Into the Great Wide Open

It takes a while to figure that the circular structure sticking out like a sore thumb on top of the house is a helipad. A house with a helipad is not exactly a common sight in any part of India, let alone in a remote corner of Raichur district.  Yet here it is, standing tall and large amidst other humble residences. Obviously, even in the most under developed regions of India, someone has the resources to find their own solution for bad roads. 

A few kilometers away, lies a small town called Sajjalgudda. A mere two hundred people reside here. It has got a primary school, a high school, a junior college and a teacher's training college. Education must be the highest priority. The principal of the teacher's training college is well qualified, has thirty years of experience and takes pride in his role of preparing teacher educators. Over 90% of the students are women. All the faculty are post graduates. The college itself boasts of good infrastructure with a lab, well equipped library and spacious class rooms. Overall, the mood is upbeat.

Discussions done, directions are asked for the rest room to one of the faculty members. He points to the vast open fields around. Like, there you go. He says, the college does not have any restrooms at all. For a second, I wonder if I heard it right! Yes, he says, we do not have toilets. Unbelievable. Why so? Funds were allocated but the management felt it was not really needed and diverted it to other important requirements. And adds with a wry smile, people here prefer the open spaces. Sounds absurd, especially in a college having so many women students. A town full of educational institutions and well qualified residents does not give priority to sanitation. If there could be an house with a helipad, wonder why not toilets!

ASHWAS, a study conducted by Arghyam, an NGO focused on sanitation and hygiene, reveals some interesting statistics. Apparently in rural Karnataka, 72% of the people defecate in the open, with the number going upto 98% in Raichur district. Reality does stink. And 80% of those who defecate in the open actually find it inconvenient and do so, mainly due to financial constraints of constructing a toilet. The study also indicates that a majority of school toilets, though present, are defunct. Shocking truths, when infact, one would think the schools & colleges should be enforcing the use of toilets. If generations till now have gotten used to this, shouldn't we atleast ensure that the next generation learns the right sanitary habits? Raichur district has 2400 government schools, which effectively implies a school every few kms and I'd think they are the best places to start with. It will have a strong influence in the neighborhood and maybe over a period of time help in improving the sanitary conditions. Also, functional toilets in schools will have a positive impact on the retention of girls in schools, as girls usually tend to drop out of schools primarily due to lack of such amenities.

And as I bid goodbye to the Sajjalgudda college, I notice a student venturing into the fields. 

Into the Great Wide Open, A rebel without a clue? Tom Petty's song definitely rings a different bell.

Textbook or Passbook?

It is a rocky ride through some verdant countryside for about a hundred kilometers from Yadgir. Narrow roads, small hamlets dot the way. Population is sparse, yet the lack of civic sense and general hygiene stares starkly at you. It has just rained, the fields are disarmingly green, though the monsoon has been disappointing this year. Talikoti emerges in a couple of hours. It seems to be an unpretentious town with a no nonsense look going about it's own business. Roads are empty. For anyone used to Bangalore's clogged roads, it appears to be a town under curfew.

The private degree college at Talikoti, has close to thousand students spread across the Arts and Commerce streams. There are no Science degrees offered. Campus is fairly large, the classrooms are buzzing. Students though are a bit reticent in their remarks. Gender lines are clearly drawn, with one side of the classroom taken by the girls and other by the boys. Aspirations run high, ranging from taking a shot at the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) to acquiring a doctorate. Some of them want to start working, many want to be teachers. An encouraging sign.

The faculty seems very knowledgeable. They say that Talikoti's economy is driven primarily by two factors - the agricultural trading center, one of the largest in the district and the education 'market'. Crops grown in nearby towns are sold at the trading center. No industries exist in the town, so there are also no engineering colleges. Infact, there are no colleges offering even a science degree! Though, there was a time when a few companies producing edible oil had been present.  But then, they had to shut shop due to unfavorable factors such as salty ground water and lack of suitable infrastructure. 'We don't take any risks. So, we stay where we are.', says one of the teachers who has been living there for a long time. Another one says, 'We are the Education Capital of Karnataka.' Now, thats a strong claim. 

Apparently there is a large market for coaching. Over a hundred private coaching centers exist in Talikoti. And they keep sprouting up. Most are residential. Students are charged anywhere between Rs.6000 to Rs.18000 an year as fees. These coaching centers do not offer any 'formal' education; neither do they help students with their curriculum. They focus on equipping the students to clear the Common Entrance Test (CET). Many teachers choose to jump onto this coaching bandwagon, as it offers a livelihood. A few conscientious ones prefer not to. As one of them said it is a choice between the textbook and the passbook. And the student profile? Primary school kids! Yes, children aged between nine and twelve, stay in residential schools and slog it out to clear entrance exams for getting admissions to sixth standard in the so-called good government schools. Children from many parts of the state come over to enroll at these centers. Regular school is given a pass, though children do register in the schools to ensure they progress. So, thats the capital being built by the Education Entrepreneurs.  Its very similar to places like Kota in Rajasthan, which has a thriving economy built on top of the coaching centers preparing students for the IIT JEE. Whereas a seat at the famed IITs might pave the way for a very bright future, it is not clear what is the lure for children to break into government high schools. Especially, if it comes at the cost of childhood. 

Seriously, do we need entrance exams at that level?