Pandemic of Covid-19 had become as a synonym of pause, loss and pain. Many people lost their jobs, loved ones and this has affected many people including children who lost their parents. It seems like this pandemic situation has pressed a pause button in their study life and put a question mark in their dreams, ambitions and hope.

Our research team observed that the children of tribal areas no longer showing interest in re-joining the schools after the govt lifted the lockdown. This is a serious issue and can bring unwanted results in their societies. So, we decided to do something to bring back their interest in the school.

The catastrophe of Covid-19 virus disaster has brought some serious damages on the coming generation who are just learning to pave their paths in schools as schools were completely locked for more than one and a half year. In India, closure of 1.5 million schools due to the pandemic and lockdowns in 2020 has impacted 247 million children enrolled in elementary and secondary schools. In addition, there are over six million girls and boys who were already out of school even before the COVID-19 crisis began.

(Ref : UNICEF India : https://www.unicef.org/india/press-release/covid-19-schools more-168-million-children-globally-have-been-completely-closed

Now almost after one and a half year the states have decided to reopen the schools considering the damage which is causing to children’s education. In the observation we had in with regard to this, it’s a whole different deal to the students who have spent one and a half year in lockdown in staying day and night in the comfort of four walls of their homes. Around 214 million children globally – or 1 in 7 – have missed more than three-quarters of their in-person learning. We spoke to a few parents. They informed us that, the children are finding it difficult to cope up socially, mentally, physically and emotionally.

In our surveys we found that the children are feeling socially disconnected. Going back to school is whole lot of a task for them. They are hesitating to re-join the schools and start everything all over again. It’s a serious issue for parents as well. Daily waged parents are facing huge financial problems for buying notebooks, school bags and other necessary things for their children. There is absolutely no internet connectivity in some of the rural areas.

This is causing a huge devastating consequence on children’s learning. The attendance in schools is remarkably low which is a very unhealthy sign for our educational bodies. Till date in India only eight states/UTs have opened all classes from class 1 to class 12, 11 states have reopened classes 6-12 and 15 states have only opened classes 9-12. Three states have reopened Anganwadi centres, with younger children losing out greatly on crucial foundational learning.

For this, Born Again Welfare Foundation team has come up with a strategic plan to increase interest in children to come back to school and start enjoying their school life again specially in tribal areas of Maharashtra.

We are beginning this work with the tribal areas of Kev, Palghar, Maharashtra.

• We chose Palghar district because this region has 95% of tribal population.
• The female literacy rate of this region is only 59.28% which is significantly lower than 86.3% of global average rate.
• Most of the villages have no educational facilities even within 5 to 10 km of distance and children have to walk long distances to attend class which is very demotivating factor.
• 84.28% of villages do not have any medical access.
• 65.5% of the working population do not work, which is leading to worsening poverty in the area.

The schools we are planning to execute this program are:

1. Jilha Parishad Prathamik Shala, Kev, Palghar.
2. Kev Vibhag High School, Kev, Palghar.
3. Jilha Parishad Uccha Prathamik Shala, Boranda, Patilpada, Palghar.
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