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Background
The
programme is essentially directed towards adults in outlying
villages in both plain and hill areas.
It is designed to improve information which may help them
with their farming and trading activity through the use of various
forms of visual aid on a range of topics including science
education, health skill and agricultural and community
development. The programme therefore proposes to assist with job
related activity leading to a better understanding in the use and
application of science and technology, as it may affect them.
Through
the experience to date in the use of mobile education,
the villagers in remote areas have now become aware and
educated in the use of multi media. It has complemented and
supplemented communications in village meeting in addition to
formal schooling and serves as a powerful source of information to
them.
Since these villagers are starved of information and in
particular visual communications, there is now an obvious increase
in interest and desire for video education among the rural masses.
Mobile education work has again been very active during the
year in the same areas of Jharkhand and Tamilnadu states
attracting 196,784 (last year around 178,000) in participating in
the information sharing events.
Activities
The
programme engages many forms of displays, drama and audio visual
aids (powered by on board generators - villages do not have
electricity and other services !) to illustrate the various
subjects covered in the education programme. There is also
inclusion of education programmes for children.
The
main achievements through this initiative are given below :
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114
schools were included at which video shows, exhibitions,
demonstrations, playing skits, street theatre shows and
performing cultural programmes in drama, music etc, using the
local culture and ethos of the tribes
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204
live cultural and video programmes were conducted on themes
like Panchayat raj (village councils), rights of women and
children, various government programmes, self-help groups,
health, sanitation, water, environment (forest and forest
products) and sustainable development.
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Through
the project audio cassettes produced by the community radio
programmes were played engaging the various radio groups in
the villages in Palamu and Garwah. In addition, for
staging performances tuned to include social messages with
mythological characters.
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This
year by way of continuation, 43 skills and cultural events
were conducted by engaging carpet working children, mica
working children, female children and children studying in
formal schools. These proved an effective means of
voicing the feelings and aspirations of the voiceless poor.
Also the programme, being presented in local languages
of the rural and tribal areas, proved very successful in
communicating the more technical information on for example,
scientific and health matters.
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Strategically,
the mobile systems influenced village leaders through their
participation in public meetings to identify issues of vital
concern in their communities.
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The
video van was also engaged in launching campaigns on :
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The
video van has been put to good use in Palamau giving transport
to sick children to the Primary Health Centres and Government
District Hospitals. Also to transport government medical
service providers, medicines and vaccination kits to villages
in times of water borne and malaria epidemics. Also
during the pulse polio campaigns the van was employed to
transport immunisation and pulse polio services to villages
which are remote and difficult to access.
Objectives
The
project has no finite period of duration. It is expected to
continue for another 2 years with the equipment currently in use.
The main limiting factor will be the ongoing support for the
project.
The importance and relevance of the project in becoming
increasingly clear, particularly with the communication in
promoting appropriate technical and scientific information
directly affecting the lives and livelihoods of villagers. |
