Rural Literacy Project in India

Innovator and Creator: Bansidhar Datta

Date of inception: July 18, 2022

Source(s) of Funding: Personal money and all donations

Projects in Progress in the District of Bankura, West Bengal

Police Station: INDPUR

INTRODUCTION:

Illiteracy is the biggest hindrance worldwide, especially in developing countries like most Asian countries. Rural education is an integral part of any country’s progress. India is not an exception; it is the biggest problem in the world due to its fast-growing population that superseded China recently. It is the most populated country in the world. Among its population (~1.42 billion), almost 65% (880 million) reside in villages. As of 2019, the number of villages in India is about 665 thousand. As of 2021, about 233 million villagers are illiterate. West Bengal has about 41 thousand villages, and the district of Bankura has more than 3832 villages. Indpur police station has more than 198 inhabited villages in this district. Among several districts in West Bengal, Bankura is the most underdeveloped in all respects.

During the 1970s, a select few got a college education. Nowadays, things have improved dramatically due to the creation of several schools, colleges, and universities in this district and the government providing support to have necessary items for children. One fundamental problem is the illiteracy rate among adults. Almost 99% of the older adults in these villages do not know how to read and write. The literacy rate would improve dramatically if older adults got fundamental education, such as how to read and write. While young adults work hard to meet their daily needs, the older generations are waiting at home to die. It does not have to be that way. If this older generation gets an education, they will teach their grandchildren at home before they go to school and let them excel there. Ultimately, this will eliminate illiteracy from the base.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of these projects is to provide fundamental education to older adults, basic education to the young generation, and to help Chemistry Honors Students finish their degree.

A BRIEF UPDATE OF OUR OUTREACH PROJECTS IN INDIA

Last summer, Rekha and I visited India to see the progress of our three outreach projects, which are directed toward educating the rural and underachieved people in India. Here is some progresses on these projects:

FIRST PROJECT: Scholarships for Chemistry Honors Students

We opened two scholarship funds two years ago in Belur Ramakrishna Mission Vidyamandira (BRMV), Belur Math, Howrah. We deposited a lump sum of money to Saradapit. Saradapit invests that money in banks, which give the interest. Saradapit collects that interest from the banks and forwards that year-end accrued interest to BRMV. BRMV then decides which most deserving Chemistry honors students should receive that scholarship following the guidelines we provided. In 2022-2023 cycle year, a Chemistry honors student from the schedule tribe (ST) got the Srimati Bhadubala Datta Memorial scholarship, and another Chemistry honors student from the schedule caste got the Shivamayananda Memorial scholarship to advance their Chemistry honors degree. Both students were from North 24 Pargana. In 2023-2024 cycle year, the recipient of the Bhadubala Datta Memorial Scholarship (Rs 7000) was given to a student from Tufanganj Newtown, Coochbehar, and the recipient of the Swami Shivamayananda Memorial Scholarship (Rs 3500) was given to a student from Suksena, Malda, Manikchak, West Bengal.

SECOND PROJECT: Rural Library for all villagers

We built the Srimati Bhadubala Datta Memorial Library in Puara village for all villagers (age two and up) from Puara and its neighbors. Rekha and I renovated the library with paints and other things last summer. Rules for using the library were posted several days before the official inauguration. Below, you will see a board I am holding that demonstrates those rules, and it is always kept outside the library for reading.

Last year, we appointed a salaried librarian from the village to look after the library items, catalog the books, put library stamps on each item, etc., and keep track of the library items given to various villages or village people. She was also responsible for supplying the appropriate medicine from the medicine box to sick people from the villages when needed. In addition, she was also teaching and helping several kids (~30 to 40 per day) and a few adults from Puara and its neighboring villages. This year, we changed the librarian due to students' demand for a librarian who can teach Math, Science, and English. The new librarian, Gourab Ghosal, took control of the library starting on July 1, 2024. He is not only working in the morning, he is also spending several hours in the afternoon in the library. He distributes appropriate medicine to patients from the Puara village and several nearby villages.

In the library, we have story books for kids and adults, textbooks for students from class six to ten, students' aid (Chatra Bandhu) books for students from class three to ten, novels written by Sarathchandra Chattopadhyay, Sukumar Bhattacharyya, and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, basic alphabet books both in Bengali and English language, slates, and chalks, drawing books for kids, Newspaper like Ananada Bazar Patrica, Magazines like Desh, Anadamela, and Sananda, fun toys for kids, maps for the World, India, and West Bengal, World glove, photos for Isharchandra Vidyasagar, Rabindranath Tagore, Mahatma Gandhi, and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, several pairs of glasses to help those who may have trouble reading, a first aid kit containing gloves, sterile gauges, a mini surgical box, bandages, medicines like paracetamol (a Tylenol brand) for cough and cold and mild pain, Aleve for joint and muscle pain, Imodium A-D for diarrhea, Omeprazol for heartburn, and several accessories like recharger lights, a toolbox, tripols, and cleaning items. The demand for these medicines is increasing dramatically. So, we order hundreds of these medicines from Amazon periodically. During our recent visit in June 2024, we took several of these medicines from the USA.

Here are some examples of library attendees :

Last winter, we distributed Kashmiri shawls to elderly people from all castes (Brahmin, Tambuli, Gorai, Pramanic, and Bauri) through the Library.

THIRD PROJECT: Rural Literacy Project in India

We launched this project in July 2022. So far, we have finished this project in SIXTY-SIX villages, and TEN villages are ONGOING. We employed more than 172 teachers from the respective villages. Around 3140 adults from these villages have learned Bengali and some English alphabet, and sign their names. Some of them can read lower-level books. Some students can read books slowly and count numbers. Some students can perform simple addition and subtraction.

In July 2022, we started this project in FOUR regions in village PUARA (equivalent to FOUR villages) and its surrounding villages - Birchandrapur and Gogulnagar, a total of SIX villages. It took almost a year to finish these large regions of villages. From July 2023 to August 2024, we finished the following villages:

7. Village – Bajora

From this village, several female students came forward for their learning experiences. We are delighted to distribute the teaching accessories to these interested students. We are hoping to have additional male students very soon. The total number of students in this village was fifty. COMPLETED.

8. Village – Bhularkhap

After visiting this village a few times, we convinced a group of female and male adult students to get their learning experiences. One senior woman was very kind to go door to door and requested several male and female students to join our discussions. We have appointed two teachers in this village – one for the female students shown in this photo with a child in her lap and subsequently in the photo underneath this photo, and one for the male students shown in the third photo. The total number of students in this village was fifty. COMPLETED.

9. Village – Chatrabaid

In our first visit, a few students (first photo) showed interest in this project. Later, several female students also wanted to get their learning experiences (second photo). The total number of students in this village was forty. COMPLETED.

10. Village – Deulvira

This is a large village with many adults who need education and showed interest in this project. We have, therefore divided these people into different groups based on their interests and locations (where they live) in this village. Below is a group of women who showed interest first.

Below is another large group of interested people in a different location in this village. Underneath that photo are two groups of adults, holding their first alphabet books and standing next to their teachers. The total number of students in this village was fifty. COMPLETED.

11. Village – Dharampur

In this village, we had two groups of adult students. The first group of females (first photo) and second group of males (second photo) are holding their first alphabet books. The total number of students in this village was forty. COMPLETED.

12. Village – Gokulnagar (the Lohars)

During last year's visit, we covered several adults from the Bauri caste in this village. The remaining was the Lohar caste people. The teacher from the Bauri caste did not want to teach the Lohar caste people. So, during our recent visit to India, we had to find teachers from this caste. After several conversations, we finally started the adult school with this group of people in this village. Two teachers, one for female students (below) and the other for male students, were appointed to teach female and male adult students. The total number of students in this village was fifty. COMPLETED.

13. Village – Jirra

We visited this village several times during our stay in India. Later, our nephew, Shibdas, visited several times to convince people in this village to have learning experiences. They were having a good time together while learning the Bengali alphabet. The total number of students in this village was sixty. COMPLETED.

14. Village – Menja

In this village, a female teacher was teaching adult female students to write the Bengali alphabet on a slate. The total number of students in this village was thirty. COMPLETED.

15. Village – Muktidihi

This village is the closest neighbor of the Puara village. Several decades ago, when its population was hardly 20 to 25 people, it was under the jurisdiction of Puara. Now, the population in this village has grown to a few hundred, and it has its own identity in terms of voting, etc. Therefore, we revisited this village and finished educating the interested villagers. Below is the first group of interested students from this village. Underneath this photo are the adult students from this village holding their first books of the alphabet and slates. The female teacher holding a bag is standing with other students. The total number of students in this village was fifty. COMPLETED.

16. Village – Sarathpur

The residents in this village belong to a group known as “Adhibasi.” They have their own rules and regulations regarding their living, education, culture, voting, etc. The head of the village decides what could be done to his people. So, we visited a few times to meet with the head of this village. Finally, we convinced the head of this village to allow his people to have a learning experience in our project. Below, you will see how some adults and some kids are learning the Bengali alphabet. The total number of students in this village was thirty. COMPLETED.

Motivating adult students is a big part of our project. We are happy to say that we have made excellent progress. Here are the next villages:

17. Village - Aamdangra (Total No. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

18. Village -Barobendha (Total no. of Students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

19. Village -Chakalthor (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

20. Village - Cheldanga (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

21. Village - Dabor (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

22. Village - Danga (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

23. Village -Gohara (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

24. Village - Katakuri (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

25. Village -Panjangara (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

26. Village - Dangarampur. (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

27. Village - Deghoriyadi. In this village, there are two units.

Unit 1: (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

Unit 2: (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

28. Village - Gaurigram. (Total no. of students = 20, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

29. Village - Hannaya. In this village, there are two units.

Unit 1: (Total no. of students = 20, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

Unit 2: (Total no. of students = 20, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

30. Village - Jambediya. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

31. Village - Kathalbediya. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

32. Village -Rajudi. (Total no. of students = 20, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

33. Village - Paharpur. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

34. Village - Srirampur. In this village, there are two units.

Unit 1: (Total no. of students = 15, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

Unit 2: (Total no. of students = 15, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

35. Village - Veduasol. (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

36. Village - Ladulara (Adibasi). (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

37. Village - Bandeuli. (Total no. of students = 40, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

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38. Village - Chandra. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

39. Village - Chelabaidh. (Total no. of students = 35, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

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40. Village - Choukighata. (Total no. of students = 50, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

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41. Village - Garduara. (Total no. of students = 30, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

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42. Village - Judibaidh. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

43. Village - Kuchibaidh. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

44. Village - Khutia. (Total no. of students = 25, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

45. Village - Shimuldanga. (Total no. of students = 35, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

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46. Village - Zhagrapur. (Total no. of students = 35, COMPLETED). Not all students are shown.

47. Village - Baghdiya. (Total number of students = 35, COMPLETED)

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48. Village - Basi. (Total number of students = 40, COMPLETED)

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49. Village - Bhaluka. (Total number of students = 40, COMPLETED)

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50. Village - Chatura. (Total number of students = 20, COMPLETED)

51. Village - Hirasol. (Total number of students = 20, COMPLETED)

52. Village - Indpur. (Total number of students = 40, COMPLETED)

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53. Village - Maheshpur. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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54. Village - Niyamathpur. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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55. Village - Nuniabadh. (Total number of students = 45, COMPLETED)

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56. Village - Bhathra. (Total number of students = 40, COMPLETED)

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57. Village - Basidihi. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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58. Village - Bellaruya. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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59. Village - Bellathora. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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60. Village - Cholagora. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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61. Village - Dumrigara. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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62. Village - Harinbariya. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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63. Village - Kadamdeuli. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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64. Village - Kailapathar. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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65. Village - Pairachali. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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66. Village - Udaiypur. (Total number of students = 30, COMPLETED)

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NEXT TEN VILLAGES:

67. Village - Banardanga. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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68. Village - Bandhgora. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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69. Village - Bankata. (Total number of students = 40, ONGOING)

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70. Village - Bhanganala. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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71. Village - Churamanipur. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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72. Village - Fullbana. (Total number of students = 25, ONGOING)

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73. Village - Hitashi. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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74. Village - Jagathdeuli. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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75. Village - Jiyarda. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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76. Village - Khutardanga. (Total number of students = 30, ONGOING)

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CONCLUDING REMARK:

Due to the increased number of students in each village, we are now spending ~1.6 lacks every month, and this is only the teachers' salaries. If you want to help, please go to GoFundMe.com and donate whatever you can. As we know, every dollar/Rupee counts. Thank you very much for showing interest in these outreach projects in rural areas in India.