Education: Bridging the Urban-rural divide

As is often remarked by social scientists,there are two Indias within one India -- one that is always "shining" for a vociferous and influential middle-class and another that lives and dies in its millions of villages -- without proper sanitation, access to good drinking water, health and of course, education.

Even after sixty years of Independence, there are hundreds of villages where there is no school, and even if there is one, it is only upto the primary school level. The nearest high school is at least five kilometres away in the Panchayat headquarters or even the district headquarters. Since the quality of education in Government schools is not up to the mark, those who are slightly better off in terms of economic status, plan to pool all their resources and send the child to the nearest "English-medium school". This craze is a national phenomenon, given the fact that it is the knowledge of both written and spoken English that gives anyone a competitive edge, not only in higher education, but also in terms of high-quality jobs at any point in time.

Those in urban areas have access to a plethora of institutions that dish out a huge variety of job-oriented courses -- both degree and diploma -- in interior decoration, bio-technology, media, fashion technology, information technology, and every one of the new avenues for jobs opening up, as a consequence of globalization. They also get jobs in these fields of specialization, and the growing BPO sector is always there for anyone to fall back upon, more so, if the person has an excellent command over writen and spoken English.

Several voluntary groups and institutions in the Non-governmental sector, are indeed doing their bit to upgrade the quality of education in rural areas, but more often than not, such efforts are but a small drop in the ocean.

Hence, certain systemic interventions are called for, and these can be given some consideration by the Central and State Governments. If for example, there is a hundred percent exemption for any corporate house running a school upto the tenth standard level in a rural area, not more than fifty kilometres from any one of its manufacturing plants,for say, aa amount of upto ten crores from its pre-tax profits, such an incentive may motivate the corporates to open and manage such schools. Since the co-operation of the local community is always there for such initiatives, running and maintaining the school with grants from the corporate house, upto the exemption limit, is quite possible.

Nothing comes free. The students should be made to pay a very minimum fee, and this will in turn spur the parents to look for ways and means to supplement their income to meet this minimum requirement. Furthermore, if the corporate house can demonstrate results in terms of state rank holders, distinction in state or even level sports etc, such corporates may be given an additional incentive of a further five crores exemption. This exemption is similar to what is now available for donations to social causes -- like orphanages, old-age homes, and the like.

Secondly, corporates can be given some similar incentives for re-building crumbling infrastructure in village schools. If such initiatives are taken, it is bound to open up at least some more avenues for additional resources through corporates, and "inclusive" growth is bound to happen, at least to some extent.

Thirdly, if the corporates can provide free coaching in both written and spoken English for a vast majority of unemployed graduates -- who are otherwise employable --in rural areas, as part of their social responsibility, there will be a big pool of talent that will be employable by the corporates in the BPO sector, and in the information technology industry. Institutions such as the CII can possibly take a lead and motivate the corporates to take up such initiatives.

One thing is sure -- there should always be very little Government intervention in any initiative. Of course, if the Government were to give the exemption suggested above,the corporates should be subject to audits by the local district administration. In these days of corporate governance, it is quite possible that there will be takers who will do a good and sincere job of running schools in the rural areas.

For such a very long time, we have had empty promises, and very little action. Of course, we have talked so much about upgrading infrastructure in schools and all that, but the efforts that have borne fruit, are still inadequate.

So, what has been suggested above, may please be given some thought by education planners. May be, some more innovation is called for, but once we build a framework through some real Government initiative, we can always continue such innovation and take it forward. The time to act is now.

Of course, I have suggested only a few initiatives that can possibly be taken. Sky is the limit for such initiatives.

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