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State Resource Centre for Adult Education, Dehra Dun |
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The hill state of Uttaranchal was formed in the backdrop that, in the past, due to the mountainous and rugged natures of the terrain and lack of basic infrastructure; including roads, communication, and electricity; proper focus, in the past, had not been accorded to the region under the various schemes/programmes of the central and state governments. The objectives of the government programmes have not been fully realised in the context of the hill regions of the erstwhile state of Uttar Pradesh (now Uttaranchal). The Adult Literacy Programmes in the region under the National Literacy Mission have also suffered because of a lack of area specific focus and the tough geographical conditions. Therefore, to give momentum to the literacy programmes and seeing the expertise and experience of RLEK, the National Literacy Mission, Ministry of Human Resource Development, Government of India nominated RLEK to run a State Resource Centre for Adult Education (SRCAE), for the entire Uttaranchal.
An autonomous registered society, established on 10th March 2000, SRCAE is the nodal agency for providing techno-pedagogical support to the adult literacy programmes that are being implemented in all 13 districts of Uttaranchal. The primary responsibility of SRCAE is to provide technical support services to all the literacy programme that are being conducted by Zilla Saksharta Samities under the Chairmanship of District Magistrates of the respective districts. The major functions of the centre include:
To conduct training programmes for various levels of functionaries engaged in the literacy programmes including sensitization and orientation training programmes.
To develop and print reference materials for neo-literates.
Provide support to Zilla Saksharta Samities in formulation of project proposals for Post Literacy Programme (PLP) and Continuing Education (CE) Schemes.
Monitoring and Evaluating the ongoing literacy programmes in the state.
Since its establishment, the State Resource Centre has organised extensive training programmes in the State. These trainings have been provided to different groups of people ranging from key resource persons of Post Literacy Programmes to representatives of the Panchayat Raj Institutions, the Zilla Saksharta Samiti (ZSS) functionaries and others. The training programmes were developed and imparted with a view to cater to the specific needs and demands from each district. Diverse issues were covered under each of the trainings including Management Information Systems, Income Generation Activities, Monitoring and Evaluation and the Role of women in Local Self Governance.
The State Resource Centre has also organized workshops for developing reading materials for neo-literates, training manuals and handbooks for the Key Resource Persons and Preraks of Post Literacy Programmes (PLP) and Continuing Education (CE). The aim of these workshops was to develop these reference materials keeping in mind the unique geography and socio-economic conditions of the hill state of Uttaranchal. A manual on "Participation of Panchayat Raj functionaries in Post Literacy and Continuing Education Programmes" has also been developed by the SRC. The purpose of this manual is to mobilise the Panchayat Raj Functionaries and ZSS for the effective implementation of literacy Programmes.
The SRC, Dehradun has also undertaken some innovative projects to examine the operational parts of the guidelines on Continuing Education provided by the Government of India with reference to the geographical condition of Uttaranchal. Five "Experimental Continuing Education Centres" have been established in different districts of the state. These experimental centres are not merely literacy centres but in true sense these are empowerment centres. They are acting as laboratories for experimenting the new innovative ideas and thoughts of SRC Dehradun, and can be used as a replicable models throughout the state.
The centre has also been involved in research to evaluate and monitor the status of the ongoing literacy programme in the entire state. This has been helpful in determining the constraints and opportunities with regard to literacy programmes in the various districts in the state and thus utilizing these inputs in formulating the future strategies of various literacy programmes.
A study on the Status of Women's Empowerment in Uttaranchal was undertaken by SRC. The study was published by the National Literacy Mission, Government of India in its publication titled 'Women and Literacy'.
SRC celebrates "International Literacy Day," by honouring one literacy worker from each district. The persons so hounoured are nominated by the District Magistrate of each district and they are presented with a certificate and a momento. This provides an encouragement to these committed workers.
To sum up, through the State Resource Centre the Adult Education programmes in Uttaranchal have been given a fresh impetus. The SRCAE has facilitated in better monitoring and evaluation of the programmes and made convenient in providing innovative area specific teaching and learning materials.
State Resource Centre for Adult Education,