Background

Considerable experience had been built up over a long period working with the tribal people in remote areas.  This led to the start of the project in April 1998, to provide education through the use of 20 schools for approximately 850 tribal girls and mothers in the Dumaria block of the Singhbhum district.  Currently there are 10 schools in operation.

Activities
The education programme includes teaching and provision for :

• Literacy

• Numeracy

• Informal education for girls

•  Recreational activity

• Health services

• Financial awareness for mothers

• Awareness to undertake services that generate more income for the family.

• SHG support to mothers of students in tribal areas.

• Micro credit support to SHGs for the self-employed.

• Programmes for communities to demand and obtain schools from local authorities.

Some of the main achievements

Objectives

The objectives are to improve their living standards by improving knowledge through education and instruction in the basic principles of how to improve income and standards of health.
The project will not be extended as suggested last year and has now been concluded.  It has now merged with women groups and village forums. Since the village system now incorporates enrolment of children and continues the work of the project, the need for the project therefore no longer exists.