In view of the appointment given by Hon’ble President, the group headed by Shri Dilip Rao Agale, representing the Matang Samaj of Maharashtra, the following issues/proposals are submitted for kind consideration.
Introduction:
The Matang Samaj of Maharashtra has its presence in almost every village but, it has not been able to derive reasonable benefits of the overall development and progress happening in the country due to a variety of reasons. Education has not reached them. It is estimated that:
(a) 20% children do not get enrolled in schools ;
(b) Another 60% children drop out before Std.V;
(c) About 15% children drop out before reaching Std.X;
(d) Only less than 5% children reach upto graduation.
Broadly the Maang, Matang, Dombari, Maang-Garudi and such other communities do not possess Ration Cards and thus their absence from Schools is not easily noticed. Hence, the general education programmes do not create any sizeable impact on their conditions.
We therefore, propose some mini and mega schemes as below:
I. For Sports education and encouragement;
II. For Vocational and Skill education;
III. Program for Women;
IV. For Folk and Theatre education and
V. General education.
I. Sports Education and Encouragement:
The children from these communities are found to possess good skills for athletics, gymnastics and are good at running. Similar skill exists among the children of Paradhi, and a few Tribal communities.
(a) Vastad Lahuji Salve Sports Scholarship: A Pilot Project for first year in 10 districts and a regular project for next five years in all districts is proposed at Annexure-I.
Under Pilot project, Scholarships will be given to 40 children (20 girls and 20 boys) per year/district at a cost of Rs.5.00 lakhs per district. The children will be selected solely on the criterion of their potential to excel in Athletics, gymnastics and Malkhamb, irrespective of the educational standards and will be attached to renowned Talim or Vyayamshala. A stipend at the rate of Rs.2,000/- per month will be utilized for payment to the Talim and towards nutritional diet and contingent expenses of the child.
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(b) Opportunity to run in the Mumbai Marathon
In view of their skill in running, they may be sponsored. from out of 10 selected districts of Maharashtra (2 girls and 2 boys per district) to participate in the ensuing Mumbai Marathon event. The Secretary, Department of Tribal and the Secretary, Department of Social Justice and Empowerment can be asked to frame suitable sponsorship schemes.
II. Vocational and Skill Education:
The above communities have production-skills which are basically related to rural life-style and which were acquired as a community skill. Some of these traditional skills have become redundant in view of industrial production. Hence, newer skills have to be introduced. Generally, the Department of Vocational Education under the Ministry of HRD and a number of agencies working under the other ministries have programs to impart skills. Department of HRD, Department of Labour, Department of Industries and Commerce and Department of Women and Child Development, all have some programs for vocational training.
Such skill education has to result in gainful entrepreneurship-- mostly in the tiny and cottage sector. However, the entrepreneurship necessarily requires --
(i) Technical skill;
(ii) Managerial skill,
(iii) Marketing skill,
(iv) Finance-management skill (dealing with Banks, loan proposals etc.).
The present vocational Training courses do not include the non- technical but, essential training components. Hon’ble President’s office may initiate a series of brain-storming sessions to tackle this issue with specific reference to the Matang Samaj of Maharashtra.
III. Programme for Women:
One issue related to the above is discussed here. It is pertinent that the traditional Devadasi system prevails largely in the Maang and Matang community in Maharashtra, for reasons of poverty. In a specific instance, nearly 150 Devadasis of Kolhapur and Sangli districtgs were given the benefit of a “Devadasi Economic Rehabilitation Programme” taken up by WMDC (Western Maharashtra Development Corporation), Pune, from 1985 to 1989, under the leadership of the then Chairman Shri Ulhas Pawar. The training-cum production center of WMDC is located at Gadhinglaj (dist. Kolhapur). The programme has been left without any attention. as WMDC proposes to hand it over to MAVIM (Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal). However, specific yearly funds need to be allocated to MAVIM for the next five years for reviving the above program. It is also important to monitor the implementation through a committee which may have members such as Shri Ulhas Pawar, Shri Dilip Rao Agale, Shri Baba Adhav (A social activist from Pune) and Shri Vittal Banne (Another social activist and Ex-MLA from Gadhinglaj), Many beneficiaries of the above mentioned program are still continuing their vocational activities at a much reduced scale in the vicinity of this training centre. At least 50% of them belong to Maang-Matang community.
IV .Folk and Theatre Education:
The Maang-Matang community is also known for their skills in Folk Theatre including music, dance, drama and instruments playing. Smt. Vithabai Narayangaokar, a talented Lavni dancer from this community also had an occasion to receive felicitation at the hands of the then Hon’ble President of India Shri R. Venkataraman. The Govt. of Maharashtra can establish an Academy of Folk Theatre in her name or may partly fund some group or trust who is dedicated to such cause.
So also the Vithabai Narayangaokar Folk Dance Awards which were given by Govt. of Maharashtra only for one year, may be institutionalized as a yearly event so as to encourage the skills from this community.
As an alternative, Artists from this community may be allowed special grant-in-aid for preparing for the participation in some of the Folk dance events organized these days on private TV channels.
V. General Education:
Considering that the benefits of general education has not reached the Maang-Matang community in a respectable proportion, there appears to be need for special monitoring of the General Education Schemes and their impact on this community. The same is more true for the girl children Special scholarships can be institutionalized for ptomoting schooling. At the same time, more facilities for distant learning and flexi-learning are needed.
ANNEXURE-I
VASTAD LAHUJI SALVE KREEDA SHISHYA-VRITTHI (SCHOLARSHIP)
Scheme Details: of One unit consisting of One district for one year at a cost of Rs.5.00 lakhs are described here --
(a) The Collector will select five Talims or Vyayamshalas of his district for this purpose and for a preliminary meeting with them to ascertain the monitoring details and criteria for success.
(b) The District Sports Officer will select suitable girls and boys from the communities of Maang-Matang, Garudi, Dombari, Paradhi, Darveshi, and Nandibailwale (the nomadic Tribes) to be affiliated to these Talims.
© A batch of 2 girls and 2 boys will be attached with the Talim for a rigorous training of 5 months in sports such as Malkhamb, Gymnastics and Athletics. They will be met with the following expenses.
1. Nutritional food per child/month = Rs.800/-
2. Contingent expenses per child/month = Rs.300/-
3. Fees and service charges for Talim
@ Rs.900/- per child/month = Rs.900/-
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4. Total per child/month = Rs.2,000/-
5. Total for a batch of 4 children
and 5 months Rs.2000X4X5 = Rs.40,000/-
6. Therefore, for 2 batches of 5 months duration in a year,
the expenses will be = Rs.80,000/-
7. Expenses for 5 such Talims per district = Rs.4,00,000/-
8. Funds to be kept with the Collector for
organizing any events to promote the above
activities, including competitions, and expenses
of judges of the competition, survey reports
promotional awards, public awareness, etc. = Rs.1,00,000/-
Thus fund requirement for 1 district = Rs 5,00,000/-
For the first year, this activity can be taken up on a pilot basis in 10 districts at a cost of Rs.50 lakhs.
For all the 36 districts of Maharashtra per year = Rs.1,80,00,000/-
for five years. = Rs. 9,00,00,000/-
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