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Jeevanshalas: Real ‘schools of life’

In the initial days of the Narmada Bachao Andolan (NBA), 1985 -86, Adivasi parents would attend village meetings and long term Satyagrahas with their children. During the Satyagrahas, young volunteers kept the children engaged and entertained. Someone once hung a rolling board on a tree and brought some chalks and thus emerged the idea of a school The first of the Narmada Jeevanshalas started in Chimalkhedi and Nimgavhan on the banks of the Narmada in 1991. (Now both villages are mostly submerged under the Sardar Sarovar Dam and its reservoir). Inspired by the sudden availability of schools teaching life skills along with regular curriculum in areas where no schools existed or existed only on paper, the demand for similar schools in other villages grew and so the number of Jeevanshalas increased.

Currently, there are 7 residential Jeevanshalas (6 in Maharashtra and 1 in Madhya Pradesh), providing primary level education to about 700 to 750 (the number keeps fluctuating) in the age group of 6 to 13. The students are being looked after by about 26 teachers and 26 other staff members.

The fact file

• So far, more than 6,000 Adivasi children, most of them first generation learners, have passed out of the Jeevanshalas. Some of them have become graduates. These students are working in different fields.
• Teaching starts in the Adivasi language ensuring effective communication. The state language is taught thereafter. Education till the 4th standard is given in both languages. All the teachers (D. Ed. trained) hail from the Adivasi communities.
• The Jeevanshalas provide morning breakfast, two meals (meals include sprouted pulses and Usal – a dish of boiled and spiced sprouts). Handicrafts, singing, drawing, introduction to the forest, dancing and variety of sports are included in the curriculum for the all-round development of students.
• Shobha Wagh Memorial Hostel next to our office in Dhadgaon (Dist. Nandurbar) currently houses around 30 students studying beyond class 5.
• Each village community selects a dekhrekh (monitoring) committee for the Jeevanshala in their village. Members of the participates in decision making process.
• Education here is linked with the culture, reality of the natural environment as well as the problems such as massive displacement. The motto of the schools is Ladai Padhai Saath Saath (struggle and learning go hand in hand).
• Balmela is a gathering of about 700 to 800 students (2nd to 4th Std.). It lasts for 4 days and is an annual feature celebrated with sports, dance, drama, songs and other activities that display the creativity of the children, teachers and villagers.