In a startling revelation, a HRD Ministry report on school education in Uttar Pradesh prepared by the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) has claimed that Amethi is the most backward region in eastern Uttar Pradesh, particularly in school education system.
The report has cited that despite the fact that the Parliamentary constituency was represented by leaders like late Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, late Sanjay Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, educational scenario of Amethi was of a cause concern. HRD Minister Smriti Irani lost to three-time MP from Amethi, Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi in the last general elections.
According to the report titled Bina Shiksha Sab Soon, in terms of physical facilities Ballia and Gorakhpur were found to be prosperous districts where as Amethi, Ambedkar Nagar and Deoria appeared relatively backward districts. In another comparative study amongst Ballia, Amethi and Gorakhpur districts, it said that despite being represented 11 times by leaders belonging to the same family, Amethi has remained most underdeveloped on all aspects.
"The region supported by strong national leadership, natural resources and human resources, is still waiting for its development and had been looking for the causes of their backwardness, which raises a big question on the whole system," said the report submitted last month. NIOS is an autonomous body of HRD Ministry.
A HRD Ministry official said that this survey was done to elevate educational status and to underline the role of NIOS in eastern Uttar Pradesh. "But when research team surveyed different districts and tried to explore different aspects of social, cultural, economical and educational status, conditions were found extremely bewildering. The study included eight districts (Ballia, Deoria, Gorakhpur, Ambedkar Nagar, Amethi, Sultanpur and Faizabad)," said the official.
The research report prepared by educationist Professor Pawan Sharma, said that the survey team found that schools in the mentioned regions are not according to plan, mainly they are closed and the conditions of the schools are indescribable.
"The region (Amethi) have been long led by the top ranked leaders in the country's Parliament, however, this area has not reflected the spirit of educational development. lack of schools in nearby areas and transport facility for girls are not available," says the report now posted on the NIOS website.
In all only two universities in the eight districts one at Faizabad and other at Gorakhpur are located. In addition to this, one engineering university, one medical college and one polytechnic college are also located in these districts, it further says.
The report suggests that local residents of Amethi have shared their concern about the status of education with the research team of NIOS. "Conditions are so bad that they are compelled to provide education to their children by making some alternative arrangements in other nearby districts. Of course, few individual efforts from some villages have helped girls to attend schools, but in the absence of good roads and transportation they face many difficulties. Even today, girls in this area take care of domestic animals, do agricultural related work and work as labour in fields," the report quoted the residents of Amethi.
"Based on the experiences of the past several decades, and after talking with the citizens of the region it seems people of this area have been emotionally abused more often, either by politicians or by religious people," says the report resolving that in such circumstances, eastern Uttar Pradesh, especially in, Amethi, Ambedkar Nagar and Deoria districts, NIOS will need special efforts to improve educational and social scenario through its secondary, senior secondary and vocational education.