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PRAYOGBHUMI
An innovative learning center for the unprivileged
Story of Prayogbhumi, an unique Educational Learning Centre
Inspired by the concept introduced by Mahatma GandhiNai Talim also known as Buniyadi Shikshan, means Basic Education.
PRAYOGBHUMI ENTERS 20th YEAR OF ITS ESTABLISHMENT....
The main purpose behind setting up this center was to find out and introduce innovative children-friendly education methods. The inborn qualities of children, their life experience and interest areas are used as the tools for their formal education. Creative learning activities of children appreciated and encouraged in this system.
Prayogbhumi is registered and acknowledged by National Institution of Open Schooling (NIOS) an autonomous institution under Department of School Education and literacy, M.H.R.D, Government of India as Open Basic Education (OBE) Center. All rules and regulations given by NIOS are followed by the organization.
Besides following the academic curriculum given by NIOS, following educational systems are developed by the 0rganization-
Academic education up to std. VIII based on the curriculum of the State Government. Regular tests and annual examinations are conducted with the guidelines of NIOS.
Vocational education based on traditional and need based life skills is another important part of the school. Organic farming and forest conservation and management are the academic subjects for upper levels (classes) i.e., 5 th and 7 th std respectively. Animal husbandry, non-conventional energy generation, cooking, media, e-learning, technical skills etc. are other vocational activities run in the school as the part of learning activity.
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Education of classical and traditional arts is the third important part of the school. Music, dance, physical activities, handicrafts, sports etc. are the main activities of this part.
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The learning centre
Prayogbhumi is a centralized residential learning educational center established in the year 2004 It is situated in a small village called Kalakewadi in Chiplun Taluka of Ratnagiri District. The campus spans over 17 acres of land owned by Shramik Sahayog and is surrounded by the Sahyadri mountain range. The center is about 20 km away from the town of Chiplun. The campus is surrounded by a river and numerous species of flora and fauna which make a rich biodiversity. These living conditions for the children at Prayogbhumi thus are similar to where they come from. The targeted social section of this activity is the tribal and nomadic communities of Sahyadri valleys in Southern konkan region of Maharashtra.
The children and communities
Main activity in Prayogbhumi Learning Center is the experimental education for the children comes from the deprived section i.e., Katkari- primitive tribe and Gavali - Dhangar. The children come from very poor families those who do not have the capacities to educate their children. Katkari families are dependent on daily physical labours as a means of livelihood. Addiction and malnutrition are other major issues they face. The educational initiative of the organization has served these communities since last three decades aiming at overall upliftment of these communities. Currently there are 30 children both boys and girls in the age 4 to 16 years in the centre. All facilities are provided to the children free of cost. Some of the children are orphans while there are many who have single parent. They are mostly the first-generation learners of their families who have got an opportunity to come out of the depravedness. The govt. systems are not been able to educate these communities the major reasons being their critical living conditions such as migration and socio-cultural problems.
Community Learning Centers
‘Prayogbhumi Residential Learning Center’ has completed 18 years journey this year. The primary objective of this work was to create educational environment in the weaker section of the society, especially Tribal community. After evaluating and reviewing the work done so far, we decided to extend it to the wider community.
There has been a change in the overall scenario of education in the surrounding tribal communities since the last two decades especially after the implementation of Right to Free and Compulsory Education.
Most of the children from the community are enrolled in the government schools. But there is lack of sufficient support system in the families as well as in the communities.
There is no basic awareness on importance of education resulting high level of drop out from the school. They leave the school mid-way and returning in the circle of poverty. The children at very young age
begin to work as labourers which traditionally their communities serve to the big land owners in the village. With no proper guidance and aimless lives, they tend to fall in the clutches of alcohol addiction,
other substance abuse and further leading to depression. With merely the superficial influences of modern life, they fail to integrate themselves with the healthy lifestyles of leading a life.
The tribal have plenty of natural strengths but the education system fails to recognize. Their strengths and capacities given a chance can be channelized well so that they get to work towards better careers.Considering these challenges, Shramik Sahayog extended their work in the communities in and around Prayogbhumi. This work began also as a response to the times of lockdown due to Covid 19 pandemic as the learning process came to an unprecedented halt. ‘Community learning centres’ were started in May 2021 with two tribal hamlets. At present there are 8 centres running benefiting 180 children in the age group of 5 to 20 years. These centres serve as extension activity of ‘Prayogbhumi Residential Learning Centre.’
The main objective of this initiative is…
Support the school going and drop out children in learning process.
Creating awareness among the parents and the communities about the importance of the education.
Arrange training programs on vocational guidance and personality development for the youth.
Arrange facilities in the fields of sports, arts, and culture.
