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School based Education

Integrated Education for Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods

Balrampur has the dubious distinction of being amongst the last few of the most educationally backward districts of Uttar Pradesh. Mutehera village of Gaisadi Block in this district is a tribal village in which 70% of the families live below the poverty line. The village is surrounded by dense forests, deep naalas and the villagers, especially women, are constantly threatened by the wild animals. Mandvi Devi, who has completed her junior high school and lives in Mutehera, took up the challenge of educating girl children of her area through the Alternative Learning Centres (ALC) established by the BETI Foundation with the support from the Trust. Observing her relentless efforts to help girls learn in such trying conditions, the district authorities recommended her name to the State Government in recognition of her exemplary work. It was a matter of great pride for District, Block and Local Communities when on September 8, 2003, which also happens to be Literacy Day, Mandvi's efforts were recognised when she received the President's award for good work in exemplary educational services. It was also a tremendous fillip for the BETI Foundation, which had begun work in Balrampur district in June 2003.

 
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There are some people who may be physically challenged, but due to their self respect, hard work and commitment, prove that what they want is an opportunity and not pity. An example is Alia Khatoon, a resident of Sakutwapur village of Gaisdi block in Balrampur district, Uttar Pradesh. Alia suffers from a physical disability that has affected her legs. Despite her physically and economically challenged condition, Alia completed her higher education. She was married at a young age, but divorced soon after, as her husband could not come to terms with her disability. Then came an opportunity that brought a ray of hope to Alia's life. BETI Foundation was appointing instructors for the Alternative Learning Centres (ALC) and Alia applied for the same. Impressed by her dynamism, the interview panel had no hesitation in selecting her. Today, she runs the ALC at Thakurapur, serving as a role model for her girl students, besides the other 14 instructors.


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The Trust had initially supported BETI Foundation through two Small Grant Programmes (SGPs) in the past. The first SGP sanctioned in May 2002 was for a baseline survey in five villages in Balrampur and Shravasti districts in UP to: (a) generate demographic and socio-economic information of the community; (b) forming core groups in the villages; and (c) initiating advisory committees at block and district levels. The second SGP sanctioned in February 2003 was towards the first phase of the implementation of the programme. Major outcomes at the end of the grant were: (a) selection and training of instructors for running 30 Alternative Learning Centres (ALC) in both the districts; and (b) establishment of 30 ALCs reaching out to approximately 900 girls in the age-group of 11-14 years, with the goal of mainstreaming them into government schools. At the end of the grant, a review was conducted in July 2003 by a management expert to assess the outcomes of the project.

Following a positive report, a three year proposal was submitted to the Trust in July 2003, to continue and expand the intervention programme aiming at 'Integrated Education for Promoting Sustainable Livelihood of Adolescent Girls in Balrampur and Shravasti districts in Uttar Pradesh'. The grant envisioned consolidation of BETI Foundation's programmes in Balrampur and Shravasti districts of Uttar Pradesh, including: (a) continuation of 30 Alternative Learning Centres (ALC); (b) establishment of 10 Vocational Training Centres (VTC); (c) community mobilization in education, health and gender issues; and (d) running helplines to address issues of rescue and rehabilitation of trafficked victims.