The Schedule Tribes (STs) constitute almost one-fourth of the population of Odisha and about half of the geographical area of the State is 5th Scheduled area or tribal area. Without the development of the majority of ST population the progress of Odisha will not be inclusive. But inspite of efforts by private and Government agencies, they still continue to suffer in many ways.
They are in the lowest rank in comparison to other social groups in all kinds of human development indicators such as per capital income, salaried job, poverty ratio, IMR, MMR, literacy and dropout rate etc. The socioeconomic status of STs in other parts of the country is relatively better in many respects.
The STs of the North Eastern States are doing much better in all India jobs. State of Jharkhand has a tribal heading the Government. Independent tribal parties such as Bharatiya Tribal Party are coming up with representation in some States. In order to change the continued underdevelopment scenario, the State Government must invest in standard quality education of tribal children. The education must be of international standard at par with other developed social groups, through which the ST children can get access to modern knowledge system.
Currently a majority of STs are still in primary sector, agriculture and forest related activities which is a major cause of their underdevelopment and they must equally make their presence felt in self-employment, business, industry, mining, manufacturing and service sector. English is most preferred language of knowledge and for all kinds of official communication without which it is difficult to get employed in higher positions. It is estimated that about a third of world’s population now uses English which is most flexible and adoptable language.
Language is one of the important means of participation in governance and development. The denial of poorer sections of learning official language has affected their participation for a long time. It is good to educate their children in mother tongue for learning the basics.
At the same time, they must be educated in English medium schools. Even from Class-1, English can be introduced as a subject. Mother tongue may be up to lower primary level but English language must be medium of education from upper primary level. The recent trend of primary education shows a move towards English medium of instruction all over the country, including Odisha.
Though everyone knows that mother tongue best suits a child in learning the basics, but this seems to be for the poor people only as the rich upper class/caste in India prefers English medium from the very beginning of learning of their children while advocating mother tongue for STs.
It is fact that almost all MLAs, MPs, bureaucrats, academics, media people, NGO leaders and activists are paying lip service while glorifying vernacular language. In practice, they send their own children to English medium schools. English education has created global level scope for all those who know the language. There are a number of private, Government and semi-Government English medium schools operating mostly in cities and small towns. There presence in rural area is almost nil.The recognized Government schools are not being favored by majority of the parents; rather the less known private English medium schools become their best choice.
The educated upper class those who can afford have no issue with private schools but the poor and marginalised sections have no choice but to get admitted in Government schools and vernacular medium which are now going to be closed because of shortage of students and poor quality of education. It is also argued that the outflow of students from established Government schools to private English medium schools can be checked with change of medium of instruction and the poor people who are unable to pay fee of private schools can admit their children in Government schools.
If we want to see any radical change in the socio-economic life of the most marginalised section of our State, it is highly required to invest in primary education with good quality education of international standard which can be possible only through introducing English as medium of instruction.
The Central Government is already doing this through Ekalavya Model Residential School since 1997 and the State has the ANWESHA scheme but these cover a very insignificant few and leaves a vast majority of ST children’s future into darkness. It will be ideal for the State to convert all residential schools run by STs and SCs Development Department to English medium schools with introduction of all India syllabuses such as CBSE or ICSE.
The State Government can use Tribal sub plan provision, Article 275(1) grant, and CAMPA and DMF funds for this purpose. Odisha being a multi-lingual State, such a decision will not affect the Odia-speaking people as the mother tongue of STs is not Odia.
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