Computer Aided Learning
Every child should have the right to live, develop and grow in a safe and inviolable environment. Unfortunately, the lacunas of human society give birth to an unsafe and insecure atmosphere which severely affects the growth of the child. Issues such as inaccessibility to education, poverty, malnourishment, child labour and sexual harassment hinder the development of a large number of children across the globe.
Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe in India are categories which are highly marginalized and subjugated. The status of the SC/ST children is very low as children are more susceptible and vulnerable to face marginalization. An estimated population of Scheduled Caste children belonging to the age group of 6-17 years is 48.6 million, likewise 24.8 million Scheduled Tribe children belong to this age group. The challenges faced by these children vary from the issues of ‘children’ as a holistic category. Community, school and household are three social institutions which play a major role in affecting or enhancing the growth of the child. The processes that take place within the community, school and household highly affect the confidence and growth of the child. Challenges of exclusion and exploitation faced by Dalit and Tribal children trickle down the confidence and interest level of these children.
More than half the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe children drop out from school between 1st to 10th standard. 59.7% SC girls and 58.50% SC boys, whereas 74.7% ST boys and 75.9% ST girls drop out from school every year. The high dropout and low literacy rate among Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe children in India raise the need to address their issues of education, health, sanitation, abuse and exploitation with special strategies.
Centre for Alternative Dalit Media (CADAM) in India works as an effective body for understanding and catering to the needs of the Dalit children. It is working to develop a broader approach towards the high dropout rate and low literacy rate, malnourishment among Dalit and Tribal children. The National Campaign on Nutrition for Dignity is working in 10 States across India to improve the nutrition levels among SC & ST children. It is working to strengthen the Integrated Child Development Scheme for enhancing the capacities of SC/ST children. It is working to improve access of Dalit children to Primary Education by forming Dalit Education Committees. Computer Aided Learning and Digital Literacy for school children and Computer-based Functional Literacy to teach using graphics & animated patterns for better understanding. Child sponsorship scheme in Haryana is another major initiative of CADAM to promote child development. Establishing ‘Bal Centres’ to promote young talents and give them a platform to showcase their innovative ideas and inventiveness.