Adilabad: Lack of funds, interest killing Vidyanjali scheme

Adilabad: About four years ago Narendra Modi had launched Prime Minister Vidyanjali scheme to enhance education standard and to impart knowledge of students in government schools across the country. The scheme was designed to enhance the skills, knowledge and development of the students through the training by volunteers.

However, the scheme is not fulfilling its objective as neither donors nor NGOs or volunteers have shown any interest to support the scheme which is to be implemented in public schools.

Both the Central as well State government has not released any grant to for funding of the scheme which has to be implemented with the support of volunteers and voluntary organisations.

Thus the scheme is dying as sad death as it has ran out of support at least in Adilabad district.

The department of Education has been showing negligence in advancing this scheme launched on June 16, 2018.

Interested volunteers can apply through Vidyanjali Scheme website designed by the government. They have to choose the school in which they want to provide services. The headmaster of the school concerned selects the student and then sends it to the relevant mandal education officer (MEO). Volunteers are required to teach in the school in a way that imparts knowledge to the students, including reading, writing, acting, doll making, dance, music, etc, as well as awareness of social service programmes. Volunteers do not interfere with what teachers teach to students.

The lack of publicity about the scheme seems to have dampened the response. If the NGOs, officials and people's representatives in the district discuss with the donors and create awareness on the scheme, the chances of good results are high. Due to lack of awareness, no applications are received so far. It is very useful for socially oriented people and voluntary organisations to enhance the knowledge of children in rural areas who are studying in public schools. The scheme serves as an opportunity to motivate interested volunteers through the scheme to create awareness among the students so that they can read and write and to master other fields as well as to unleash creativity in them. There is a need for volunteers to come forward if this scheme is to move forward.