her to be enrolled in KGBV Manneguda.
32 children from Beggars’ Colony, Ramaiahguda in Vikarabad town were highly irregular to school, as
they were engaged in selling metal scrap. A special drive taken up to reach out to them and their
parents counseled to enrol them in an NRBC set up under the National Child Labour Project. The
parents of 12 children sent them to the NRBC though they were unwilling to enrol them in formal
school. The REPC members also spoke to the scrap merchants and asked them not to make any
purchases from the children.
REPC and CRPF members in Shankarpally spoke to some cottonseed companies and owners of
food joints, urging them to free some children that they had employed. They also contacted Child Line
1098. 6 children were identified but their employers claimed that they were overage. The case is
being followed up. 6 immigrant children from one family were willing to get admitted in hostel but they
were not given seats. A letter was written to the Tehsildar, who got them admitted in a private hostel.
They are pursuing their education from the local government school. 12 girls were enrolled in KGBV.
A special drive was taken up in 3 villages with high incidence of child labour, namely Chevella, Alur
and Thangadpally. 35 immigrant children were identified in Chevella but they used to change their
place of work at least once a month. A door-to-door campaign was undertaken in the other villages
and 23 children enrolled in school. 2 tribal children working as domestic helps in Langer Houz were
followed up to KGBV Chevella based on a tipoff by a former camp student from Kandada, who is
currently employed as an advocate.
A survey was taken up in Chevella mandal to identify migrant children. Forty one migrant children
were identified in and around Chevella town. The details of these children were shared with the
Tehsildar and the MPDO. It was, however, not easy to reach out to the children because they shifted
their place of residence frequently – usually once in a half-year.
The volunteers are taking up 2-3 group motivation drives every month in Shankarpally. They identified
6 child labourers and took them along to the Police Station. Their parents and employers were
summoned to the Police Station and the children were counseled, following which 3 of them joined in
camp. The employers of the other children were asked to get the children enrolled in the schools in
their native villages and report to him on the status of their education. The volunteers in Vikarabad
mandal networked with likeminded NGOs in Vikarabad mandal and actively involved them in the
campaign. One constable each has been posted as Child Welfare Officer in all 8 Police Stations of
the mandal. These functionaries are being involved in all activities taken up by the volunteers.
The crew of television news channel HMTV were invited to visit 2 schools of the project area, where
they interacted with children on the problems that they were facing by due to lack of toilets and
bathrooms.
Special efforts were made during September to strengthen the capacities of the CRPF and the REPC.
Active members were identified in all mandals and they were given intensive inputs on their role in
school monitoring.
The efforts put in by the volunteers to strengthen government schools have paid off and hundreds of
children have been shifted from private schools to these schools, the details of which are as below:
Mandal
Pudur
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Shabad
Chevella
Total
Children
227
143
212
223
376
1181
Campaign against child marriage
Special efforts were put in by the CRPF and the REPC to prevent the occurrence of child marriage.
They interacted on an ongoing basis with adolescent groups, Anganwadi Workers and school-going
children to keep track of such incidents and addressed them on a priority basis, involving the mandal
officials where necessary. A Girl Child Rights Protection Forum was formed at the mandal level in
Shabad with 13 members as a follow up of a decision made during a meeting on child marriage,
education and trafficking.
52 cases of child marriage were identified and 33 successfully solved, the details of which are as
under:
Mandal
Identified
Prevented
Vikarabad
5
9
Shankarpally
15
6
Chevella
4
2
Pudur
15
6
Shabad
13
10
Total
52
33
An orientation session on the ill effects of child marriage, discrimination against the girl child and girl
child foeticide was convened in Boys’ ZPHS Aloor, Chevella mandal on 21st March 2012 with the
participation of nearly 550 members and more than 500 children from Chevella, Shankarpally, Pudur,
Nawabpet, Shabad and Moinabad mandals. Key participants included NCPCR State Representative
Mr.Y.Rajendra Prasad, DSP Ms.Shilpavalli, MPDO Ms.Ratnamma, SI of Police Mr.J.Upender, Dr.
Srinivas of Chevella Civil Hospital, Aloor Market Cooperative Society chairperson Mr.Krishna Reddy
and APM – IKP Ms.Manjula Vani. Presentations were made on child marriage legislations, domestic
violence against women, the problem of dowry and gender equity. The volunteers sang inspirational
songs. Mr.Y.Rajendra Prasad informed that all sections of society are equally responsible for
preventing child marriage. The DSP spoke on the adverse impact of child marriage on the overall
wellbeing of the girl child. She offered all cooperation from her side. The doctor shared his
experiences with victims of child marriage and spoke on the health effects of child marriage. The APM
promised to involve the MMS and VOs in the agenda of preventing child marriage. The SI of Police
arranged a magic show and mimicry on the occasion. He also sponsored 1000 campaign pamphlets.
He called upon the members present to inform him whenever they came across a case of child
marriage. Elected representatives came forward to meet the costs of logistical arrangements.
School Enrolment
Details of out-of-school children were gathered from head teachers. The volunteers and the SubCommittees later undertook a door-to-door motivation drive taking along the lists that they had
prepared, to bring back these children to school. They met the children’s parents and identified the
reasons for their wards’ dropout/withdrawal from school. Panchayat members were also involved in
the counseling sessions.
The teams also met parents of children with learning gaps and counseled them to send their children
to school, guaranteeing quality education. Adolescent girls were given inputs on the importance of girl
child education. The merits of government schools over private schools were highlighted. Parents
were informed that government schools also taught English and that they ought to send their children
there. The School Reopening Day was used as a platform to forge links between the Sub-Committees
and teachers. Sarpanchs were also met and asked to take steps to strengthen schools.
Rallies were held in all schools with teachers and children and the need for all children aged 6-14 to
be in school was publicised. People were assembled in the village square with help from VOs and
village elders. Parents were urged to regularly attend parent-teacher meetings being held in school.
The need to include parents of school-going children in SMCs was also emphasised, as it would help
improve the record of enrolment and retention in school. VO meetings were held during Education
Fortnight to pass resolutions to ensure the presence of all children in school. A message was sent
across to all members that no minor girls must be married and that no loans must be given to perform
such marriages.
The details of children enrolled in school are as under:
Mandal
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Vikarabad
Total
B (6-8)
203
352
209
249
260
1273
G (6-8)
307
368
247
317
263
1502
Total
510
720
456
566
523
2775
Examination follow up
Meetings were held with head teachers, the CRPF, the REPC and youth from the first week of April
on to discuss plans for ensuring that all children gave the annual exams. They personally visited all
schools and collected details of absentees. This information was also cross checked with a database
generated by the volunteers and follow up exercises taken up to reach out to such children. Interested
children’s applications were also forwarded for appearance as private candidates. Mandal level
meetings were held in Chevella separately with head teachers, the CRPF and the TFCR.
The details of children followed up for the exams are as under:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Irregular children
Private appearance
116
187
226
125
174
828
92
6
18
42
32
190
3 married girls and some migrant children were among those giving the exams from Shankarpally. 48
children from Chevella mandal gave the Instant Exams. The children from Pudur mandal included one
girl each from Mirzapur and Dandugatta that were due to be married. Their parents were counseled to
permit them to give the exams.
Press Meets
Pres Meets were held on 8th June in Shabad and on 3rd June in Vikarabad with 15 and 20 members
respectively. Participants included Convenors of the RTI, CRPF and REPC campaign committees.
Discussions were held on the RTE Act, its implementation, status of functioning of government
schools, taking ahead implementation of the Act and the role of media in the campaign. The activities
that were proposed to be taken up during School Reopening Day were shared with them. The
participants opined that it government teachers had not been devoting enough time to strengthen their
schools. The need to change their attitude and to lay greater emphasis on the RTE Act was focused
upon
The meet in Shabad was followed up by a special drive, during which information was collected on
how many teachers came regularly to school and how many did not. The members divided
responsibilities between themselves and visited all schools in the mandal. They noted that 16 school
teachers had not attended duty on the day of the visit. Petitions were submitted to the MEO in this
regard. He took the teachers to task. Teachers in 10 schools have now become regular to their duties.
Campaign against fees
The CRPF and the REPC took steps to see to it that no school collected fees from children seeking
admission or transfer. They pressurised head teachers not to charge children fees of any kind, as this
would be in contravention of the RTE Act. 5 schools in Pudur mandal had been charging Rs. 5-21 per
child. 3 of them returned the money budging to the pressure and the other schools did not return any
money but did not collect money from children that were enrolled later. Rs.40-60 each were returned
to children in 2 schools of Vikarabad mandal.
Orientation
Orientation sessions were held for stakeholder groups on the RTE Act. They were informed that the
Act had been passed with the objective of providing all children 6-14 years with access to education.
It has 7 Chapters and 38 Sections, of which Sections 3, 4, 5, 7, 8, 12, 13, 17, 28, 29, 30, 31 and 39
are most relevant.
The below are the key provisions of the Act:
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All children aged 6-14 shall have access to free education, uniform and stationery in
neighbourhood schools
The government shall make available basic infrastructure in all schools
No fee shall be collected from any child whatsoever in a government school
Ramps and other necessary arrangements shall be facilitated for differently abled children in
school
It is not binding on children to submit any certificate whatsoever at the time of admission and
a parental declaration shall be taken as proof of the child’s age/date of birth
The Gram Panchayat must display all information relating to children in the Panchayat Notice
Board
The government shall make free transport arrangements for children attending school at a
distance of more than 3 kilometres
Private schools must not collect Capitation Fee or conduct eligibility tests. A penalty of up to
Rs.25000/- shall be levied in case a test is held and an amount of 10 times the Capitation Fee
shall be recovered where applicable
No teacher shall resort to corporal punishment
No teacher shall undertake non-teaching duties other than Census Duty, Election Duty and
Relief Activity
Incidents involving violation of the Act can be referred to the NCPCR, the District Collector,
the DEO, the MEO or the Gram Panchayat
The members were also informed that the custom of child marriage is one of the major causes for
ineffective implementation of the RTE Act. Some members opined during the feedback sessions that
instruction in the English medium could help enhance enrolment and retention levels in school. They
also discussed the poor academic standards of their children, teacher irregularity, unavailability of
basic infrastructure in schools and inaccessibility to public transport.
Orientation sessions were held for stakeholder groups on various issues being addressed by the
campaign. The details of training sessions held are as under:
Mandal
Chevella
Shabad
Shankarpally
Pudur
Vikarabad
Group
REPC
CRPF
Parents
Youth
VOs
TFCR
Mixed Group
REPC
CRPF
Parents
Sessions
5
4
4
3
9
1
1
22
30
90
Members
45
204
200
45
350
17
65
250
350
2700
TFCR
3
45
VOs
Mixed Group
1
2
45
20
Adolescent Girls
15
750
REPC
CRPF
Youth
49
85
62
569
901
934
VOs
30
900
Parents
75
1875
TFCR
5
83
Adolescent Girls
22
1346
REPC
CRPF
Youth
VOs
1
6
8
15
40
97
190
315
Adolescent Girls
2
320
REPC
CRPF
Youth
21
3
12
500
90
260
CWSN
1
120
11
598
203
13829
VOs
Total
Agenda
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act, Corporal Punishment
RTI Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act, Corporal Punishment,
Quality Education
RTE Act, Child Marriage
RTI Act
Child Marriage, Girl Child
Education, Health
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
Child Marriage, Girl Child
Education
RTE Act
RTE Act, Corporal Punishment,
Quality Education
Child Marriage, Girl Child
Education
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act
Child Marriage, Girl Child
Education
RTE Act
RTE Act
RTE Act, Corporal Punishment
Rights of CWSN, RTE Act, RTI
Act
RTE Act, Child Marriage
2 division level orientation sessions were held for REPC and CRPF members from the project area,
the details of which are as under:
Date
23rd April
30th
April
Venue
Vikarabad
Shabad
Shankarpally
Pudur
Chevella
Total
Mandal
Dharur
Camp
Alur Camp
Members
15
11
14
12
17
69
Issues covered under the training programme include the RTE and the RTI Acts, provisions of the
RTE Act, class wise academic skills, SMCs, identifying problem issues, petitioning, display of
information boards in all government offices and the role of the REPC in the campaign. MVF Training
Coordinator Dhanunjay and State Resource Person Anand provided the resource on 23 rd April 2011.
District Coordinator Narasimha and Anand provided the resource on 30 th April 2011.
Orientation sessions were held on the following issues for children from Classes 6-10 in UPS and HS
of the project area:
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Corporal punishment
Children’s entitlements under the RTE Act
Method of petitioning through the RTI Act
Free education without fees
Continuous Comprehensive Evaluation
Formation of SMCs with parents
25% quota in private schools for children from economically backward classes
TFCR members actively supported the volunteers in this exercise. Teachers, MVF staff and the REPC
provided the resource. The details of schools and children oriented are as follows:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Schools
8
6
5
2
3
24
Children
1093
1323
240
2400
850
5906
A district level meeting was organised at Shankarpally on 7th September 2011 with the participation of
nearly 600 REPC members. They reviewed the progress of their activities and mutually shared the
problems that they had faced during their school visits. They also spoke in detail on violations in the
context of the RTE Act. National Convener of MVF R.Venkat Reddy and NCPCR State
Representative Y.Rajendra Prasad addressed the members on the occasion. It was resolved at the
end of the meeting that petitions would be submitted to the NCPCR and to district level officials on the
steps to be taken to strengthen schools with special reference to adherence to the RTE Act.
Petitions
The CRPF and the REPC submitted petitions to authorities at various levels on issues relating to
violation of the RTE Act and children’s rights, the details of which are as under:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Petitions
Recipient
195
NCPCR, Education Minister,
Chief Secretary – Education,
District Collector, DEO,
Deputy DEO, Special Officer,
Tehsildar, MPDO, MEO, PD –
RVM
196
NCPCR, Education Minister,
Chief Secretary – Education,
District Collector, DEO,
Deputy DEO, Tehsildar, SI,
MPDO, MEO, Sarpanch
143
NCPCR, Education Minister,
Chief Secretary – Education,
District Collector, Deputy
DEO, Special Officer,
Tehsildar, MPDO, MEO, PD –
RVM, CDPO – ICDS, Indira
Kranthi Patham Area
Coordinator
Issues
Reopening defunct school, Additional
teachers, admission fees, infrastructure,
restrictions on teachers’ deputation to
other villages, travel allowance, kitchen
shed, SMC formation, supply of free
stationery, quota for poor children in
private schools, training of SMC
members, Corporal Punishment,
implementation of midday meal
scheme, child labour, irregularity of
teachers, facilities for CWSN, birth and
marriage registration.
School infrastructure, Capitation Fees,
transport allowance, teacher irregularity,
schools without permission, child
labour, uniform, supplies of school
books, quota for poor children in private
schools, Corporal Punishment,
implementation of midday meal
scheme, facilities for CWSN, birth and
marriage registration.
Additional teachers, admission fees,
infrastructure, restrictions on teachers’
deputation to other villages, travel
allowance, kitchen shed, SMC
formation, supply of free stationery,
quota for poor children in private
schools, training of SMC members,
Corporal Punishment, implementation
of midday meal scheme, child labour,
irregularity of teachers, facilities for
CWSN, birth and marriage registration.
Pudur
163
Shabad
124
Total
821
NCPCR, Education Minister,
Chief Secretary – Education,
District Collector, DEO, Road
Transport Corporation Depot
Manager, Deputy DEO,
Special Officer, Tehsildar,
MPDO, MEO, PD – RVM
NCPCR, Education Minister,
Chief Secretary – Education,
District Collector, DEO,
Deputy DEO, Tehsildar, SI,
MPDO, MEO, Sarpanch
School infrastructure, upgrading
schools, additional teachers,
transportation charges for children,
public transport facility, training of SMC
members, Corporal Punishment,
implementation of midday meal
scheme, child labour, irregularity of
teachers, facilities for CWSN, birth and
marriage registration
Additional teachers in 19 schools,
infrastructure, restrictions on teachers’
deputation to other villages, private
school fees, kitchen shed, SMC
formation, child and bonded child
labour, action against unrecognised
schools, training of SMC members,
Corporal Punishment, implementation
of midday meal scheme, child labour,
irregularity of teachers, facilities for
CWSN, birth and marriage registration
The outcomes of the petitions are as follows:
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Toilets and bathrooms were sanctioned in 10 schools of Shankarpally mandal
Compound walls were sanctioned in 7 schools of Shankarpally mandal
Four classrooms were sanctioned in 2 schools of Shankarpally mandal
Ramps were constructed in 3 schools of Shankarpally mandal
Drinking water facilities were provided in 27 schools of Shabad mandal
Teachers that had been sent to other schools on deputation were repatriated in 5 schools of
Shabad mandal
A school was set up in Pedda Solipet village of Shabad mandal for 24 children
Ten volunteers were recruited in schools of Shabad mandal
Eight schools of Shabad mandal were sanctioned buildings
An Engineer was instructed to prepare estimate for a school playground in PS Pedavedu,
Shabad mandal
The premises of PS Laxmaraoguda, Shabad mandal were cleaned through the NREGS
A kitchen shed was constructed in PS Venkammaguda, Shabad mandal
Toilets and urinals were sanctioned in Ubbagunta, Bobbiligama and Komarabanda, Shabad
mandal
Two child marriages were prevented in Shabad mandal as a follow up of petitions to the
officials
Uniform was distributed to 230 children from Chevella mandal
Eggs are being served to children twice a week in 16 schools of Shabad mandal
Lists of births and marriages registered were shared with the staff members in 14 Panchayats
of Chevella mandal in response to a petition under the RTI Act
Twelve toilets were sanctioned in Chevella mandal
Four compound walls were constructed in Chevella mandal
Six buildings were sanctioned in Chevella mandal
An Engineer was deputed to prepare estimates for ramps in schools of Chevella mandal
A school building was sanctioned in Malkapur, Chevella mandal
Two education volunteers were posted in Chevella mandal
Buildings were sanctioned in 5 schools of Vikarabad mandal
Toilets were sanctioned in 5 schools of Vikarabad mandal
Work on a compound wall was completed in Boorgupally village of Vikarabad mandal
Ramps were constructed in Kottamgutta Thanda of Vikarabad mandal
Five additional teachers were posted in schools of Vikarabad mandal
Uniforms were distributed to children in 9 schools of Vikarabad school
Three subject teachers were posted in Peddeumenthal, Pudur mandal
Toilets and urinals were sanctioned in 4 schools of Pudur mandal
A bonded child labourer was freed from work in Qutbullapur, Pudur mandal
One teacher that had been sent on deputation was repatriated in Pudur mandal
Public transport service to Pendlimadugu, Vikarabad was restored benefiting 15 children in
the process.
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The defunct PS in Narayanpur, Vikarabad mandal was reopened and 75 children have been
attending it. 3 schools pout up boards stating that they would not charge Capitation Fee.
The UPS in Kadumuru and Nizampet Medipally, Pudur mandal were upgraded to the level of
Class 8.
Funds were sanctioned for water supply and the construction of a compound wall in Nizampet
Medipally, Pudur mandal.
One teacher was deputed to the school in Machanpally, Shabad through a petition.
One MRP in Chevella was sent back to his posting in Kummera from the mandal
headquarters following a petition to the MEO.
Responding to a petition, the MEO of Shankarpally issued a circular instructing private schools to stop
conducting eligibility tests failing which they action would be initiated against them. The Mandal CRPF
had appended the copies of some fee receipts issued to a parent by Revathi High School. He sought
an explanation from the school management in this regard. He also closed down an unrecognised
school in Elwerthy and ordered the authorities of Gitanjali School, Parveda to discontinue Classes 8
and 9, as they had not sought the necessary permissions.
Task Force Committee meetings
A Task Force Committee meeting was convened in Shabad on 18th April 2011 to discuss bonded child
labour, child marriage, the RTE Act, the status of review meetings and activities of the REPC. 6
children were freed from bondage after the mandal officials spoke to their employers and issued
notices to them. 5 child marriages were also prevented through the officials’ intervention. The MPDO
promised to ensure regular conduct of Panchayat review meetings.
A Task Force Committee meeting was held in Vikarabad on 8 th April 2011 to focus on the problems of
child labour and child marriage. 8 girls’ parents were counseled. 2 marriages were prevented in
Madanpally through the involvement of the officials, the CRPF and the REPC. The Tehsildar called
upon ICDS staff and Panchayat Secretaries to focus more on addressing the problem of child
marriage.
The term of the Sarpanchs ended in September 2011 and Special Officers replaced them. However,
not many people from Shabad mandal were aware of this arrangement. The mandal in-charge took
this issue to the notice of the MPDO. She accordingly convened a Task Force Committee meeting on
8th December 2011 with the participation of 35 members including the Mandal Special Officer, the
MPDO, the Tehsildar, the MEO, Panchayat Secretaries, Village Special Officers and MVF staff. The
Mandal Special Officer chaired the meet. The discussions focused on the status of child labour, birth
and marriage registration, problems being faced in school, the need for Panchayat level review
meetings, regularity of SMC meetings and public display boards with data on children aged 0-18 in all
Panchayats. A review meeting was convened in Shabad with representatives of all local institutions
as a follow up.
A Task Force Committee was held in Pudur on 9th March 2012 to discuss the issues of child labour
and bonded child labour. The Tehsildar chaired the session. The Executive Officer – Rural
Development, the MEO, ICDS staff, head teachers of High Schools, Panchayat Secretaries and
VROs were present. It was observed that no proper information mechanism in the context of child
marriage and that information was being received only a day or two before the conduct of the
marriage. The Tehsildar called upon the ICDS staff to track child marriages regularly and urged
Secretaries to register all marriages.
Rallies
CRPF, REPC and Gram Panchayat members, youth, elected representatives, VO members, political
leaders, teachers, children and volunteers participated in rallies held across the project area to
highlight the provisions of the RTE Act. They sang songs, chanted slogans and addressed community
on the provisions of the RTE Act at central locations, involving opinion leaders. Rallies were also held
on the occasion of Independence Day.
The details of participants in rallies are as under:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Rallies
60
48
50
42
57
257
Participants
11000
8880
8350
7900
10800
46930
Rallies were also organised in four mandals on 3rd December 2011 to mark World Disabled Day.
These rallies were conducted late in the evenings with support from local NGOs and community
groups. The details of rallies are as follows:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Shabad
Total
Rallies
2
5
4
4
15
Participants
571
743
554
421
2289
Wall Writings
20-70 slogans each were painted on walls at central locations in 88 villages of the project area to
send across key messages in the context of child rights and the RTE Act. REPC, CRPF and Gram
Panchayat members in all villages donated generously for the cause. Labour was contributed by local
community in Pudur mandal. REPC members and women’s groups bore the cost of the paint and
labour in some villages of Vikarabad mandal. Gram Panchayat members and REPC members
sponsored labour in some villages of Shankarpally mandal. The details of wall writings are as under:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Villages
21
18
32
12
5
88
Wall Writings
625
1600
615
300
110
3250
CD Presentation
A CD brought out by the government to publicise the RTE Act was telecast during Grama Sabhas
held in 46 villages across the project area as follows:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Villages
14
19
10
2
1
46
Community groups made logistical arrangements for the telecast and also provided the necessary
televisions and video players.
Pamphlets
More than 40000 campaign pamphlets were distributed across the project area. Head teachers from 3
schools in Chevella mandal designed their own pamphlets and promised to strengthen their schools.
They invited parents to enrol children in their schools. Teachers from 4 schools in Shabad mandal
designed similar pamphlets and called upon parents to send children to their schools. In addition,
CRPF and REPC members in 3 villages modified the pamphlet and printed them on their own.
1000 pamphlets were sponsored by youth in Keravelli, Pudur mandal. They took up a door-to-door
drive and urged parents to send their children to government school, as the government had
guaranteed free and compulsory education to all children aged 6-14 years. REPC and CRPF
members contacted each ward member individually and handed over a copy of the campaign
pamphlet to each of them. Arrangements were made to insert the pamphlets within the folds of daily
newspapers in order to maximise outreach. The details of pamphlets distributed are as follows:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Shankarpally
Chevella
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Pamphlets
4000
7500
8500
9000
5000
34000
Contributed by community
3500
5000
5000
13500
Cultural Campaign
Songs and games were used as a platform to educate community on the provisions of the RTE Act in
all Panchayats of the project area. A skit was performed in 3 villages of Shabad mandal to highlight
the merits of government schools vis-à-vis problems faced in private school and the merits of
government schools. Nearly 600 people witnessed these performances.
A cultural campaign was taken up in 4 mandals during February 2011 to publicise the RTE Act. The
volunteers performed skits and sang songs in the school premises and in the village square. They
also staged separate performances for children suffering from hearing disorders. The performances
featured in schools during the daytime and in the villages during the evenings.
The details of villages covered are as under:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Performances
14
Participants
3018
Shankarpally
10
2507
Chevella
11
3493
Shabad
8
1251
Total
43
10369
Key participants
MEO, CDPO, MRPs, State
CRPF Co-Convener, District
CRPF Convener,
MEO, MRPs, former MPP,
Mandal CRPF Convener and
Co-Convener
MEO, MRPs, Division CRPF
Convener, Mandal CRPF
Convener and Co-Convener
District CRPF Co-Convener
and Mandal CRPF Convener
Girl Child Day
Essay writing competitions on child marriage and health were organised on the occasion of National
Girl Child Day on 24th January 2012 in Shabad. Traditional muggulu competitions, elocution and
essay writing competitions featured in Chevella. Village elders and the CRPF addressed girls on the
issues of health, girl child education and child marriage in Shankarpally. ICDS staff, CRPF and Gram
Panchayat members gave away prizes. Mandal level events were organised in Shankarpally, Shabad
and Vikarabad. The details of celebrations are as follows:
Mandal
Chevella
Shabad
Shankarpally
Vikarabad
Total
Villages
8 schools from 7 villages
Girls’ High School
Girls’ High School
3 schools + 1 mandal
Participants
600
450
470
700
11 schools + 3 mandal
2220
Key participants
MEO, MRPs, TFCR members
MEO, MRPs, CRPF members
DSP, SI of Police, MEO, MRPs,
CRPF State Committee member,
CRPF District Convener, CRPF
Town Convener
REPC school visits
School visits were taken up by the REPC and the CRPF in two spells. The first round focused on the
status of infrastructure, collection of fees and the implementation of the RTE Act. The second visit
focused on assessing learning levels. The children’s attendance during the assembly hour was noted.
Their academic levels were assessed and the outcomes shared with head teachers based on a
Summary Sheet used by the visiting team. Inputs were given to them on the weak areas of the
children. The details of schools visited in the two spells mandal wise are as under:
Mandal
Pudur
Vikarabad
Chevella
Shabad
Shankarpally
Total
First Spell
33
28
27
30
51
169
Second Spell
16
8
13
20
6
63
The team members noted during their visit to Angadi Chittampally, Pudur that children from Class 3
could not write a leave letter properly. When asked to justify this, the teachers replied that they had no
problem repeating any of the content from their textbooks. They were told that it was not sufficient for
them to be able to memorise content – their capacities to write on their own ought to be built as well.
Petitions were submitted in Nizampet Medipally for water supply and the construction of a compound
wall. A bore well had been sanctioned and half the compound wall built by the next visit but the water
was not potable. A petition was submitted to the NCPCR asking for another bore well to be dug. The
head teacher of the school in Kandlapally has begun reporting regularly to his duties after being
pulled up.
No uniform had been issued in most schools of Vikarabad. A petition was submitted to the officials in
this regard, following which uniform was supplied. The formation of children’s sub-groups was
suggested to teachers on the basis of the visits and they were asked to take steps to convene
meetings with the Academic Monitoring Committee and the SMC every month. Parents were urged to
monitor their children’s learning levels.
96 children had been enrolled in PS Garib Nagar – Vikarabad but no building was available. The head
teacher informed that a building had been sanctioned but no place was available anywhere with the
exception of the High School premises, where there was some extra room. The issue was referred to
the MEO, who got a No Objection Certificate from the head teacher of the High School. Letters were
also written to the Chief Executive Officer of the Zilla Parishad, the DEO and the Project Officer O –
RVM. The process of transferring the rooms is underway.
Implementation of the midday meals was streamlined in 17 schools of Chevella. The workers were
spoken to in the head teachers’ presence and they were told that they had to maintain quality even
though they had not been reimbursed their bills. One teacher each from Mirzaguda and Bastepur
were absent during the visit. They claimed to have been deputed to the DEO’s office. However, the
DEO maintained that he was ignorant of this fact. It was later noted that one of the teachers had
proceeded on long leave without permission and the other had joined the DEO’s office but had not
turned up there for 2 months.
6 schools of Shabad mandal had been facing shortage of teachers. The Telugu Pandit from UPS
Bodampahad had gone on deputation to the mandal headquarters as MRP. A petition was submitted
to the MEO. The same was the situation in Damarlapally, Machanpally and Hayatabad, where
teachers had been sent on deputation. The new school building in UPS Bobbiligama had not been
inaugurated, as the officials were unavailable. Animals were being tied in the backyard. The MEO was
invited to the school and he finally inaugurated it. A local had donated some land to construct a
compound wall around the school in Kummariguda but he got the toilets built in on his own land. He
did not let the children use them. Some political leaders were involved in the issue and the problem
has been solved.
A teacher from the school in Damarlapally had an accident and did not turn up at school for 3-4 days.
However, he failed to inform his higher-ups and the school was closed during that period. A Vidya
Volunteer was later placed in charge of the school but the MEO was asked to send another teacher
and he obliged by arranging a replacement. One of the three teachers from PS Hayatabad, where
155 children were enrolled, was on long leave and another of them was to retire on 30 th August. The
issue was referred to the DEO, who got one teacher and volunteer each recruited there.
Availability of water and toilets was a problem in most UPS and PS of Shankarpally. Petitions were
submitted to officials at various levels. Quality of education was an issue of concern in 6 schools. The
teachers were not regular and most of them had been missing the prayer hour. They were asked to
turn up at school in time and to check how much of what was being taught was understood by the
children. They have promised to change this by the next visit.
The visiting team petitioned to the MEO after they noted that one of the two teachers in Fatehpur had
been deputed to the mandal headquarters as MRP. A Vidya Volunteer has been recruited in place of
the teacher. The teacher in charge of PS Janwada PS told the visiting teams that their presence was
disturbing her, when they proposed to test the children, as they sat there until the afternoon. Some
VO members were taken on a visit to the school in the second round but she stopped them. The issue
was referred to the MEO, who asked her to let them test the children. The teacher at the school in
Maharajpet Thanda has become regular to his duties after the MRP spoke to him following a petition
to the MEO.
Hostel visits
The Mandal CRPF and Mandal REPC teams and the MVF organisers visited the BC (Boys) and SC
(Boys) hostels in Pudur on 15th September. The BC Hostel had no proper building and lacked toilets,
bathrooms and fans. The water was insufficient and not potable. The visitors also noted that the food
that had been cooked during the visit was insufficient for the children. It was proposed to move the
MPDO in this regard but he was unavailable on account of the agitation for a separate Telangana
State. The team members have decided to submit the petition during the Praja Darbar.
The warden in charge of the SC Hostel was a warden in-charge and not a full time warden. The
visiting team found some worms in the food during their visit and rang up the warden, who was not
around during the visit. She replied that she would report the next day. The hostel also had no lights
and fans. The team has proposed to highlight these issues during the Praja Darbar.
The REPC and CRPF members visited the SC (Boys), SC (Girls) and BC (Boys) hostels in
Shankarpally. They noted during their visit to the BC hostel that one of the boys there was down with
fever but none had been caring for him. They took the issue to the notice of the Deputy Social Welfare
Officer, the Assistant Social Welfare Officer and the warden, after which the boy was sent to hospital.
An in-charge warden had been posted to the SC (Boys) hostel. Everything was well there but the
quality of food was poor.
The SC Boys’ and SC Girls’ hostels in Shankarpally had a common warden. She was highly irregular,
and used to report only once in a month or so. The watchman began shirking his duties, as a result of
which standards of maintenance in both hostels were quite poor. The children staged a protest for 5
days at the MPDO’s office with support from political leaders, unions, the Mandal Special Officer, the
Tehsildar and the MPDO. They personally tested the rice and the Dal and noted that they were of
poor quality. The children pressurised the Special Officer to remove the warden and to also suspend
one of the workers in the SC Boys’ hostel, as he had been forcing them to do small chores. The
worker was removed from his duties and the warden was agreed to set right her ways. She has been
relieved of her Boys’ Hostel duties now.
Some auto rickshaws were being parked opposite the SC (Girls) hostel. There were some weeds in
the vicinity of the hostel and the toilets were not in shape. The shutters of the Panchayat office, which
was adjacent to the hostel, afforded anyone a good view of the bathrooms, as the wall was quite low.
The warden was told of this and he got the height of the wall raised. The weeds have been removed
and 5 toilets cleaned.
The REPC and CRPF members undertook a visit to the BC (Girls) and SC – No. 2 (Boys) hostels in
Vikarabad on 30th August. They noted that the SC hostel had been operating from a private building
that had no toilets. Supply of water was short and not enough notebooks had been issued to children.
They had also not received their cosmetics allowance. The members took the warden to task and he
arranged for books to be supplied. The top floor of the Girls’ hostel had been leaking. No plates,
glasses and blankets had been given to the children and they had received only one set of uniform.
There was delay in release of allowances and some of them had not received their supply of
notebooks. Toilets were unavailable. A petition was submitted to the Revenue Division Officer. A
survey of 15 hostels brought out that the BC (Boys) hostel had no doors. The KGBV was housed in a
decrepit building.
The REPC and the CRPF visited the SC (Boys), SC (Girls) and BC (Boys) hostels in Chevella and the
SC (Boys) hostel in Alur on 29th July. The stew in the BC hostel was quite thin stew. The hostel had
no doors and windows. Water was unavailable and there were no health check up facilities. A petition
was submitted to the Tehsildar. He visited the hostel the next day and saw that the children down with
fever. He rang up the warden, who was absent during his visit, to first report to him and warned him of
official action if he did not take his duties seriously. The warden got the bore well repaired. The quality
of food is better now. Follow up visits were made to the hostels on 9 th August. The issue of stray dogs
in Alur was taken to the notice of elected representatives during the Praja Darbar. The Panchayat
office took immediate steps to rid the village of the menace by catching some dogs.
The following are the other outcomes of the visits:
Mandal
Hostel
SC Girls
SC Boys
Chevella
BC Boys
SC Boys – Aloor
KGBV
Shabad
SC Boys
Girls (General)
Pudur
SC Hostel
BC Hostel
Vikarabad
No. I SC Hostel
No. 2 SC Hostel
KGBV
Issue(s) Resolved
Improved quality of food
Leaking roof repaired, Water supply for toilets restored
Unclean premises cleaned, Repairs to bore well
Improved quality of food
Electrical cables reset, Water tank cleaned
Improved quality of meal
Minor repairs, Toilets cleaned
Improved quality of food
Water problem solved – bore well replaced with hand pump
One acre of land allotted for building
Senior children had been forcing their juniors to wash their
clothes – they were warned
Adherence to midday meal menu
Adherence to midday meal menu and Follow up of 5 dropouts
Teacher regularity
Regularisation of electrical supply
Promise by MPDO to take up monthly visits to the hostel
Release of money towards 2 months’ scholarship
Improved quality of food and Teacher regularity
Improved quality of food
30 irregular children attending Boys’ HS have become regular
Release of personal allowance, Improved quality of food
10 irregular children attending PS have become regular
Promise by officials to shift the KGBV to a new building in the
next year
Independence Day
Independence Day was celebrated across the project area on 15th August. REPC Village Conveners
were invited as the chief guests on the occasion. They spoke on provisions of the RTE Act and spelt
out details of problems in the local schools. They called upon parents to attend all school level
meetings. Donations were solicited from them for school development. The details of villages in which
Independence Day was celebrated and of the value of their contributions are as under:
Mandal
Shabad
Vikarabad
Pudur
Chevella
Shankarpally
Total
Villages
20
15
10
25
12
82
Contribution (Rs.)
47,000
9,000
30,000
15,800
6,20,000
7,21,800
Residential Bridge Course Camp
60 children were shifted from the Residential Bridge Course Camp in Alur to KGBV in line with the
norms of the RTE Act and the camp was closed down.
Exposure Visits
181 people visited the project area during the reporting period, the details of which are as follows:
Mandal
Date
3rd
April ‘11
11th April ‘11
2nd May ‘11
June ‘11
14th June ‘11
6th
12th July ‘11
3rd August ‘11
Shankarpally
26th August ‘11
25th
Sept. ‘11
8th Nov. ‘11
22nd Dec. ‘11
24th Dec. ‘11
19th Jan. ‘12
19th Feb. ‘12
Feb. ‘12
14th March ‘12
27th
9th April ‘11
Chevella
13th Sept. ’11
21st
Jan. ‘12
19th
Feb. ‘12
9th April ‘11
Vikarabad
21st Sept. ’11
19th Feb. ‘12
3rd April ‘11
2nd May ‘11
25th Sept. ’11
Shabad
27th Oct. ‘11
Nov. ‘11
19th Jan. ‘12
19th
20th Feb. ‘12
9th April ‘11
21st Sept. ’11
Pudur
6th Jan. ‘12
18th Nov. ‘12
19th Feb. ‘12
Total
Group
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Bihar
Sujana Vani Foundation,
Hyderabad
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Bihar
Help International, USA
Help International, USA
Apeksha Homoeo Society,
Maharashtra
MSW Students –
Bangalore
Women’s groups
Elected representatives –
Assam
The Elder International
Foundation, London
Researcher, California
IAS Officer
Srilaja, Delhi
NCPCR Bal Bandhus –
Bihar
Priya – USA
Gunjan – NCPCR
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Bihar
Elected representatives –
Bihar
SSA – Rajasthan
NCPCR Bal Bandhus –
Bihar
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Bihar
Elected representatives –
Chhattisgarh, Bihar
NCPCR Bal Bandhus –
Bihar
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Assam
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Bihar
Elected representatives –
Chhattisgarh, Bihar
International Labour
Organisation
SDTT
Usha Roy – New Delhi
NCPCR Bal Bandhus –
Assam and Maharashtra
NCPCR Bal Bandhu
volunteers – Bihar
Elected representatives –
Maharashtra, Bihar
Elected representatives –
Gujarat
NCPCR Bal Bandhus –
Maharashtra
NCPCR Bal Bandhus –
Bihar
Members
Place visited
9
Proddutur
8
Proddutur
9
Parveda
7
6
Mahalingapuram
Chandippa
18
Proddutur
24
Parveda, Mokila, Kondakal,
Shankarpally
Kothapally, Janwada
10
Parveda
6
Proddutur
1
1
1
Proddutur
Shankarpally
Shankarpally
15
Janwada
1
1
Shankarpally
Kondakal
20
Pamena, Kammeta
10
Mudimyal
10
Pamena
Ramannagudem,
Antharam
2
18
12
Girgitpally
10
Madgul Chittampally
20
Pulumaddi, Chittampally
8
Bobbiligama
4
Nagarkunta
7
Kesaram
2
Hayatabad
2
1
Thallapally
Kesaram, Bodampadu
Bobbiligama, Thallapally,
Hayatabad
30
9
Yenkepally
8
Angadi Chittampally
15
Angadi Chittampally
15
Keravelli
20
Yenkepally, NizampetMedipally
181
Organiser from Shankarpally Nagamani visited the project site of Lok Drishti, an NGO operational in
Naupada district of Orissa, from 1st – 4th March 2012 to interact with staff members and community on
various aspects of quality education. Senior organiser from Vikarabad Rameshwar attended a training
workshop organised in Rajasthan on personality development.
Institution building of Gram Panchayats to monitor children’s rights
Review Meetings
60 Panchayat level review meetings were convened to discuss the functioning of local institutions with
focus on their role in upholding children’s rights and effective implementation of the RTE Act. Issues
discussed during the meetings include maintenance of a database of children aged 0-18 years by the
Gram Panchayat, maintenance of a register in Model Panchayats, display of key information in the
Panchayat office, birth registration and marriage registration. The details of meetings are as under:
Mandal
Vikarabad
Chevella
Shankarpally
Pudur
Shabad
Total
Meetings
9
11
11
12
17
60
Some parents informed during a review meeting in Thallapally, Shabad mandal that the head teacher
had been unavailable for the last 3-4 days without intimation. The Sarpanch sent an official letter to
the MEO, asking him to replace the teacher. Upon coming to know of this, the head teacher claimed
that he had been down with ill health and promised to be regular. He has stuck to his words. The
Anganwadi Centre has also been given a new building as a follow up of a decision taken during the
meeting. The Worker has also begun attending to her duties regularly. 15 children were benefited in
the process.
The prayer was not being held regularly in Laxmaraoguda, Shabad mandal. Upon being informed of
this during a meeting, the MPTC went to the school on 2-3 consecutive days. There was no change in
the situation. He finally conducted the prayer hour himself. The head teacher reported at 11 a.m. on
that day. The MPTC took the issue to the MEO’s notice. He instructed the MRP to handle the issue.
The latter spoke to the head teacher and warned him, following which he has mended his ways
The head teacher of the school in Ramannaguda, Chevella mandal was a sworn alcoholic and used
to often turn up drunk at school, where he used to sleep in the classroom. Some parents complained
to the Sarpanch during a review meeting and he spoke to the head teacher once or twice but to no
avail. The Sarpanch then rang up the DEO and asked him to replace the head teacher. The MEO was
invited to attend a review meeting, during which he warned the head teacher to mend his ways. A
resolution was passed in the Panchayat earlier. The teacher has started attending his duties regularly
and so have four other teachers from the school.
The head teacher of the school in Singapuram, Shankarpally mandal informed that the school had 34
children but only one teacher. Shortage of water was another key issue of concern in the school. The
Sarpanch provided a pipeline connection to the school and also got some earth dumped in the
playground after being informed that it was being inundated during the monsoon. The Sarpanch of
Parveda got some tall grass in the school compound cleared after being informed during a review
meeting that the children had seen 2 snakes there.
The playground was levelled in PS Angadi Chittampally, Pudur mandal after the issue was taken to
the notice of the Sarpanch during a review meeting. The quality of water in the HS was not good and
the children had not been drinking it. The head teacher discussed this issue during a review meeting,
following which the Sarpanch provided a tap connection to the school.
School visits
The Panchayat level Sub-Committee members undertook 115 monitoring visits to schools of the
project area, the details of which are as follows:
Mandal
Pudur
Vikarabad
Chevella
Shabad
Shankarpally
Total
Visits
20
18
19
19
39
115
The Sub-Committee members noted during a visit to HS Peddeumenthal, Pudur mandal that the
school had 207 children but only 3 teachers. 2 volunteers had also been recruited from the village but
more volunteers were needed. No teacher had been volunteering to get posted there. When
contacted, the MEO informed that the school was not under his jurisdiction. A petition was submitted
during the Praja Darbar. The officials promised teachers at the earliest. 5 teachers were recruited
within a fortnight.
The MEO gave a nod for adding Class 7 at the school in Kadumuru, Pudur mandal after a petition
was submitted to him but he had ignored to forward the proposal o the Education Department. The
examination question papers were not sent to the school as a result. The Sub-Committee members
came to know of this during their visit and asked him to promptly submit the proposal, which he has
agreed to do.
2 out of 3 teachers from Yenkepally, Pudur mandal had been sent on deputation. Petitions were sent
to the NCPCR and the District Collector, asking for the teachers to be sent back to the school. 2 Vidya
Volunteers were posted in the school but pressure is being maintained for the teachers’ re-posting. 2
classrooms had been partly built at the school in Regadi Mamidipally. The contractor was replaced
after the newly formed REPC discussed the issue during a meeting following a school visit.
The school in Erravally, Vikarabad mandal had only one teacher for 75 children. The members noted
this during a visit and spoke to the MEO in this regard. He did not respond for a week, after which the
Sub-Committee members staged a protest at his office and at the DEO’s office. 2 teachers were duly
posted to the school. Teachers from the school in Pulumaddi requested the members to provide them
with a television, as they had many educational CDs. The issue was referred to the MPTC, who
promised to jointly sponsor Rs. 7000 along with a ward member. The issue is being followed up.
Water connectivity has also been provided to the school.
Toilets at the school in Madgul Chittampally, Vikarabad mandal were located at quite a distance from
the school and children had problems accessing them. The Gram Panchayat sponsored Rs. 10000
from the funds to get the girls’ toilet repaired. The parents of 120 children from Athvelly and Jampur
Thanda had been sending their children to other schools, as they were sceptical of the quality of
education in the government school. The Sub-Committee members assured them of quality education
and the teachers guaranteed results within a month. 90 children returned to the local school. They
later articulated a demand for an additional teacher. Fees collected from some children in Sidduluru
were returned after the children informed the Sub-Committee of this during their visit. The DEO and
the MEO were involved in the issue.
The Sub-Committee members noted during their visit to Smart Kidz, a private school in Nagarguda,
Shabad mandal that adherence to the Act was nil except for the fact that the school had big rooms.
The MEO had no idea of the existing state of affairs. A former Deputy Sarpanch, a former MPTC and
the Secretary went along with the Division CRPF Convenor to the school and shared the findings of
their visit with the MRP. The MRP later visited the school and gave the management a fortnight’s
notice.
A private school Sai Alekhya from Shabad mandal had organised Vinayaka Nimajjanam and had
taken along the school children without their parents’ permission. One of the children, a student of
Class 8 drowned in the water accidentally and died. The Sub-Committee and the CRPF highlighted
the issue and staged a protest at the gate of the school, calling upon the school management to own
up the responsibility. Compensation to the tune of Rs. 2.5 lakhs was finally agreed upon. Earlier, they
had submitted a petition in the Praja Darbar. The DEO has issued orders to close the school.
Petitions have also been submitted to him, asking him to order the closure of 5 unrecognised schools
in the mandal in all.
A 12-year old girl from Patelguda, Shabad mandal was studying in Class 4, as her father had
withdrawn her from school long ago and had entrusted her with the task of grazing the family goats.
She had been keen on studying and he obliged her to an extent by permitting her to leave them
nearby the school. Everything was fine until some wild dogs came and bit one of the goats one day.
Her father beat her up badly and asked her to work until the cost of the goat was recovered. The SubCommittee came to know of the issue during a visit and counseled him to let her study. The case is
being followed up.
17 children from Pedavedu Thanda, Shabad mandal had been commuting to Hayatabad and
Madduru but were not being conveyance in line with the norms of the RTE Act. Having observed this
during a visit, the Panchayat members convened a meeting with their parents and also planned to
submit a petition during Praja Darbar. Auto rickshaw facility has been arranged for them and each
child pays Rs. 100 a month.
No teachers were present at the school in Parveda, Shankarpally during the Sub-Committee’s visit.
The head teacher was on long leave and 2 teachers had gone on leave later. The MEO was
contacted over phone and he sent a teacher from another school on deputation. The members,
however, wanted to know what would be done to replace the other teachers. The issue was raised
during a discussion at the Mandal Resource Centre. The head teacher vented her anger at the REPC
and the officials. The MEO took her to task and got 2 volunteers appointed in the school. The District
Collector made it clear that he would institute an inquiry and act against the head teacher if she had
misrepresented the cause for her absence from school.
9 teachers had been posted in Tangaturu, Shankarpally mandal. Only 5 of them were available during
the visit by the Sub-Committee. One of them had been deputed to the DEO’s office and 2 were on
maternity leave. Yet another of them was down with 1 ill health. The members mobilised some VO
members and parents and met the head teacher. The head teacher informed that the DEO had not
instructed him in writing to send the teacher and that she herself was to blame partly for the state of
affairs. The issue was referred to the Home Minister, the District Collector and the Chief Executive
Officer of the Zilla Parishad. It is being followed up.
Mandal General Body meetings
The following issues were raised by Sarpanchs and other elected representatives during mandal level
General Body meetings:
Issue
Accommodation
Teachers’
deputation
Infrastructure
Anganwadi
Centres
Total
Shankarpally
8
Chevella
13
Pudur
5
Shabad
14
Pudur
15
Total
55
6
6
3
5
7
27
10
20
9
12
11
62
5
2
3
8
7
25
29
41
20
39
40
169
The term of the Gram Panchayat ended in September 2011 and Special Officers replaced Sarpanchs.
These Officers were involved in all campaign activities launched by the organisation. They were also
urged to engage with the SMC on an ongoing basis. Meetings are being held at the mandal level with
the participation of the Mandal Special Officer and all mandal level line departments once a fortnight
to specifically discuss sanitation and monthly to discuss all developmental issues at the village level.
Eight Panchayat level Education Sub-Committees that had been formed in Shankarpally under GO
No. 2 were highly inactive. The volunteers reconstituted these Sub-Committees. Display Boards with
data relating to children aged 5-15 years are being put up in 119 Panchayats of the project area as
under:
Mandal
Chevella
Shabad
Shankarpally
Pudur
Vikarabad
Total
Panchayats
27
29
24
18
21
119
The details of Gram Panchayats registering births and marriages are as follows:
Mandal
Chevella
Shabad
Shankarpally
Pudur
Vikarabad
Total
Birth Registration
18
25
18
22
18
101
Marriage Registration
15
15
11
16
8
65
STRENGTHENING OF SMCs
Guidelines had been issued for the formation of SMCs across the State in November 2011. The
volunteers were invited to a meeting organised by RVM in Hyderabad during the month. Subsequent
to their participation in the meet, they interacted with head teachers on the issue. They noted that
most of them were not familiar with the concept of the SMC and that they felt that there was no
distinction between the SMC and the existing Academic Monitoring Committee. The volunteers made
it clear to them that at least 75% of members on the SMC must be drawn from among parents and
that one half of them must be women. They also briefed them on the other norms governing the
formation of SMCs. In the meantime, some newspapers carried stories to the effect that MVF had
been forming SMCs. Upon coming to know of this, some officials of the Education Department
expressed their dissatisfaction with this and asked the volunteers why they had been interfering in
their duties. The volunteers replied that most of the head teachers had been unaware of the structure
and composition of the SMC. They later involved the head teachers actively in the process of forming
SMCs.
Orientation sessions were later held for SMC members at the village level, the details of which are as
below:
Mandal
Chevella
Shankarpally
Shabad
Pudur
Vikarabad
Total
Sessions
34
58
47
56
40
235
Members
732
1747
1175
1248
803
5705
Mandal level orientation sessions were also organised for SMC chairpersons on the structure of the
SMC and on the roles and responsibilities of the members. The details of the sessions are as under:
Mandal
Chevella
Shankarpally
Shabad
Pudur
Vikarabad
Total
Date
29-12-11
19-12-11
7-12-11
5-1-12
5-12-11
Members
75
48
75
44
50
292
Subsequent to the conduct of these meetings, the members undertook visits to schools in their
respective villages along with the REPC and the CRPF to identify gaps in implementation of the RTE
Act with specific focus on school governance, teacher irregularity, child absenteeism, use of School
Grants, infrastructure availability, implementation of the midday meal scheme, coordination with
teachers and quality education. These visits were taken up in three phases as below:
Mandal
Chevella
Shankarpally
Shabad
Pudur
Vikarabad
Schools
60
7
10
58
14
5
75
14
5
8
27
12
40
25
10
Agenda
Check infrastructure status
Check quality of education
Social Audit of midday meal scheme
Check infrastructure status
Check quality of education
Social Audit of midday meal scheme
Check infrastructure status
Check quality of education
Social Audit of midday meal scheme
Check infrastructure status
Check quality of education
Social Audit of midday meal scheme
Check infrastructure status
Check quality of education
Social Audit of midday meal scheme
They later consolidated the findings of these visits and discussed plans to petition to the officials in
this regard.
Mandal level review meetings were later held during February – March 2012 to share the outcomes of
the visits, the details of which are as follows:
Mandal
Chevella
Shankarpally
Shabad
Pudur
Vikarabad
Total
Date
10-3-12
28-2-12
25-2-12
27-2-12
28-2-12
Participants
30
30
80
50
70
260
Participant Profile
SMC
SMC, REPC, CRPF
SMC, REPC, CRPF
SMC, REPC, CRPF
SMC, REPC, CRPF
The MPDO, the MEO, the KBGV Principal and TFCR members were present during the meeting in
Shabad. Participants in Chevella included TFCR members. The MEO and the TFCR Convener took
part in the meeting in Shankarpally. The MPDO and MRPs turned up at Vikarabad. The Mandal
Special Officer and the MEO were among the participants in Pudur.
Responding to a petition by the members during the conduct of the review meeting, the MPDO of
Shabad mandal immediately provided water connectivity to 10 schools.
Participatory planning for school development was taken up in 90 schools of the project area with the
objective of preparing School Development Plans. The details are as below:
Mandal
Chevella
Shankarpally
Shabad
Pudur
Vikarabad
Total
Plans
34
18
15
14
9
90
Training and Technical Support
PROJECT OUTCOMES AND DISSEMINATION
The outcomes of the project were shared with community groups during periodical meetings held with
them. Village level convergence meetings were also used as a platform to share the outcomes of the
project and to seek support from officials and elected representatives for the campaign. The
volunteers also regularly updated line department officials and kept them abreast of developments in
the campaign.
CAPACITY BUILDING
Capacity building exercises were held for members of different groups such as the CRPF, the AMC,
Education Sub-Committees, the AITFCR, the REPC, and VOs, parents, youth, and students on the
provisions of the RTE Act and their role in streamlining its implementation. Periodical meetings were
also held with these groups to discuss problems being faced by them while addressing the agenda
and to seek solutions to them.
PROJECT MANAGEMENT
Staff meetings were held once in ten days to review the progress of the activity, identify problems
faced, support from other groups, and planning for the future. Monthly meetings of the mandal in-
charges also featured with a similar agenda. 2 project level meetings were held at quarterly intervals
with the participation of all field personnel.
IMPACT
15 community members have been prepared as resource persons and are ambassadors of the
programme
SMC members have owned up the agenda of school strengthening
Assessment of children’s learning levels has brought out that there is improvement among them
Teachers have become more serious about their duties and some of them have recognised the right
of every child to education
Parents are openly questioning teachers about quality education during SMC meetings and are
asking for details on their wards’ progress
Officials are very supportive of the agenda, especially the police department
Suggestions
Parents must be oriented on the RTE Act
Officials must undertake regular visits to schools and assess children’s academic levels
Exposure visits to the implementation site must be organised for Special Officers at the village and
mandal levels
Exchange visits of the staff members could be facilitated to other states in which the RTE Act is being
implemented effectively
STORIES FROM THE FIELD
PS Fatehpur in Shankarpally mandal had an enrolment of 40. The school had 2 government teachers,
one of who was on maternal leave. The other teacher had been deputed as MRP. The Sarpanch had
supported a volunteer in August 2011 but the latter quit attending to his duties after the Sarpanch’s
term ended in September. This issue was discussed during a meeting and a volunteer was posted in
November 2011. The midday meal worker had been cooking the meal at her home. The REPC and
the CRPF members undertook two monitoring visits to the school every week. They tracked the
number of children present in school before and after the lunch hour. They noted that some children
were being underfed. They were also not being fed eggs as per the norm. They later spoke to the
worker, who informed that she had no kitchen shed and also had no gas cylinder. She was told that
the school had 3 vacant rooms and that she could use one of them. She duly relocated to the school.
The REPC and the CRPF members spoke to the MRP and requested him to sanction a gas cylinder
to the agency. He advised them to get a cylinder from a Hyderabad based Gas Agency. A library that
had been functioning in the school had been closed down. The Panchayat Secretary had taken
charge of the 500 books that were available in the library. The members met him and requested him
to part with the books so that they could be placed in the Saakshara Bharati Centre. He consented to
this and also offered to sponsor a newspaper.
During their visit to Pulumaddi village of Vikarabad mandal, the REPC and the CRPF noted that 36
and 15 children from the ZPHS and PS respectively had not been partaking of the midday meal due
to unavailability of water. The school toilets were also unused due to lack of water facility. Learning
levels of nearly one half of the children present were not up to the mark. Three teachers had reported
late and 20-25 children from each of the schools turned up after the assembly hour. The newspaper
was not being read during the assembly hour. The teachers were asked to involve the children in the
assembly hour actively. The children have begun reading newspaper headlines after the daily prayer.
Water connectivity was provided to the school through the Rural Water Supply Department after the
Panchayat Secretary, the SMC, the REPC and the CRPF members approached the officials. The
teachers are dividing children into four sub-groups based on their learning levels and are imparting
customised instruction to them. Study hours are being held for children from C and D sub-groups in
the last hour of the day. Class wise parents’ meetings are being held once in a quarter to share the
children’s progress with their parents. Flash Cards are being displayed in Classes 1 and 2 for the
children’s benefit. Difficult words have been painted on classroom walls so that their recall value is
high. Children from the PS also have access to educational video CDs.
Mehrunnissa, the gazetted head teacher of ZPHS Pulusumamidi in Vikarabad mandal was irregular to
her duties and had not attended school for an entire month in November 2011. However, her husband
used to take the register to her home and get her to sign the attendance register. One of the members
of the newly formed SMC saw this and spoke to the teachers in this regard. They told him that this
was a regular phenomenon and that they could not do much about it, as her husband was an MEO.
The issue was taken to the notice of the Deputy DEO through a petition and a copy of the petition was
faxed to the DEO. However, both of them did not respond for a week. The head teacher was
summoned to an SMC meeting, during which 50 parents and SMC members took her to task for her
negligence and told her that they would not send their children to her school as long as she was
around. She agreed to mend her ways but the villagers were persistent and met the Deputy DEO,
asking him for details of the action that he had taken against the head teacher. He passed on the
buck to the DEO. The members rang him up and asked him for details on the status of their
complaint. He instituted an inquiry and noted a number of irregularities. Mehrunnissa was duly
suspended.
The issue of teacher irregularity was brought up for discussion during a meeting in Pudugurthy, Pudur
mandal. Any one of the three teachers posted in the PS was on leave at any point in time by rotation.
A petition was submitted to the MEO but he did not respond. The volunteers convened a public
meeting in the village, to which they invited an MRP, the teachers, the SMC vice-chairperson and
parents. The members present raised a number of issues. Some of the parents pointed out that the
head teacher was never present in school. The acting head teacher clarified that he had been sent on
deputation. The MRP informed that the MEO had posted a volunteer but he had not received any
honorarium. The SMC members submitted a petition to the MEO, demanding honorarium for the
volunteer. They also pressurised the head teacher to utilise an unspent amount of Rs. 15000 from the
School Grant for electrical work. Two irregular teachers have mended their ways and are sincerely
discharging their duties.
The quality of the midday meal was quite poor in PS and ZPHS Gottimukkula, Vikarabad mandal. An
agency run by a local political leader had been awarded the contract for cooking the meal. There was
no adherence to the menu and the workers always complained that they did not have enough margin.
Hardly 50 of the 300 children used to partake of the meal on an average. The volunteers undertook
regular visits to the school and warned the workers on a number of occasions. The issue was also
taken to the notice of the Press but to no avail. The younger brother of the ZPTC was an active leader
of a youth association. He was elected chairperson of the newly formed SMC. Hardly had he been
given this responsibility than he summoned the agency workers to a meeting and warned them that
they would be replaced if they did not maintain quality and adhere to the menu. They refused to adjust
and were duly replaced. More than 250 children are now consuming the meal on a regular basis.
The PS and the ZPHS in Kankal, Pudur mandal are located within the same complex. Nearly one half
of children studying in the ZPHS had not been partaking of the midday meal on account of poor
quality. The midday meal record in the PS was equally bad. The volunteers and the CRPF convened
a meeting with the head teacher, teachers and the agency. The volunteers made a detailed
presentation on the costs involved in implementation of the midday meal scheme and asked them
how much they were paid per child. They noted at the end of the presentation that the workers would
not stand to incur any losses as they had claimed. The workers were asked why they had not been
maintaining quality in that case. They replied that all children had not been consuming the meal and
that the margin would meet their expectations if this happened. The CRPF members replied that the
children would partake of the meal if they maintained quality. The situation has improved now.
Upon coming to know that Chandraiah from Devunigadda, Shabad mandal had been planning to
marry off his daughter T.Sarita, a student of Class 9 from the Zilla Parishad HS in Pothugal, the CRPF
members and the volunteer jointly met the girl at school and spoke to her. She told them that she was
not keen on the marriage but her parents were bent on marrying her off. The entire village and the
school teachers were invited to a meeting and they counseled Chandraiah and his wife but they were
unwilling to stop the marriage. The CRPF got Sarita to write a letter to the mandal officials and they
passed it on to them. A list of proposed child marriages was also submitted to the Task Force
Committee. The SI of Police visited the village and spoke to the girl’s family members. They later met
the volunteers along with the Sarpanch and he asked them to ignore this one marriage, adding that
he would manage the officials if necessary. They asked him to give an official letter on his letterhead
permitting them to marry the girl underage but he hesitated. They showed him the letter written by the
girl, after which he backed off and advised the couple to drop their plans of the girl’s marriage. They
consented and the parents of 4 other girls followed suit.
CRPF members and the volunteer brought pressure on one Buchaiah from Antharam, Shabad
mandal to drop his idea of marrying off his daughter Sunita, a student of Class 8 but he did not listen
to them. He involved the Tandur MLA in the issue. The MLA rang up a constable from Shabad and
asked him to try and convince the CRPF members to ignore the issue. The CRPF member informed
this to the volunteer. Buchaiah, in the meantime, had produced a Bus Pass according to which his
daughter was 19 years old. The volunteer, however, checked the school records and got proof of the
girl’s age. They counseled her parents to postpone the marriage, informing them that they were aware
of her true age. Buchaiah and his wife brought the girl to the mandal office dressed to look like an
older girl. The CRPF members reached out to the couple through Buchaiah’s brother, who was a
CRPF member, and the VRO. Together, they spoke to Buchaiah and got the marriage cancelled.
Ramachandraiah, a native of Antharam, Chevella mandal planned to get his daughter Manikeshwari
married as soon as she had passed out of Class 6. They took all precautions to conceal the affair and
did not distribute wedding cards to anyone in the village. They also did not whitewash the house and
stored all the material that they had bought at another location. One of the REPC members, who had
been monitoring the school, came to know of the proposal from some of her friends and took along
the girl’s teacher to her house. They spoke to Manikeshwari’s mother, who denied plans of getting the
girl married. The CRPF members rang up the MPDO and the MEO, who apprised the Tehsildar of the
existing situation. He sent a constable to the village two days in advance but the latter found no
indications of marriage. The constable accordingly reported the issue to the Tehsildar. The CRPF
members told him that he was sure of the proposal to get the girl married and urged him to send
some constables to the village on the scheduled date of marriage. The official instructed the VRO to
handle the issue, after which the wedding was laid off.
Medibai Bhavani, the 15-year old daughter of Anthi Reddy from Damarlapally, Shabad mandal was
studying in Class 10 in ZPHS Hayatabad, when her parents planned to get her married. Her mother
had applied for a loan and had raised the issue during a VO meeting. Her fellow members asked her
why she wanted the money and she told them the reason. They told her that she would not be given a
loan if she proposed to get the girl married. She retorted that it was none of her business. They got
angry with her and told her that she would not get the loan. However, some of the members took
sides with her. In the meanwhile, the Anganwadi Worker – who was also associated with the VO, took
the issue to the notice of the ICDS Supervisor. The official informed the CDPO. The girl’s parents
came to know of this and asked the Worker why she had taken the issue to the CDPO. They also
went to the CDPO’s office and spoke rudely to her. She rang up the SI of Police, who asked her to
submit a written petition to him. The next day, the SI of Police, the Tehsildar, the ICDS Supervisor, the
VO leaders and the Panchayat Secretary went to Bhavani’s house along with 2 constables and forced
her parents to lay off plans of the girl’s wedding.
Waddera Maheswari, a 15-year old student of Class 10 from Seetarampur, Shabad mandal was due
to be married against her wishes. Her father Narasimhulu had withdrawn her from school without
consulting her and had also taken the decision of marrying her off. The volunteers identified the girl’s
case through an interaction with the head teacher during a routine school visit. They accordingly
petitioned to the Tehsildar, the MPDO and the CDPO. The Tehsildar got along the SI of Police to the
village during the Revenue Meet that was due to be held in the village the next day. The MPDO and
the ICDS Supervisor accompanied him. The entire team went to the girl’s house and warned her
parents strictly that official action would be initiated against them if they continued with their plans. A
team of constables was also posted at the proposed venue of the marriage to prevent them from
carrying out their plans. The wedding was finally laid off.
Bandari Lalita, a 12-year old girl from Bulkapur, Shankarpally mandal dropped out of Class 7 from the
local school just before the exams without anyone’s knowledge. She was a bright student but did not
turn up at the exams. Having noted this, one of the teachers, who was affiliated to the TFCR, passed
on this information to the local REPC members. They investigated the matter and came to know that
she was due to get married. They, along with the CRPF members, met the Tehsildar, the MEO and
the MRPs and apprised them of the facts. They jointly visited the girl’s home along with the
functionaries of SEEDS, a local voluntary organisation. The girl’s mother was adamant and did not
budge even when the SI of Police spoke to her after receiving a complaint from the REPC. She spoke
to him rudely. This enraged him and he summoned her, her son and Lalita to the Police Station,
where he told her categorically that her daughter would be handed over to the MVF staff. The
wedding was laid off and the girl was sent to the Aloor camp after 2 days, from where she is pursuing
her education unhindered.
Aruna from Proddutur, Shankarpally mandal was studying in Class 10 when her parents decided to
get her married against her wishes. She took the issue to the notice of a VO member, who involved
the CRPF and the REPC in the matter. They summoned the girl’s parents to a meeting and counseled
them in the presence of 28 people on the RTE Act. They did not broach the issue of child marriage
directly but spoke of other matters of concern to the participants and finally spoke on child marriage.
They asked the villagers if they had heard of any instances of child marriage. They informed that
Aruna was due to get married. The Gram Panchayat members resolved to stop the marriage at any
cost and counseled both the girl’s parents and the parents of the groom, who were warned that of
legal action, as the girl was a minor. The wedding was postponed.
16-year old Pavani, the daughter of the midday meal worker in UPS Laxmareddyguda was enrolled in
the first year of the Intermediate programme in Vikarabad. Her farmer parents were keen on getting
her married to a youth from the same village and proposed to withdraw her from college. They began
negotiating with the youth’s family. Pavani was against this idea for two reasons. In the first place, she
was keen on studying further. The youth was also completely illiterate. The girl spoke to her maternal
grandmother, who was cross with her daughter. She and the woman began living in separate rooms
from then on and had no communication. In the meantime, the old woman confided in the local
volunteer, who planned to take along the CRPF members, the head teacher and the Anganwadi
Worker to the girl’s house. They encountered Pavani’s father on their way down and counseled him at
length. He seemed willing to acknowledge their idea and asked them to motivate his wife. They
narrated the sorrowful plight of some victims of child marriage to her and convinced her to lay off the
wedding for the time being.
Alampally Bhavani, the 14-year old daughter of Pentaiah from Gongupally, Pudur mandal had an
affair with a boy and she also became physically intimate with him. Some of the locals beat them up,
after which the villagers decreed that they ought to be married and a date was accordingly fixed.
Upon coming to know of this, the volunteers informed the Tehsildar. He in turn rang up the RDO. The
official instructed the SI of Police, the VRO and the village police to look into the issue. They went to
the venue of the proposed marriage, taking along a constable. The girl’s family had come to know of
this and shifted the venue to Vikarabad. The volunteers involved the MVF team in Vikarabad in the
issue. The volunteers and the CRPF members caught up with 8 members of the girl’s family and took
them to the Police Station, where they were counseled. Bhavani’s parents were asked to declare in
writing that they would not marry her for 4 years. She is presently enrolled in Class 8 in the KGBV.
An annual survey of children employed in brick kilns was undertaken in Shankarpally mandal during
December 2011. This exercise brought out that there had been no real improvement in the situation,
as most of the children working there were immigrants and it was not easy to trace their whereabouts.
Their number had actually gone up by more than 20%. Campaign pamphlets were distributed to the
owners of 14 brick kilns and they were told that every child had the right to education. They replied
that the children were not locals and that they could not do much about it. The Tehsildar and the MEO
were given the details of the children and asked to take the necessary steps. The Mandal Special
Officer promised to set up schools for the children but no schools have been set up as yet. The
Tehsildar visited Dontanpally in Maharajpet mandal a few days later and noted that 9 children had
been employed in a brick kiln there. She instructed the Secretaries that had accompanied her to take
the vehicle and the children to the Police Station. The volunteers were asked to come to the Police
Station, where the children were counseled. The owner of the brick kiln Mohan Reddy was also
summoned to the Police Station. The children were later admitted in the State Children’s Homes in
Hyderabad. Mohan Reddy was asked to bear the cost of relocating the children. The volunteers later
met the other employers and asked them to be prepared to face a similar situation. They were
advised to get along some teachers along with the children so that it would be possible to educate
them.
No boundaries had been fixed for PS Pedavedu, Shabad mandal. Some of the villagers took undue
advantage of this and encroached upon the school premises. They laid the foundation for their
houses with the support of a former MPTC, who belonged to the ruling party. The parents of the
children studying in the school discussed the issue with the CRPF and undertook a joint visit to the
school along with the SMC vice-chairperson. They noted that there was no record of the school
boundaries. They accordingly petitioned to the Tehsildar, requesting him to provide complete details
of the school boundaries. He did not respond for a week, following which the issue was taken to the
notice of the Special Collector. The official instructed the Tehsildar to take the necessary action. The
latter undertook an exercise to get the boundaries fixed, the outcomes of which are due by end April
2012.
PS Janwada, Shankarpally mandal had 218 children on rolls. Seven teachers had been posted there.
Some parents informed during a meeting that 2-3 of them were always late to their duties. The CRPF
members devised an innovative strategy to address the issue. They went to the school regularly on 23 consecutive days and bowed in obeisance to the teachers. Embarrassed, the teachers began
reporting in time. Three of them went on leave simultaneously a few weeks later. Some youth moved
the MEO and demanded volunteers to replace the teachers in their absence. He accordingly deputed
3 volunteers to the school.
PS Banglagadda under Fatehpur Panchayat in Shankarpally mandal had 15 children on rolls. The
midday meal agency worker had absolutely no idea of the fact that she was entitled to an amount of
Rs. 1000 a month. When spoken to, the head teacher claimed that she had no inkling of this
whatsoever. The volunteers rang up the MEO in the head teacher’s presence and she told the official
that no money had been deposited in the Bank Account of the school. The MEO contacted the MRP
and assured the volunteer after half an hour that the amount would be credited to the School Account.
The issue has been resolved now.
ZPHS, Parveda in Shankarpally mandal had an enrolment of 245. The head teacher and teachers
informed during a meeting held in August 2011 that only 90 of the children had been consuming the
midday meal each day on an average. When spoken to, the children informed that they did not have
enough plates. One of the participants, a Hyderabad based friend of the head teacher, sponsored 245
plates. More than 90% of children that attend school regularly are partaking of the meal.
PS Kothapally in Shankarpally mandal had 73 children on rolls. Some parents and CRPF members
discussed the issue of teacher shortage during a meeting in the school and pointed out that the
school needed an additional teacher in accordance with the norms of the RTE Act. They spoke to the
MEO and requested him to post a third teacher. He initially maintained that there was no provision for
another teacher but they pressurised him and he yielded by posting a volunteer. Escort allowance of
Rs. 900 was also paid to the parents of a boy with disability of the legs.
PS Kondakal, Shankarpally mandal had an enrolment of 111. Some parents demanded introduction
of English medium education in the school. They also petitioned to the MEO for a teacher or volunteer
to teach English but the official replied that he could not post more teachers, as enough teachers had
already been recruited. Konda Reddy, a real estate dealer from the village was approached and he
agreed to support three months’ honorarium for a volunteer. A petition had also been submitted to the
government earlier for repairs to an old school building but he told them that there was no provision
for this. The REPC and the CRPF spoke to the functionaries of Indus International School, who got
the necessary repairs done at a expense of Rs.1 lakh.
PS Venkammaguda, Shabad mandal had 35 children on rolls. Nearly a third of them had not been
consuming the midday meal. The REPC and the CRPF discussed the issue during a meeting. Some
parents informed that the midday meal worker had been cooking the meal at home and had also been
forcing their children to transport the food to the school. The school had some money in the budget
but the roof of the kitchen shed had collapsed, rendering it unsafe and unhygienic. A petition was
drafted in the name of the MEO and he was asked to get the flooring repaired. He instructed the head
teacher to undertake the necessary works. The issue has been resolved and the worker has begun
cooking the meal in the school. More than 30 children are present in school during the lunch hour.
PS Pothugal, Shabad mandal had 78 children on rolls. The midday meal worker had not been serving
two eggs a week. She had fed some children rotten eggs on a couple of occasions. Some parents
questioned her but she spoke to them rudely and denied having committed irregularities. She was
also quite indifferent to the teachers. The members of the newly constituted SMC summoned her to
their formative meeting and warned her that she would be replaced if she continued to maintain poor
quality of the meal. She did not listen to them on 2-3 consecutive occasions. She was spoken to
strongly but she did not budge. The SMC accordingly drafted a resolution and got her removed.
ZPHS Manmari, Shabad mandal had an enrolment of 115 children. Nearly 60 of them did not partake
of the midday meal, as the number of plates was insufficient. Some of them also did not consume the
meal on caste grounds. A meeting was held to discuss the issue. Their parents were told that the
entire school would be affected if their children did not eat the meal. The midday meal worker was
also summoned to the meeting and taken to task, after which the quality of the meal improved. The
economics involved in the preparation of the midday meal was also explained to the children and they
were urged to treat all castes as equal. Nearly 40 of the children have changed their mindset and
have begun to consume the meal.
The government teacher posted in PS Damarlapally, Shabad mandal had an accident following which
he was not in a position to attend to his duties. Some parents came to know of this and noted that the
school had been locked. 34 children were affected in the process. The parents took up the issue with
the MEO, who replied that she was unaware of the problem. They pulled her up for neglect of duty
and asked her to make alternate arrangements at the earliest. They warned that they would lock up
the school for good if she did not respond. She deputed a teacher from nearby Saireddyguda after the
villagers submitted a petition to the Special Officer during the Praja Darbar.
PS Kesaram, Shabad mandal had 45 children on rolls. Some parents informed during a meeting that
the classrooms had no blackboards and windows. The children also had no benched to sit on and
standards of maintenance were poor. The playground was too small. Narasimhulu, a retired employee
of the Army got the windows repaired. Former Sarpanch Jagadish got 6 blackboards repaired and VO
Association President Chandrasekharamma sponsored almirahs and tables for the school. Sriram
Reddy, a businessman, gave away 3 benches and 10 chairs. The locals spent Rs. 2000 on minor
repairs. Participation in school parents’ meetings has gone up. Nearly 30 children shifted from private
school to the local school after the teachers guaranteed quality education.
PS Khanapur, Chevella mandal had 48 children on rolls. One teacher and volunteer each had been
posted in the school. The teacher had proceeded on long leave for 40 days without intimation to the
volunteer. The latter also stayed away from school for some days, as he proposed to apply for the
District Selection Commission test being held for recruitment of government teachers. Upon coming to
know of this, the REPC and the CRPF spoke to the SMC vice-chairperson. He approached the MEO
and got a teacher from a neighbouring village deputed to the school.
PS Malkapur, Chevella mandal had an enrolment of 160 children. Nearly 25 of them were absent
during a visit by the REPC and the CRPF. Only 54 of the children present had eaten the meal that
day. The Panchayat Secretary was spoken to and he made public announcements through the
means of the Dandora, calling upon all children to eat the midday meal. The situation has improved
since then and more than 35 of the children have begun partaking of the meal.
UPS Mirzaguda, Chevella mandal had 68 children on rolls. Two teachers and one volunteer each had
been posted in the school. The volunteer had proceeded on leave and the head teacher had been
asked to replace the volunteer. He was, however, unwilling to do so because a number of formalities
were involved. The vice-chairperson of the newly formed SMC summoned the head teacher to a
meeting and asked him to get a new volunteer recruited, following which the problem was resolved.
ZPHS Kowkuntla, Chevella mandal had an enrolment of 160. The PET had beaten one of the boys
badly for no valid reason. His parents complained to the head teacher and he promised to speak to
the PET but he did not take any action. The entire village summoned the both of them to a public
meeting in the village and took them to task. The parents noted that there was groupism among the
teachers and that they had internal conflicts. The village elders advised them against such an attitude
and told them that the children’s welfare would be ultimately affected. The quality of the midday meal
also improved after the teachers and the midday meal worker were taken to task.
Government Boys’ High School, Chevella had nearly 200 children on rolls. The government had
recently passed a GO requiring High Schools to feed even children enrolled in hostel. However, 22
children from the girls’ hostel in the mandal headquarters were not fed the meal. The midday meal
workers and other staff of the hostel were summoned to a meeting in the presence of the MEO. He
spoke to the workers in the school, who informed him that the head teacher had gone on leave and
had not instructed them to this effect. He took them to task, after which the issue was set right.
A parents’ meeting was held in Kompally, Vikarabad mandal to discuss the 15-day long absence of
Dasari Anusha, a student of Class 5, from school. The SMC members asked the teachers why she
had been absent for so long. The head teacher replied that the Sarpanch had entrusted the girl with
the task of looking after his young child. The SMC petitioned to the MEO, who made it clear to the
Sarpanch that it was illegal to employ children. The Sarpanch promptly freed Anusha and she
returned to school.
ZPHS Chanugomula, Pudur mandal had an enrolment of 400 children. Shortage of drinking water in
the school was acute. The issue was taken up for discussion with the MPP, a former MPP, Panchayat
members and village elders during a parents’ meeting. The former MPP offered to provide water
connectivity to the school from the Panchayat waterline within 3 days and stuck to his promise.
An amount of Rs. 1.2 lakhs had been sanctioned for construction of 3 toilets in ZPHS Chanugomula,
Pudur mandal and the Sarpanch had promised to take up the assignment but backed off because he
felt that the amount would be insufficient. A public meeting was held to discuss the issue and he was
told that he was free to walk out and that another group would be identified to take up the task. He
promptly agreed to begin work on the toilets. Foundation stones have been laid for 2 urinals and 1
bathroom.
The playground in PS Angadi Chittampally, Pudur mandal was full of potholes and needed to be
levelled at the earliest, as some children had been injured while playing. The villagers took up the
issue for discussion with the Mandal Special Officer during a meeting. She sent the Engineer to
prepare an estimate. He informed her that an amount of Rs.60,000 was necessary for the purpose.
The villagers, however, told her that an amount of Rs.20,000/- would be sufficient. She immediately
sanctioned Rs.20000 and the issue was promptly resolved.
200 children were enrolled in HS Peddeumenthal, Pudur mandal. They had only 3 teachers and no
Maths and language teachers. This issue was taken up for discussion during a meeting and a petition
accordingly submitted to the MEO but he told the CRPF members that the school was under the
DEO’s jurisdiction. The ZPTC, the Sarpanch and the CRPF members subsequently moved the DEO,
the District Collector and the PO-RVM and demanded at least a volunteer. A volunteer was posted in
the school after a week or so and 3 permanent teachers’ posts were also sanctioned.
The midday meal scheme had not been implemented in ZPHS Somangurthy, Pudur mandal for nearly
a fortnight. The in-charge of the agency, who enjoyed the support of the ex-Sarpanch, was insolent
and told the teachers bluntly that this was how he would cook and that they could do whatever they
wished. Some of the children had complained and he spoke rudely even to them. Some others from
the village were interested in cooking the meal but he had warned them of dire consequences. The
CRPF members and some parents discussed the issue with the MEO during a meeting. More than 50
children demanded the workers’ replacement and the MEO immediately passed a resolution placing
another agency in charge of the midday meal scheme.
Jhansi, daughter of Yadaiah from Fatehpur, Shankarpally mandal had lost her father two years ago
and could not pay her school fees. She was forced to drop out of the private school in which she had
been studying. Upon coming to know of this, the CRPF members got her admitted in a government
school. the head teacher did not enter her name in the register though she let her sit in class. The
CRPF members, the TFCR members and the volunteer met her and spoke to her. She replied that
she would enter the girl’s name in the register only if she produced the necessary documents. The
CRPF members duly submitted a petition to the MEO, marking copies to the DEO, the District
Collector and the NCPCR. He immediately went to the school and convinced the head teacher to
enrol Jhansi.
Prithvi Public School based in Shankarpally had been granted permission to run classes up the upper
primary level, i.e., Class 7 but had enrolled children up to Class 10 and had been running the school
in the name of Oxford High School. The management had sold off the school after incurring losses
and the school had been renamed Bhaskar School. No application had been filed as yet for the High
School section. The volunteers identified the issue and filed a petition with the MEO, who verified the
documents and referred the case to the DEO. An inquiry is currently underway.
The Core Group of Pudur mandal undertook a visit to schools of the mandal and noted that the quality
of the rice was very bad. They later shared the issues that they had noted with the Tehsildar. He
subsequently visited the ZPHS and the PS in Peddeumenthal, where he personally tested the quality
of the rice. He asked the head teachers if they had been serving 2 eggs to the children a week. He
also interacted with children in all classes and took their feedback on the quality. He later asked the
head teachers to improve the quality of the meal at the earliest.
The MEO visited ZPHS Kondakal, Shankarpally mandal on 1 st February 2012 to participate in a skit
performed by CWSN. He was accompanied by the volunteers and the CRPF. The group noted that
the head teacher had forced 20 children to stand outside the classroom for insignificant reasons. He
took the head teacher to task and promised the CRPF that he would address cases of corporal
punishment on a priority basis.
PS Jambapur Thanda, Vikarabad mandal had 63 children on rolls but no teacher had been posted in
the school. A lone Vidya Volunteer had been running the school from June onwards. A petition was
submitted to the MEO but he did not respond. The parents and some REPC members staged a
protest at the RDO’s office, after which a teacher was posted to the school in November 2011.
Ten children from Maharashtra had migrated to Machanpally, Shabad mandal along with their families
during October 2011. The volunteers identified their case and linked them to the local school with the
help of the labour contractor. The children initially had problems with the language. The volunteers
tested them for their learning levels, after which they were placed under the charge of a Muslim
volunteer. A petition was later submitted to the MEO, requesting him to issue uniform and books to
them and to post a volunteer for their benefit.
Three children from Kadapa district had quit school to migrate along with their parents to Rudraram in
Shabad mandal, where they began working in a poultry farm. The volunteers, the REPC and the
CRPF identified their cases and took up a special drive with the head teacher to reach out to the
children. They were motivated and enrolled in the local school. The head teacher promised to provide
them with uniform and books.
Former Sarpanch of Qutbullapur, Pudur mandal Narasimha Reddy had engaged Suresh, a 12-year
old boy from the village to perform his domestic chores. Upon coming to know of this, the volunteers
spoke to him but he denied having employed the boy and told them that the boy used to accompany
his mother off and on. He let the boy go. The volunteers and the REPC members met Suresh’s
mother and motivated her to send him to school. She did not initially consent but agreed to educate
him after Narasimha Reddy counseled her.
Sarita, the 13-year old daughter of Mylaram Shankaraiah from Aloor in Chevella mandal had never
been to school and had been grazing goats. Even her two younger sisters had never attended school.
Their father was a sworn alcoholic and was always engaged in arguments with his wife. He also had
differences of opinion with his brothers over ownership of land. The volunteers involved some village
elders in the issue and managed to resolve the issue to an extent. They broached the issue of the
girls’ education cautiously with him and finally succeeded in getting all 3 girls to school.
A big rice mill was being constructed in Chinnareddygudem, Shankarpally mandal. Ten immigrant
families had landed up in the villages from the far end of the district. Nearly 15 children had been
loitering around while their parents worked. The volunteers surveyed the village for details of the
children and referred the case to the MEO. He informed that the school building in the village was
vacant, as the school had been closed down. He asked the volunteers to identify a volunteer and a
midday meal agency, promising to open a school in the village. The school was duly set up but no
volunteer was available. The Anganwadi Worker has been given temporary charge of the children.
Labour Officer Ms.Renuka raided 12 dhabas near IBS, Dontanpally, Shankarpally mandal and
slapped cases against the owners of 3 of them for having employed children. Penalties of Rs. 3500
were imposed on each of them and they duly freed the children. They have promised not to employ
children in future.
The parents of a Class 9 student from Kankal HS, Pudur mandal wanted to get their daughter married
off at the earliest, as she had a sizeable blotch on her face and a youth had offered to marry her.
They were worried that they would find it difficult to get a match for her later and consented to marry
her to the youth. The volunteers and the REPC members identified her case and informed this to the
Tehsildar. He counseled the girl’s parents to postpone the marriage but they were persistent and also
tried to involve some political leaders in the issue. The officials were, however, determined and forced
them to lay off their plans of the girl’s marriage.