14.2.0814.2.08

Migration and Girl Child’sMigration and Girl Child’sEducation Education

Dr Neeru Sharma, ReaderDr Neeru Sharma, ReaderRuchira Sapru, ScholarRuchira Sapru, Scholar

Sukhwinder and Vandana, StudentsSukhwinder and Vandana, StudentsDeptt of Home ScienceDeptt of Home Science

University of Jammu,JammuUniversity of Jammu,Jammu

• In any catastrophe whether natural or man made three groups are most vulnerable and suffer the most –

ChildrenWomen, andthe Aged• Nothing can be done much so far as the nature made sufferings are concerned, but

the last four decades have seen a phenomenal upsurge in man made sufferings.• Armed conflict is one of the most common man made disasters, especially for

women and children.• It renders people homeless, displacing them from their familiar social environment

and placing them at the mercy of fate. • When this displacement occurs within the borders of a country, these people are

given the nomenclature of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), however in India they are generally referred to as “migrants” .

• An overwhelming majority of IDP’s are “women” and “children” struggling to survive with little hope of returning home, sometimes years after actual conflict has ended.

IntroductionIntroduction

Jammu has become a land of migrantsJammu has become a land of migrants *1947 migrants*1947 migrants *Migrants of wars of 1965 and1971*Migrants of wars of 1965 and1971 *Kashmiri migrants*Kashmiri migrants *Migrants from Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar*Migrants from Doda, Bhaderwah, Kishtwar *Border migrants*Border migrants They have all taken refuge in Jammu They have all taken refuge in Jammu Some have been rehabilitated others still facing Some have been rehabilitated others still facing

acute crisisacute crisis Recent years have seen an increased conflict along Recent years have seen an increased conflict along

the international border between India and the international border between India and Pakistan leading to internal migration of people Pakistan leading to internal migration of people residing along the border areas .residing along the border areas .

Camp SitesCamp Sites

Camp siteCamp site

•These people deserted their houses, leaving behind their belongings and cattle to take shelter in Government Schools and open areas in and around Akhnoor. •Around 5000 families were evacuated due to intensified firing and shelling from the Pakistani side. •The Indian Army laid land mines along the Actual Line of Control (ALC). •Entire agricultural tracts became unsafe to venture into. •The ‘migrants’ were accommodated in camps ostensibly for better management of relief measures, but after that, they became nobody’s children. •There is a Governmental organization for “migrants” from the Kashmir valley, but the “Border Migrants” were not being looked after by any such organization, •Their responsibility was given to already overburdened district administrations. •The relief they were getting was meager. •They were not even recognized as IDP’s which would have helped them in securing relief from specialized international agencies.

•This led to sharp decline in the rate of school goers because the first concern was to satisfy basic needs of food, shelter, clothing and security

•As happens in every war and internal conflict these children became the victims

•Besides other losses they also lost very crucial years of their life

•In the camps the schools were the last to come up

•Schools for them meant open air, scorching heat, with a stray black sheet hung on a lone nail.

•Because of severe cold and harsh heat they were left out in the open

•The present paper will focus on the condition of the education of the girl children in the border migrant camp of Devipur near Jammu

•1300 families were residing in this camp

•According to KGNMT there were about 1568 children in the age group of 0-15 years in the camp and 600 had dropped out.

ObjectivesObjectives

To find out: To find out:

reasons for dropoutreasons for dropout

attitude of children towards educationattitude of children towards education

attitude of parents towards educationattitude of parents towards education To know about the initiatives taken by the To know about the initiatives taken by the

government and the non governmental organizations government and the non governmental organizations for children’s education in the campsfor children’s education in the camps

To know the status of education of the girl child after To know the status of education of the girl child after

shifting back to their native border areasshifting back to their native border areas

Background Information DropoutsN=25(%)

SchoolgoersN=25(%)

Age (in years)12-16 23(92) 22(88)

Ordinal Position2nd

3rd 4th

5th

1(4)9(36)9(36)4(16)

6(24)8(32)1(4)4(16)

Present educational status

6th 7th 8th

9th

10th

3(12)8(32)8(32)4(16)2(8)

-2(8)9(36)9(36)5(20)

Type of SchoolGovtPrivate

24(96)1(4)

11(44)14(56)

Results from the study in campsResults from the study in camps

Reasons for dropoutReasons for dropout

Most of the females dropped at the age of 11-16 yearsMost of the females dropped at the age of 11-16 years when they were studying in 8when they were studying in 8thth -10 -10thth The reasons were:The reasons were: Migration 28%Migration 28% Lack of interest 28%Lack of interest 28% Distance of school 20%Distance of school 20% Financial Problem 16%Financial Problem 16% Illness of mother 8%Illness of mother 8% 92% would not like to continue studies but they are also not 92% would not like to continue studies but they are also not

satisfied with their educational levelssatisfied with their educational levels

Life in campsLife in camps 96% parents of dropouts approve of their education as compared to 44% 96% parents of dropouts approve of their education as compared to 44%

school goersschool goers Siblings of 64% dropouts and 76% school goers are attending the school Siblings of 64% dropouts and 76% school goers are attending the school Dropout sample is of the view that they (siblings) are younger and Dropout sample is of the view that they (siblings) are younger and

interested in studiesinterested in studies 72% dropouts say that migration has effected their families financially and 72% dropouts say that migration has effected their families financially and

has resulted in poor health of the family where as similar views were has resulted in poor health of the family where as similar views were expressed by 56% school goersexpressed by 56% school goers

48% dropouts and 12 % school goers believe that their family relations 48% dropouts and 12 % school goers believe that their family relations have been strained because of migrationhave been strained because of migration

Problems they have faced in camps include water scarcity, electric supply,Problems they have faced in camps include water scarcity, electric supply, financial and lack of medical facilities.financial and lack of medical facilities. Want to return to villages even though every thing is destroyed yet it is Want to return to villages even though every thing is destroyed yet it is

their own.their own.

Girls washing clothes and boys Girls washing clothes and boys idling their time playing cardsidling their time playing cards

Life in a tentLife in a tent

Peer InfluencesPeer Influences

68% friends of dropouts, who live in these 68% friends of dropouts, who live in these camps, attend the schools camps, attend the schools

All the friends of school goers do the sameAll the friends of school goers do the same Their friends encourage them to attend the Their friends encourage them to attend the

school school

Perceptions and Activities of Perceptions and Activities of Children in the CampsChildren in the Camps

6(29)11(52)4(19)

-5(20)20(80)

Activities performedFetch waterWash utensilsFull household work

21(84)4(16)

25(100)-

Help in house hold choresYesNo

19(76)4(16)

5(20)20(80)

Life after migrationNo changeRestrictions

1(4)9(36)12(48)-3(12)

4(16)-9(36)12(48)-

Aim in life….Defence servicesDoctorTeacherHousewifeUndecided

21(84)1(4)3(12)

25(100)--

Importance of education…To get good jobIndependenceknowledge

SchoolgoersN=25(%)

DropoutsN=25(%)

Responses

Educational facilities provided by Educational facilities provided by the Governmentthe Government

Two govt schools ,upgraded to middle school, running in 3 Two govt schools ,upgraded to middle school, running in 3 tents provided by the UNICEF tents provided by the UNICEF

13 teachers and 40 children in the school13 teachers and 40 children in the school Two rooms were there but used as office and storeroom so Two rooms were there but used as office and storeroom so

classes under the treesclasses under the trees Surrounding noises hindered educationSurrounding noises hindered education A water pump near the school meant squabbles for water and A water pump near the school meant squabbles for water and

loud discussionsloud discussions Two private schools too had shifted from the border areas to Two private schools too had shifted from the border areas to

the camps but the facilities were minimumthe camps but the facilities were minimum They too were middle schoolsThey too were middle schools Most of these teachers were undergraduatesMost of these teachers were undergraduates

Private schoolPrivate school(the pump is visible)(the pump is visible)

Government SchoolsGovernment Schools

All the four schools lacked infrastructureAll the four schools lacked infrastructureSports material was dumped in stores Sports material was dumped in stores Though the ratio of teacher child was 1:10 yet their Though the ratio of teacher child was 1:10 yet their interaction was negativeinteraction was negativeThe teachers would not allow the students to come The teachers would not allow the students to come closer as their dresses were soiled because of siiting on closer as their dresses were soiled because of siiting on floors or torn matsfloors or torn matsTeachers maintained a distanceTeachers maintained a distanceWere of the view that migration has effected the Were of the view that migration has effected the education badly but as the time was passing the children education badly but as the time was passing the children were showing better performance againwere showing better performance againNo effort to bring the dropouts to the schools was No effort to bring the dropouts to the schools was observedobserved

Efforts by the NGO’sEfforts by the NGO’s

Only Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Only Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust was found working in the camps Trust was found working in the camps supported by OXFAM-GB.supported by OXFAM-GB.

Started a balwadi but because of lack of Started a balwadi but because of lack of interest by the people discontinuedinterest by the people discontinued

Encourage people to enroll their children in Encourage people to enroll their children in schoolschool

Provide vocational training in cutting, Provide vocational training in cutting, tailoring, embroidery to the girls in the campstailoring, embroidery to the girls in the camps

After return to the native villagesAfter return to the native villages

Financial constraints a major problem for both school goers Financial constraints a major problem for both school goers and dropoutsand dropouts

Preference was being given to boys education in the dropouts Preference was being given to boys education in the dropouts familiesfamilies

62% School goers perceive education as important though 62% School goers perceive education as important though they were not satisfied with the facilities in the schools they they were not satisfied with the facilities in the schools they were studying inwere studying in

They desire to have well qualified teachers though they had They desire to have well qualified teachers though they had word of praise for their teachersword of praise for their teachers

They had desire to study upto 12They had desire to study upto 12thth(32%), graduation (42%) (32%), graduation (42%) and post graduation(26%)and post graduation(26%)

46% believe that education would help them fetch good jobs 46% believe that education would help them fetch good jobs and 50% want to become teachersand 50% want to become teachers

Dropouts time useDropouts time use Financial problems and distance of school main reasons for Financial problems and distance of school main reasons for

dropoutdropout 62% would like to continue education if given chance rest not 62% would like to continue education if given chance rest not

interestedinterested Time spent inTime spent in Household work 64%Household work 64% Sleep 60%Sleep 60% Craft 44%Craft 44% T V watching 40%T V watching 40% Teaching Siblings 8%Teaching Siblings 8% 40% have done a vocational course due to personal interest40% have done a vocational course due to personal interest Most of them have no future plansMost of them have no future plans

Parents viewsParents views 40% of parents of both dropouts and school goers believe that 40% of parents of both dropouts and school goers believe that

education is important for getting a good matcheducation is important for getting a good match 40% parents of school goers believe that it is for good social 40% parents of school goers believe that it is for good social

position position 56%Parents of school goers believe that their daughters would 56%Parents of school goers believe that their daughters would

continue education but44% say that she may have to leave continue education but44% say that she may have to leave because of financial constraints and distance from schoolbecause of financial constraints and distance from school

Parents of the dropouts said that their daughters had to leave Parents of the dropouts said that their daughters had to leave education because of distance of school(72%), financial education because of distance of school(72%), financial constraint(28%) ,Lack of good environment in the camps constraint(28%) ,Lack of good environment in the camps ( 48%) ,Lack of interest (60%).( 48%) ,Lack of interest (60%).

•60% did not want to send their daughters to school 60% did not want to send their daughters to school againagain•All the teachers said that the girls had lost interest in All the teachers said that the girls had lost interest in education because of lack of infrastructure(57%) and education because of lack of infrastructure(57%) and distance of school (50%)distance of school (50%)•They also believe that if the girls are motivated and They also believe that if the girls are motivated and provided incentives and basic facilities like water, toilets provided incentives and basic facilities like water, toilets and electricity ,at least, they would come back to and electricity ,at least, they would come back to schools.schools.•After migration the conditions of the schools had After migration the conditions of the schools had become pitiablebecome pitiable•Observations in the schools showed that teachers were Observations in the schools showed that teachers were idling their time and students too were seen wasting idling their time and students too were seen wasting time or doing activities other than school work.time or doing activities other than school work.

SuggestionsSuggestions

ParentsParents Understand value of Understand value of

education and education and encourage their wardsencourage their wards

especially those who especially those who have dropped out.have dropped out.

TeachersTeachers Provide not only Provide not only

education but healing education but healing touch to mitigate their touch to mitigate their traumatrauma

Interact with and Interact with and motivate parents of motivate parents of dropout childrendropout children

Governmental and Non Governmental and Non Governmental OrganisationGovernmental Organisation

Have better disaster management policiesHave better disaster management policies This situation has arisen many times and may occur This situation has arisen many times and may occur

again so a line of action has to be readied to face any again so a line of action has to be readied to face any such situationsuch situation

Children are the worst hit especially girls as the Children are the worst hit especially girls as the insecurity has a fallout on their movements being insecurity has a fallout on their movements being restricted so thought has to be given to this restricted so thought has to be given to this

Involve international agencies as they can help and Involve international agencies as they can help and have better strategies in humanitarian crisishave better strategies in humanitarian crisis

In the whole process of migration and afterward no In the whole process of migration and afterward no women came forward to relate her situation so her women came forward to relate her situation so her problems and sufferings were never knownproblems and sufferings were never known

•She suffered because of her children's losses but it She suffered because of her children's losses but it was only the fields and mines that the government was only the fields and mines that the government talked about , her problems should have been talked about , her problems should have been investigatedinvestigated•After the girl child suffered 5 years of educational After the girl child suffered 5 years of educational loss the government or NGO’s could have started loss the government or NGO’s could have started condensed courses for them but the efforts are not condensed courses for them but the efforts are not visiblevisible•The girls don’t want to study with younger children The girls don’t want to study with younger children so efforts can be made to have evening or special so efforts can be made to have evening or special schools or classes for themschools or classes for themA lot of human potential suffered but the balming A lot of human potential suffered but the balming processprocess never started. never started.

THANK YOU