Migration and Literacy

Why is it in the news?
  • The recently released UNESCO global education monitoring report 2019 has observed literacy levels in rural households of India dip with seasonal  migration.
More in the news
Findings of the report:
  • In India, 10.7 million children aged 6 to 14 lived in rural households with a seasonal migrant in 2013.
  • About 28% of youth aged 15 to 19 in these households were illiterate or had not completed primary school, compared to 18% of the cohort overall.
  • About 80% of seasonal migrant children in seven cities lacked access to education near work sites.
  • Around 40% are likely to end up in work rather than education, experiencing abuse and exploitation.
Construction sector
 
  • The report says that the construction sector absorbs the majority of short-term migrants.
  • A survey in Punjab state of 3,000 brick kiln workers in 2015-16 found that 60% were inter-State migrants.
  • About 77% of kiln workers reported lack of access to early childhood or primary education for their children
Inter-State Migration
 
  • Inter-State migration rates have doubled between 2001 and 2011.
  • An estimated 9 million migrated between States annually from 2011 to 2016.
  • The report shows there is only one urban planner for every 1,00,000 people in India, while there are 38 for every 1, 00,000 in the United Kingdom.

Steps taken to address the problem
  • The Right to Education Act in 2009 made it mandatory for local authorities to admit migrant children.
  • National-level guidelines were issued, allowing for flexible admission of children.
  • It also provides for transport and volunteers to support with mobile education, create seasonal hostels and aiming to improve coordination between sending and receiving districts and states.
State-wise Initiatives
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Source
The Hindu.


Posted by Jawwad Kazi on 20th Nov 2018