Ekal Abhiyan Program Held at Veerabrahmendra Swami Temple
The Ekal Abhiyan program was successfully organized at the Veerabrahmendra Swami Temple in Aija Sangh. This initiative is part of the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation’s efforts to provide education to children in rural and tribal areas.
The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation, which started in 1986 in the Gumla district of Jharkhand, is the main organization behind the Ekal Abhiyan project. Its goal is to offer free and informal education to children aged 6-14 years in remote areas of India. The program operates one-teacher schools, also known as Ekal Vidyalayas, across the country.
Each Ekal school typically has 30-40 students and is taught by local youth who have completed at least grades 8 or 9. These teachers are given special training to conduct classes. The schools are organized into groups, such as “sub-clusters” (10 schools), “clusters” (30 schools), “sub-areas” (90 schools), and “regions” (270 schools). Classes are often held in informal settings like under trees or near temples. The curriculum includes storytelling, folk plays, folk songs, moral education, and lessons on patriotism and ethics.
The foundation ensures gender balance in its programs, with half of the teachers and students being women. Additionally, about 20% of the students go on to pursue higher education, and some of them return to contribute to the foundation’s efforts.
By August 2020, the foundation had established over 102,753 schools, including 2,100 in northeastern states. This was a significant growth from 27,000 schools in 2010. The Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation aims to expand further, with a goal of reaching 200,000 schools by 2030. This expansion will ensure that every child in rural India has access to education.
The Aija Sangh program was attended by key local leaders and community members, including Sangh Committee member Bhagat Reddy, Anchal Abhiyan leader Mahadevamma, Anchal Sadhak Balakrishna, Sangh leader Ranganath, and Sangh Sadak Someshwaramma.
Through initiatives like these, the Ekal Vidyalaya Foundation continues to tackle educational challenges in underserved regions and empower children through grassroots efforts.
