Coordination among government departments in planning and implementation of schemes for tribal welfare is among the main recommendations in a report of the Kerala State Literacy Mission on problems faced by tribespeople in the State.
The report was handed over by Minister for Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Friday.
The reports contains in detail opinions and suggestions that arose during subject-based discussions as part of a social literacy programme for the 350 tribal instructors of tribal literacy and equivalency programmes of the literacy mission.
The recommendations include extending the literacy and continuing education programmes to all tribal settlements, ensuring financial and other support on the part of local self-government institutions (LSGIs) and Scheduled Tribe Development Department for making available equivalency courses up to higher secondary in all settlements, making newspapers and periodicals available through LSGIs, starting libraries under the aegis of library council in settlements and using the services of ‘preraks’ in them, making digital aid available with the support of various departments to create awareness of various issues, conduct of camps and training by Sahithya, Lalithakala, Chalachitra and Sangeetha Nataka academies in the settlements, and providing support for taking up agriculture.
The Literacy Mission report also highlights the demand for informal education facilities in the tribal settlements, extending the Gothra Sarathi project till Plus Two, education counselling, provide training to gain admission to higher education courses, and ensuring jobs for the tribespeople commensurate with their education.
