SHYAM SUDAN
Recently Education Department of J&K UT with the collaboration of Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan has launched a very unique and historical programme of ‘Taalash’.
Basically Taalash is a survey based programme for out of school and dropout children. As we know due to impact of COVID 19 lot of children have left their schooling due to one or other reasons. In J&K as we know in government schools there is great percentage of those children who are not capable to get private education.
No doubt government schools are providing every basic necessity to these children. There are lot of schemes and programs in government schools which are designed for these children. There is provision of mid day meal program which is a mega nourishment scheme all over the country for government school children. Sidewise government is giving lot of scholarship and other benefit like free uniforms, books and other basic materials to the children of government school. It doesn’t mean that government school are designed only for downtrodden and poor section of our society. These facilities are provided to every student who is reading in government school. Despite having all the facilities in schools in recent years we have seen that the custom of dropout and left out children are continuously increasing. But are the reasons and factors behind this trend, it is a debatable point. Many students left their schooling in mid way. No doubt it is serious concern for all of us. At one side we are giving priority to universalization of education and right to education to every child. On the other hand our children are leaving their study in their mid way .At present we are in need of smart and technically equipped manpower in the country. Because at present we are in the great transitional phase of our development. Recently we have launched the new education policy 2020, and we have set lot of goals and objective for our education. However dropout of children from school is not a new issue but in this digital age we can’t expect such things. As we know an uneducated and half learned person always create problems for his family as well for his society. Such kind of persons put an extra burden on family as well as on the dwelling country. Taalash survey is designed to locate and identify the numbers of such children who are dropout out or out of schools. In our region many students especially girl students faces the problem of dropout due to family pressure, economic conditions and social taboos. Many boys are also facing such kind of obstacles in their study. Through this survey we can recognize the actual reality behind this matter. The aim of the education department is to bring back such children in schools and give benefits of right to education to these children. With the collaboration of all and with proper guidance and counseling activities we can achieve our target .But for this firstly there is need of proper survey of these children. Taalash survey in which millions of teachers are engaged at present is the first and foremost step in this direction. This is purely an online or digital survey through a specially designed app (Taalash App). Here the role of teachers are very pivotal because on the basis of this survey the education department further design their strategy for these children. And undoubtedly teachers are giving their best in this direction. However it is a very hectic program and in this scorching heat condition it is very difficult for teachers to visit door to door for this programme. But teachers are giving their services on a missionary mode for this survey programme. The time of the survey is also very appropriate at present because there is summer vacation in all the schools. Mostly children are at their homes and they can give better response to the surveyors. It is needed for parents also to give the authentic and factual information for this survey. However it is mention in the circular that PRIs will provide assistance for this survey. It is duty of all stakeholders of society to come forward and support the surveyors for completion of this Taalash survey. Our children are the real assets of our society. We can’t expect a civilized society until there is contribution of all in it.