Dalit-School
3rd Feb
Today we went to a school for the kids of the “Untouchable”, one of the lowest castes in the official Indian castes-list, which does not exist anymore. This school was established by Lady Mallavizhi a few years ago. Before that, she already established a school for kids from the middle class about 12 km further, where the parents can afford to pay school fees.
She selected some of that money to finance Dalit-school. The teachers here earn about 4500 rupees (cca 80 Euro) a month, which is - even for Indian conditions – only a little. It takes a lot of persuasiveness for Lady Mallavizhi to hold up the teachers’ idealism. The latest law says that schools must pay the minimum wage, which applies for the owners of state school. That’s something she can’t afford, what means she’ll have to either send some of the 236 students home, or she’ll have to get together enough money to bribe the school inspector.
Another new law, which worries Lady Mallavizhi, is purchasing and using school books only from one determinate publisher, which happens to be the minster of current government at the same time.
Lady Mallavizhi tells us that at the beginning of her mission it was very hard to convince the parents, who are mostly analphabets, to let their kids go to school. Not only they use their children as labor force to support the family, but the belief in one’s own power to build his future is really weak because of the religious and social conditions.
But right now would most of the parents let their kids go to school. Children from 4 to 10 years come here from the area of about 15 km. In everyday conditions they would come by a school bus, but it’s broken at the moment. That’s why they need to improvise and find vehicles and drivers, who would help, of course, not without charges.
She tells us that sometimes she doesn’t have the nerves anymore, but then always something happens, that gives her the strength to continue. Like for example our visit here and our interest in those things.
We are very astonished by the radiation, warmth and mercy of this lady, who gives out so much strength for something, that is for us – Northern Europeans – unimaginable.
For the kids it’s like Christmas to get a pen as a present, and I appear to myself somehow smaller. (Projekt Pangea)
You can find more pictures HERE .
Translated by P2k
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