With collector's visit to the village and all the fanfare on every Sunday, all are thinking that the 100% literacy is just a stone throws away. Surprisingly, some people, who were never seen, even started taking the credit for its success. But, no body knows that we are way too far to even come close to the success mark.
There are, literally, 26 days left for the examination and all the 263 adult learners will have to complete the learning of the two prescribed books before August 21 so that they become exam ready.
There are several challenges, like a few below, which might deprive the village of 100% literacy tag by August 21. These are other than the health problems, rain, power cuts, differences of opinions and lack of coordination among village leaders etc.
1. No time - Many people do not have time as they leave early in the morning and come back only in the night
2. Late beginners - Many started learning very lately. Some started just a few days back
3. Absenteeism - Too many absentees still
4. Second Book - Many are still in the first book learning process only
5. No Ground level leaders - There are no smart leaders on ground level who could analyze the progress on daily basis, identify the challenges and provide appropriate solutions etc.
6. Lack of fire - With little time left some people still display laid back attitude and have no sense of urgency
7. Local leaders - Just a couple of ward members are working and the rest do not care
There are just two village coordinators who are working and trying to monitor from Sakshar Bharat, the organization responsible for the adult literacy programs. They are not sufficient to monitor 263 adult learners and 50 odd volunteers.
Then, what is the way forward?
Option 1:
I need to be there in the village for all the 26 days to drive each and every person and make them toil while addressing the problems of those who hardly have time etc.
Option 2:
Each of the ward members should take responsibility of their wards and drive the way I am trying to drive. They need to have fire and zeal to take this forward.
Option 3:
The village Sakshar Bharat volunteers need to be more smart and more efficient in discharging their duties. My observation is that they work very hard, they don't make analysis of the progress in a systematic way.
Option 4:
The Sakshar Bharat department must station a couple of officers at the village level to monitor the program. The Deputy Director, when requested for this tried his bit but could not help.
Option 1 is not possible. At least I am planning to be available in the village in the last week before the exam. So, just trying to control and monitor over phone which is not as effective as being on the ground. Option 2 may not be fully exercised as many Ward members are too old and have any hold on anything. But still tried to make them accountable in the presence of the District Collector.
Option 3 I have been trying for some time. Attitudes are very difficult to change. Hopefully, by the end of the program they would become more smart in dealing with things.
Option 4 is the only thing which is almost impossible.
Need to see how the things would shape with time. Will the village attain 100% literacy? Will the efforts of the volunteers, the two Sakshar Bharat village coordinators go in vain? Will the additional expenses incurred by the Sarpanch in arranging the weekly programs go in vain? Let's wait and see.
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